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US State Department Report Cites ‘Significant Human Rights Issues’ in Israel

Written on . Posted in PT Middle East.

The US State Department on Monday released its annual human rights country report on Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, documenting a litany of alleged human rights abuses. The nearly 70-page report includes accusations of extrajudicial killings, media censorship, torture, and unjust detention committed by the Israeli government.

The report, one of 198 that the State Department issues each year and mandated by Congress, cites both Israeli government information as well as reporting by NGOs and news organizations in recording its allegations.

It lists 11 categories of “significant…credible reports” of Israeli human rights issues ranging from “unlawful or arbitrary killings” to labor rights violations against foreign and Palestinian workers.

“The government acknowledged it used ‘exceptional measures’ during interrogation in some cases, but the Ministry of Justice refused to provide information regarding the number of such ‘necessity’ interrogations or which ‘exceptional measures’ were used,” the report’s section on allegations of torture reads. “According to [the Public Committee against Torture in Israel,] if confirmed, these measures might constitute torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment [….]”

” … And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:24

The report notably includes allegations related to the 2022 killing of the Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The report repeats the conclusions of the IDF that there was a “high possibility” that Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli fire without making any conclusion. It also cites NGOs in alleging that “excessive and disproportionate force” was used against the “pallbearers” at Abu Akleh’s funeral. No mention is made in the report that Abu Akleh’s family intended for her coffin to be moved to the cemetery by car, and that the “pallbearers” had seized the coffin without permission in an attempt to parade it through the streets.

It also notes differences in policing between East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the rest of Israel.

Read the Algemeiner report HERE