The US State Department released its annual country report on human rights. The report highlighted Israel's concerns over human rights abuses in Gaza. Expressing human rights concerns, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is raising deeply disturbing concerns for human rights.” He said that America has condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7. Israel has been urged to minimize civilian casualties in its response.

Israel reports human rights abuses

The section on Israel documents “credible reports” of more than a dozen human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary detention, conflict-related sexual violence or punishment, and the execution of family members, for alleged crimes committed by a relative.

The report said the resulting conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has had a “significant negative impact” on the human rights situation in Israel. It cited credible reports of “unlawful killings” by both Hamas and the Israeli government.

Records of foreign countries on human rights

Blinken said the United States would continue to make assessments about foreign countries' records on human rights, and potentially authorize consequences for those countries, regardless of their status as an enemy or partner of the United States. We do.

In his remarks, Blinken noted that the US “has made clear” that Israel needs to follow international law “and take every possible precaution to protect civilians.”

Concern about civilian deaths in Gaza

Blinken stressed that the department still has “urgent” concerns about civilian deaths in Gaza during the war. The report said the US also "repeatedly" raised concerns about humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, civilian displacement, and the "unprecedented" deaths of journalists.