Israel committed human rights abuses in 2023, US State Department says

Annual report outlines abuses around the world

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denied that the US held Israel to a different standard. AP

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A US State Department report released on Monday said Israel committed human rights abuses last year, including arbitrary killings and punitive home demolitions.

The annual report, which highlights human rights abuses around the world, outlined a series of violations that occurred in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories last year.

The 103-page section on Israel highlights arbitrary or unlawful killings, forced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests and detentions.

It pointed to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s efforts to “make prisoners’ living spaces more crowded”.

It also included statements Mr Ben-Gvir made on November 14 that “confirmed the detainees were, according to his instructions, shackled in dark cells with seven other prisoners and subjected to harsh living conditions”.

The report also notes the relocation of Palestinian prisoners detained in the West Bank and Gaza to centres in Israel.

“Some human rights groups, including MCW, claimed the country’s detention of the majority of convicted Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza in prisons inside Israel was a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and raised concerns that relocations made it more difficult for the family members of Palestinians to visit their loved ones in detention,” the report said.

Hostages leave Gaza and Palestinian detainees leave jail – in pictures

Rawda Abu Ajamieh is greeted by relatives and friends in the occupied West Bank after her release from Israeli detention as part of a temporary truce deal in the Gaza war. AFP

Hamas militants release some hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross as part of the deal. Reuters

Hamas freed 13 Israeli hostages under the deal, which has brought a pause of fighting in the Israel-Gaza war. AFP

A Thai woman who was among the hostages released, before being taken to the Shamir Medical Centre in Israel. AP

The 10 freed Thai hostages at the Shamir Medical Centre. They were seized during the attack on Israel on October 7. AP

Some of the hostages held by Hamas are handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza. AFP

The exchange was part of a temporary truce deal that took effect in Gaza on November 24. AFP

Palestinian detainees released under the deal are carried along a street in Baytunia, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

The Palestinians are among 39 released from Israeli jails under the agreement between Hamas and Israel. AFP

Fireworks light up the sky as Palestinians celebrate the release of the detainees, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

A Palestinian is greeted by her family in Baytunia after being freed from jail. AFP

Palestinians released by Israel are carried along a street as crowds celebrate. AFP

Freed detainee Hanin Barghouti, centre, speaks to loved ones. AFP

The group of Israeli hostages were handed over to aid workers, before being taken to Israel's military. Reuters

Nour Al Taher in Baytunia after her release from an Israeli prison, as part of a deal that brought a pause of the fighting in Gaza. AFP

Fatima Amarneh is welcomed by loved ones, near Jenin in the West Bank, after leaving jail. Reuters

The released Palestinian detainees comprised 24 women and 15 children. AFP

Palestinians in Beitonia, near Ramallah, celebrate the release of the group from Israeli detention. EPA

Medical workers at Israel's Schneider-Children's Medical Centre receive some of the hostages released by Hamas. EPA

An Israeli helicopter with released hostages lands at the medical centre in Tel Aviv. AFP

Family and friends gather as a helicopter arrives with hostages released by Hamas. Getty Images

Israelis look on as a helicopter with released hostages prepares to land in Tel Aviv. AFP

Crowds in the West Bank celebrate the arrival of Palestinians released from Israeli jails. EPA

Marah Bakir, right, was among the first Palestinian detainees to be released by Israeli authorities in a swap between Israel and Hamas. AP

Released Palestinian detainees leave jail near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

Ms Bakir is reunited with her family through the swap deal between Hamas and Israel. Reuters

Ms Bakir embraces a family member after her release. Reuters

Ms Bakir with a family member in Jerusalem. Reuters

A vehicle carrying hostages abducted by Hamas arrives at the Rafah border crossing amid a hostage-prisoner swap deal between the militant group and Israel. Reuters

The hostages had been held in Gaza since the Hamas attack of October 7. Reuters

A vehicle carrying hostages. Reuters

An International Red Cross vehicle reportedly carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas crosses the Rafah border point in the Gaza Strip towards Egypt. AFP

The hostages will be taken to Israel and reunited with their families. AFP

Under the temporary truce agreement with Israel, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages over four days. Reuters

The hostages will be flown to Israel to be reunited with their families. AFP

After 48 days of a bombardment that has claimed thousands of lives, a four-day truce in the Israel-Gaza war began on Friday. AFP

The hostages were taken into Gaza following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. Reuters

Once the hostages have been transferred, 39 Palestinian detainees are set to be released from several Israeli prisons. Reuters

The document said there was a 7 per cent increase in punitive home demolitions in 2022, the most recent year data was available.

“Several human rights groups and the United Nations stated the authorities’ punitive demolitions were a form of collective punishment that violated the Fourth Geneva Convention,” the State Department said.

While the report only takes into consideration events up until December 31, 2023, it said that “significant conflict-related abuses were documented throughout the year”.

According to local health authorities, more than 34,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military operation after the October 7 Hamas-led attacks killed 1,200.

The war has been by far the deadliest iteration of the decades-long conflict.

Washington has been Israel’s fiercest supporter, continuing to send it military aid and coming to its defence at the UN.

But as the death toll in Gaza has mounted, President Joe Biden's administration has come under increasing pressure to rein Israel in.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday denied that the US held Israel to a different standard, pointing to the findings of the report.

“As this report makes clear, in general, as we're looking at human rights and the condition of human rights around the world, we apply the same standard to everyone,” he said.

“And that doesn't change whether the country in question is an adversary or competitor, a friend or an ally.”

Mr Blinken said the State Department had interior processes “that are looking at incidents that have been raised and those processes are ongoing”.

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