Amnesty International targets Israel, UN in annual report

Human rights watchdog blames Israel for perpetuating humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Amnesty International accused Israel of prolonging the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip in the organization’s annual report released early Thursday. The human rights watchdog pointed to Israel’s blockade of the Strip, and also highlighted continued settlement construction in the West Bank.

The Foreign Ministry did not comment on the report’s assertions.

The report also blasted the UN Security Council for its “failed leadership,” most notably in Syria.

Permanent Security Council members Russia and China have repeatedly blocked tough sanctions against the Bashar Assad regime. Amnesty Secretary General Salil Shetty told Reuters that the council’s authority should be altered so that a veto could not be used to block action in cases of gross human rights violations.

The UN estimates that at least 9,000 civilians have been killed in Assad’s crackdown on a popular uprising that has lasted for more than a year. According to Amnesty, the Security Council had failed to fulfill its mandate to take “prompt and effective” action to preserve international peace and security.