The State Department’s annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices features Israel prominently, on the first page, usually given to the most egregious human rights abusers, and lists the country’s efforts to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties. It featured concerns about preventive measures.
In his foreword to the report, President Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited human rights concerns associated with the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas before Iran or the Afghan Taliban.
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Blinken spoke about the latest report on Monday. (AP photo)
“The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues to raise deeply alarming human rights concerns,” Blinken wrote.
He explained that the US has been “clear” that Israel must follow international law and “take every possible precaution to protect civilians.” Blinken stressed that his department remains “urgent” concerned about civilian deaths in Gaza during the war.
Israel has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the terrorist group’s attack in October.
The report noted that the US also “repeatedly” raised concerns about access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, the displacement of civilians, and the “unprecedented” death of a journalist.
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Israel was mentioned before the Biden administration’s State Department cited “ongoing brutal human rights abuses in Iran” and “the Taliban’s systematic abuse and discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan.”
The Putin regime was mentioned in a report on civilian violence in Ukraine. (Sergei Savostanov/Pool/AFP)
The Jewish state was singled out only for Russian violence against civilians in Ukraine and for “mass murder” and “rape” committed by the Sudanese military and emergency aid forces.
The same paragraph mentions Hamas terrorists, and the US condemns Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which “included horrific abuses, including gender-based and sexual violence.” he pointed out.
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Hamas launched unplanned attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7. (Yousef Masoud/Majority World/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
After noting urgent concerns about Israel’s precautions against civilians, Blinken added: “We have repeatedly condemned Hamas’s abhorrent misuse of civilians and civilian infrastructure as human shields.”
“We are also reminded of Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel on October 7 of last year and the devastating loss of civilian life in the Gaza Strip as Israel exercises its right to ensure that such an attack never occurs again,” Blinken said. “This raises serious human rights concerns.” Press conference after the release of the report.
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A State Department official told Fox News Digital that the report discusses global issues, not rankings that compare countries.
Representatives of the Israeli government did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding the purpose of this article.
