Gaza: Civilian lives must be spared as fighting between Israel and Palestinian armed groups escalates

Responding to the escalation of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian armed groups in Gaza – the most serious fighting since the 2014 armed conflict – Saleh Higazi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International said: “The alarming escalation in violence in Gaza raises fears we could witness another spike …

Gaza: Fears of further bloodshed as Israel adopts ‘zero tolerance’ policy

Fears of escalating bloodshed are rising ahead of planned protests in Gaza later today after Israeli authorities announced a “zero tolerance” policy towards demonstrations along the Israel/Gaza fence, said Amnesty International. The organisation is calling on the Israeli government to rein in its armed forces, which have routinely used unnecessary or excessive force during Gaza’s …

Israel/Gaza: Australia must condemn Israeli military’s excessive force

In response to Israeli forces killing over 50 Palestinian protesters in Gaza and injuring countless others, including children, Amnesty International Australia’s Crisis Campaigns Coordinator Diana Sayed said, “We call on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to condemn the Israeli military’s excessive use of force in the strongest terms possible, and for Australia to use its diplomatic …

Palestine: Dangerous escalation in attacks on press freedom

The Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and their rivals, the de-facto Hamas administration in Gaza, have both tightened the noose on freedom of expression, Amnesty International said. In recent months, both authorities have launched a repressive clampdown on dissent that has seen journalists from opposition media outlets interrogated and detained in a bid to …