HRW: Israel ‘systematically’ barring entry into Gaza

Human Rights Watch has denounced Israel for “systematically” banning the international group’s researchers from entering the blockaded Gaza Strip to document Tel Aviv’s abuses.

In a 47-page report released on Monday, the New-York based rights group said the restrictions have been imposed by the Israeli regime since 2008, adding that only one exceptional permit was granted to the foreign researchers last year.

HRW also questioned Tel Aviv’s claims that it was conducting its own probes and that there was no need for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate serious Israeli crimes against Palestinians over the past decades.

“If Israel wants the ICC prosecutor to take seriously its argument that its criminal investigations are adequate, a good first step would be to allow human rights researchers to bring relevant information to light,” said Sari Bashi, Israel/Palestine advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

The rights group also criticized Egypt for barring it and the UK-based Amnesty International from entering Gaza through its territory since 2012.

Bashi urged all parties to “change their policies to protect the vital work of human rights groups.”