In recent times, the United States has raised concerns about a multitude of rights violations being perpetrated in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. These allegations cover a variety of human rights abuses – from brutal force and discriminatory policies to obstruction of humanitarian aid.
Firstly, the utilization of excessive force by Israeli forces against Palestinians has been cited as a significant concern. This often manifests in the suppression of protests, night raids on Palestinian homes, as well as violent responses to resistance in Israeli-occupied territories. Amnesty International’s annual report recorded a high number of Palestinian deaths and injuries caused by Israeli forces in the years 2019 and 2020.
Moreover, the United States has voiced disapproval at the issue of discriminatory policies by Israel against Palestinian citizens. This includes incidents and legislation flaunting systemic bias, like the controversial Jewish Nation-State Law of 2018, widely criticized for undermining the rights of Israel’s non-Jewish residents. The continual expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, often at the cost of displacing Palestinian homes and agricultural lands, is also seen as a direct suppression of Palestinian rights.
In Gaza, the United States has identified the enduring blockade imposed by Israel as a key human rights violation. Israel contends that the blockade, in place since 2007, is necessary to limit Palestinian militant group Hamas’s capabilities. However, the policy has dire humanitarian consequences, limiting the flow of important goods and medicine, thereby severely impacting the civilian population. The United Nations has repeatedly criticized the blockade, emphasizing its collective punishment nature and its role in the degradation of Gaza’s healthcare and sanitation infrastructure, leading to hardship for the civilian population.
United States’ scrutiny is not only focused on Israel but also extends towards reported abuses by Palestinian groups in Gaza and the West Bank. Transgressions by these groups include incitement of violence against civilians, recruitment of child soldiers, and restriction of civil liberties such as freedom of speech and press. Armed Palestinian groups, notably Hamas, have been criticized for firing rockets into Israel, often leading to civilian casualties.
Secondly, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the Hamas-led administration in Gaza have also faced criticism. Reports highlight incidents of torture, arbitrary detention, and suppression of peaceful protests, often to stifle dissent. Equally concerning are reported attacks on journalists and activists critical of their policies, thereby curbing freedom of speech and expression.
Humanitarian organizations and NGOs have often been caught in the crossfire. Bureaucratic restrictions and security protocols, imposed by
