HRW: ‘Israel’ Blocking Access to Gaza
Local Editor
Human Rights Watch [HRW] Monday accused the Zionist entity of barring foreign researchers from entering the Gaza Strip to document abuses.
The international rights body further added that the restrictions call into question ‘Israel's' stated commitment to investigating possible rights violations.
In a 47-page report, HRW accused ‘Israel' of "systematically" preventing its researchers from visiting Gaza since 2008, only granting them one exceptional permit last year. The group also said that Egypt prevented it and London-based Amnesty International from entering Gaza from its territory since 2012.
‘Israel' and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2 million people, since 2007.
Relatively, international rights groups accused both sides of committing war crimes, while the International Criminal Court is conducting a preliminary investigation into possible wrongdoing by both sides.
‘Israel' has long accused HRW of being unfairly biased against it. Last month, Israel refused to grant a work permit to the New York group's regional director, though it later allowed him to visit the country as a tourist.
HRW said the ‘Israeli' restrictions cast doubt on the government's claims that it is conducting its own investigations and there is no need for the ICC to get involved.
The report also criticized Egypt for barring access to Gaza, and for Hamas' refusal to cooperate with investigators.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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