Israel bars researchers to investigate rights violations

The international human rights group on Monday accused Israel of barring foreign researchers from entering the Gaza Strip to document abuses, saying the restrictions call into question Israel's stated commitment to investigating possible rights violations.

In a 47-page report, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of ‘systematically’ preventing its researchers from visiting Gaza since 2008, only granting them one exceptional permit last year. The group also said that Egypt has prevented it and London-based Amnesty International from entering Gaza from its territory since 2012.

“Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2 million people, since the Hamas group took over the territory in 2007. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since then,” said the human rights group.

Israel has long accused Human Rights Watch of being unfairly biased against it. Last month, Israel refused to grant a work permit to the New York group's regional director, though it later allowed him to visit the country as a tourist.

“The report also criticized Egypt for barring access to Gaza, and for Hamas' refusal to cooperate with investigators.”

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