Unfolding Rights Infringements: U.S. Sheds Light on Abuses in Israel, Gaza, and West Bank

Sub-Head: The U.S. State Department’s Human Rights Report The U.S. State Department releases an annual report addressing the state of human rights across the globe. In 2020, this report cited incidences involving violations of human rights in many regions, including Israel and the Occupied Territories – specifically, Gaza and the West Bank. The report enumerated several areas necessitating immediate attention. Sub-Head: Violations in Israel The report expressed concerns around issues of discrimination and unequal treatment in Israel, with a focus on the Arab citizens who makeup 20% of the Israeli population. The violations identified ranged from societal discrimination and instances of violence against individuals because of their racial or ethnic features or their religious beliefs. Evidence of unjust treatment in the labour markets and educational institutions also came under scrutiny. The report pointed to a systemic cycle of disadvantage where Arab citizens often have fewer job opportunities and access to inferior educational institutions. Despite the implementation of government programs to reduce these disparities, critics suggest there remains a significant gap between aims and outcomes. In addition to this, the report cited various issues impacting asylum seekers chiefly hailing from Eritrea and Sudan, including prolonged detention and restrictive policies. Sub-Head: Criticising Human Rights Conditions in Gaza and the West Bank With respect to the Gaza Strip and West Bank, the report shed light on various violations of human rights. The U.S. Government expressed profound concern about the governance of these regions. They underscored the issue of political prisoners, restrictions on free expression and the media, and corruption within the Hamas-led administration in Gaza. Furthermore, the report condemned the occurrence of unlawful or arbitrary killings carried out by Palestinian groups and individuals in the West Bank and attacks on journalists. The Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank was another area of criticism within the report. The U.S. Government discussed issues of restricted movement and demolition of Palestinian homes. Sub-Head: Plight of Detainees The plight of detainees in Israel, Gaza, and West Bank received significant attention within the report. The U.S. Government highlighted particular issues concerning alleged torture practices and poor conditions in detention facilities in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The report underscored allegations related to inhuman treatment and physical violence by Israeli security forces towards detainees. Sub-Head: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Lastly, the report addressed the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007. It emphasised the high unemployment rates, the limited access to clean water and electricity, and the dire health and education conditions. The U.S. State Department’s report serves as a critical international mechanism to hold nations accountable for their human rights practices. Through the documentation and dissemination of these violations in territories such as Israel, Gaza, and West Bank, it thrusts these critical issues onto the global stage, pressuring these regions to make necessary improvements and reforms.