An Amnesty International report released on Wednesday finds that Israel attacks innocent Palestinian civilians, exploits foreigners and subverts the general right to freedom of employment.
In its annual annual report on the state of the world's human rights, Amnesty writes that six decades after world leaders unanimously signed the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the record is dismal and urgent action is needed to prevent global chaos.
From Asia to the United States and Africa, countries are reneging on their global commitments to uphold human rights and people are starting to lose patience, secretary general Irene Khan said in an interview marking the group's annual report.
On the Israel-Palestinian front, the report labels the closure of the Gaza Strip as tantamount to the collective punishment of its million and half residents, who have been left without gasoline, food and drinking water.
The report adds that 40 Palestinians died as a result of restrictions forbidding them to leave the Gaza Strip for medical treatment.
The report said that of the 9,000 prisoners in Israeli jails, many are minors, and some have never been indicted for any crime or been brought to trial.
The Israel Defense Forces said in response to the report that it does "the utmost to minimize harm to uninvolved Palestinian civilians in its struggle against terrorism." It added that there has been a decrease in civilian casualties because of its "relentless efforts."
The IDF also said it has eased some restrictions in the Palestinian territories, including removing checkpoints and increasing the number of permits for NGO workers and public transportation vehicles.
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