Meaning of “Human Shields”

When I read the article, “International Solidarity Movement ; Human Shields” written by Mr. Masakazu Nakajima, I was impressed with it and felt as if I saw a beam of hope in the dark. “Human Shields” mean, as words indicate, that each individual will stand in front of military tanks without any weapons, and will become shields protecting farmers from missile targeting. Now, a lot of people are voluntarily coming from various countries to cities, towns and refugee camps of Palestinians to become a Human Shield. These people are not those dispatched from governments, but those who came just because they wanted and hoped by themselves.

Every day, the Israeli forces destroy Palestinian towns and camps with tanks. A lot of people are killed and wounded. Against pebbles thrown by children or suicide bombing, there are much more revenges by Israeli tanks and missiles. Now, there are no nations who are willing to play a role of inter-mediator. However, I saw courage, dignity, and power of human beings in the direct, non-violent activities of individuals who want to become Human Shields. It is not true that an individual can't do anything, facing enormous powers of nations. Individual could become a Human Shield by proactively putting their own physical existence in front of army. The Shield has Non-violent-power that is different from Violence of nations. It has Non-war-power that is different from War killing human beings. This is the power each individual has by nature.

Now, Human Shields, which are demonstrated as individual courage, dignity, and power of a lot of people gathering from various countries, have highlighted two conflicting relationships, nation versus individual, and war of violence versus direct action of non-violence.