Amnesty International urges global action to end Israel’s apartheid system
Last month, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Amnesty International reiterated its call for global action to end the system of apartheid which Israeli authorities enforce against Palestinians with impunity.
This system has become increasingly violent and oppressive over the past year – in the West Bank, Israeli forces have killed 127 Palestinians since January and injured hundreds more, the UK-based human rights group said.
There has also been a surge in assaults and violence against Palestinians by Israelis living in illegal settlements on occupied lands, Amnesty added.
Israeli authorities have ramped up their use of administrative detention to hold Palestinians without charge or trial, and intensified their attacks on Palestinian civil society organizations.
In Gaza, the Israeli military’s August offensive exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis generated by Israel’s ongoing illegal blockade.
“Today and every day, Amnesty International stands with Palestinians as they demand their rights in the face of Israel’s relentless attacks. We call on our supporters around the world to demonstrate their solidarity by speaking out, however they can, to demand an end to Israel’s apartheid,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“With violations by Israeli authorities mounting and Palestinian civil society under unprecedented assault, Palestinians need international support now more than ever. We are urging the international community to suspend any form of support – whether direct or indirect, whether through action or inaction – to Israel’s apartheid system.”
Israeli occupation soldiers and Israeli settlers have noticeably been escalating their attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and other areas, in an attempt to forcibly expel Palestinians from their lands and make way for expanding Illegal Jewish-only settlements.
Between 600,000 and 750,000 Israelis occupy over 250 illegal settlements that have been built across the West Bank since the 1967 occupation.
The UN Security Council has in several resolutions condemned the Zionist regime’s settlement projects in the occupied Palestinian lands.
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