Archiv: Amnesty International (organization)


05.12.2024 - 06:31 [ Amnesty International ]

‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza

To make a determination on genocide, Amnesty International first examined whether Palestinians in Gaza constitute part of a protected group under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention), that is a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. It then focused on three out of the five prohibited acts under the Genocide Convention: “killing members of the group”; “causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group”; and “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”. It finally examined whether Israel committed these acts with the specific “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, [the] group, as such”.

To this end, Amnesty International interviewed 212 people as part of its research. They included Palestinian victims, survivors and witnesses of air strikes, displacement, detention, the destruction of farms, homes and agricultural land, as well as individuals who faced the impact of Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid. Amnesty International also spoke with members of local authorities in Gaza, Palestinian healthcare workers and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies involved in the humanitarian response in Gaza.

Amnesty International complemented these interviews with its analysis of an extensive range of visual and digital evidence, including satellite imagery, video footage and photographs posted on social media or obtained directly by its researchers. It authenticated and, where possible, geolocated video footage and photographs. It reviewed an extensive collection of media reports, statements, reports and data sets published by UN agencies and humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza, as well as Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups. It reviewed statements by senior Israeli government and military officials and official Israeli bodies, including spokespersons of the Israeli military and the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a unit within Israel’s Ministry of Defense tasked with administering civilian matters in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) . Amnesty International also examined submissions made to and decisions taken by the Israeli Supreme Court as well as publicly available material relating to South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Despite its repeated attempts to engage with the Israeli authorities through information and meeting requests, the organization received no substantive answer to any of its letters sent between 30 October 2023 and 16 October 2024.

05.12.2024 - 06:22 [ Amnesty International ]

Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

Amnesty International’s research has found sufficient basis to conclude that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, the organization said in a landmark new report published today.

The report, ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza, documents how, during its military offensive launched in the wake of the deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, Israel has unleashed hell and destruction on Palestinians in Gaza brazenly, continuously and with total impunity.

11.10.2024 - 04:42 [ MAP.org.uk ]

Palestinians in Gaza are facing an imminent existential threat, warn 15 organisations

The UK is failing to stand up for international law, as Israeli forces are forcibly transferring civilians from northern Gaza to the south and relentlessly bombarding the area, making it uninhabitable and stripping away the essential conditions that sustain life. The Government must demand that Israel end its heinous attacks, and take action to oppose any annexation or shrinking of Gaza. Its current silence is tantamount to complicity.

(…)

Signatories:

– Action For Humanity
– Amos Trust
– Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
– Welfare Association
– Caabu
– Sabeel-Kairos UK
– Amnesty International UK
– Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
– Islamic Relief UK
– Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR)
– Trócaire
– War on Want
– Action Aid UK
– Global Justice Now
– Oxfam GB

19.09.2024 - 02:21 [ Amnesty International ]

Israel must implement UNGA resolution by ending its unlawful occupation of Palestinian Territory

Responding to the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution today demanding that Israel end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) within 12 months, in compliance with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) July advisory opinion, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, said:

“Today’s resolution makes crystal-clear that Israel’s 57-year occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in flagrant violation of international law, cannot be allowed to continue any longer.

06.04.2024 - 19:27 [ Amnesty International USA ]

Amnesty International Demands U.S. Suspension of Weapons Transfer to Government of Israel

(04.04.2024)

The Biden administration has continued to provide weapons at a rapid pace despite the overwhelming evidence that war crimes are being committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip using U.S.-made munitions. While Palestinians in Gaza remain at risk of genocide and an imminent Israeli government-engineered famine, President Biden last week authorized the transfer of 1,800 MK84 2000-pound bombs that one senior administration official said, “can destroy entire blocks.” opens in a new tab According to news reports, the President is also getting close to greenlighting a sale of $18 billion for American-made F-15 fighter jets. opens in a new tab

27.02.2024 - 00:55 [ Amnesty International ]

Israel defying ICJ ruling to prevent genocide by failing to allow adequate humanitarian aid to reach Gaza

One month after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered “immediate and effective measures” to protect Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip from the risk of genocide by ensuring sufficient humanitarian assistance and enabling basic services, Israel has failed to take even the bare minimum steps to comply, Amnesty International said today.

The order to provide aid was one of six provisional measures ordered by the Court on 26 January and Israel was given one month to report back on its compliance with the measures. Over that period Israel has continued to disregard its obligation as the occupying power to ensure the basic needs of Palestinians in Gaza are met.

Israeli authorities have failed to ensure sufficient life-saving goods and services are reaching a population at risk of genocide and on the brink of famine due to Israel’s relentless bombardment and the tightening of its 16-year-long illegal blockade. They have also failed to lift restrictions on the entry of life-saving goods, or open additional aid access points and crossings or put in place an effective system to protect humanitarians from attack.

10.02.2024 - 13:44 [ Amnesty International ]

Pakistan: Election-day internet shutdown is a reckless attack on people’s rights

(08.02.2024)

On 6 February, Amnesty International and other members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 300 organisations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns — wrote to the caretaker Prime Minister Mr Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, to ensure unfettered access to the internet, social media platforms, and all other communication channels throughout Pakistan’s general election.

Pakistani authorities have already imposed multiple shutdowns that violated the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including of opposition leaders and parties, during this election cycle.

09.02.2024 - 21:50 [ Hamoked.org ]

Israel-based civil society and human rights organizations call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the immediate release of hostages

We, the undersigned Israel-based civil society and human rights organizations, call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and demand the immediate release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. An immediate ceasefire will prevent further loss of civilian lives and facilitate access to vital aid for Gaza to address the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe there.

09.02.2024 - 21:14 [ Communist Party of Israel ]

Civil Society and Human Rights Organizations in Israel Called for a Ceasefire

Among the civil society and human rights organizations who signed the statement: Akevot – Institute for Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Research, Amnesty International Israel, Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights, Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Combatants for Peace, Emek Shaveh, Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Green Olive Collective, HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, Haqel – In Defense of Human Rights, Ir Amim, Isha L’isha Haifa Feminist Center, Jordan Valley Activists, Looking the Occupation in the Eye, Machsom Watch, Mothers Against Violence, New Profile – The Movement to Demilitarize Israeli Society, Parents Against Child Detention, Peace Now. Physicians for Human Rights PsychoActive – Mental Health Professionals for Human Rights, Rabbis for Human Rights, Rea’cha Kamocha, Social Workers for Peace and Welfare, Standing Together, This Is Not an Ulpan, Torat Tzedek, Yesh Din, Yesh Gvul and Zazim – Community Action.

27.01.2024 - 06:15 [ Amnesty International ]

Israel must comply with key ICJ ruling ordering it do all in its power to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

“Today’s decision is an authoritative reminder of the crucial role of international law in preventing genocide and protecting all victims of atrocity crimes. It sends a clear message that the world will not stand by in silence as Israel pursues a ruthless military campaign to decimate the population of the Gaza Strip and unleash death, horror and suffering against Palestinians on an unprecedented scale,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

“However, the ICJ decision alone cannot put an end to the atrocities and devastation Gazans are witnessing. Alarming signs of genocide in Gaza, and Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law highlight the urgent need for effective, unified pressure on Israel to stop its onslaught against Palestinians. An immediate ceasefire by all parties remains essential and – although not ordered by the Court – is the most effective condition to implement the provisional measures and end unprecedented civilian suffering.

12.12.2023 - 16:27 [ Amnesty International ]

Ahead of the UNGA vote for a ceasefire today, we reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire in the OPT and Israel to halt civilian bloodshed and to curb devastating humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Sign our petition for a ceasefire now

09.09.2023 - 17:12 [ Amnesty International ]

ISRAEL’S OCCUPATION: 50 YEARS OF DISPOSSESSION

(June 2017)

For half a century, Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip has resulted in systematic human rights violations against Palestinians living there.

03.05.2023 - 05:00 [ Yahoo.com ]

Amnesty accuses Burkina army of village massacre

Another accused the Burkinabe army of the massacre, saying he saved his life by covering himself with the blood of corpses.

Residents of the nearby town of Ouahigouya also said they saw the battalion pass through towards Karma and return on April 23 before heading to the capital Ouagadougou, Amnesty said.

28.10.2022 - 23:40 [ Commondreams.org ]

Amnesty Says ICC Israel Probe Should Include ‚Crime Against Humanity of Apartheid‘

(October 25, 2022)

Calling for the International Criminal Court to open a new investigation into possible war crimes by Israeli military forces in Gaza in August, Amnesty International on Tuesday said the court must also include Israel‘s illegal apartheid policies against the Occupied Palestinian Territories in its probe.

The organization‘s call centered on the three-day offensive launched by Israel between August 5-8 in the Gaza Strip, with advocates saying its research suggests three specific attacks could amount to war crimes.

22.04.2022 - 08:31 [ Amnesty.org.uk ]

UK: Home Secretary agreeing to Assange extradition would threaten media freedom

If the Home Secretary certifies the US request to extradite Julian Assange it will violate the prohibition against torture and set an alarming precedent for publishers and journalists around the world, Amnesty International said today, following the Westminster Magistrates’ Court decision this morning to issue an order to extradite the WikiLeaks founder to the United States.

The case will now be sent to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, who will decide whether to certify the US request by 18 May.

22.04.2022 - 08:18 [ Wikileaks / Twitter ]

Amnesty International: ‚If the Home Secretary certifies the US request to extradite Julian Assange it will violate the prohibition against torture and set an alarming precedent for publishers and journalists around the world‘ @amnesty #FreeAssangeNOW

04.02.2022 - 09:21 [ Gisha.org/ ]

Human rights organizations in Israel condemn vicious attacks on Amnesty International

Signed,

Adalah, Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Combatants for Peace, Gisha, HaMoked: Center for the Defense of the Individual, Haqel: In Defence of Human Rights, Human Rights Defenders Fund, Ofek: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, Parents Against Child Detention, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, The Public Committee Against Torture In
Israel, and Yesh Din

04.02.2022 - 09:16 [ B'Tselem ]

B‘Tselem welcomes Amnesty International‘s new report, calling the Israeli regime what it is: apartheid.

This is an essential step in the struggle to change this reality, towards a future where all people living here will enjoy justice, equality and respect for their human rights.

The panic sounded by Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid, as well as the false claims made by various Israeli “Hasbara” organizations, as if the report is an attempt to deny the State of Israel’s right to exist, reveal their stance – that a regime of Jewish supremacy is justifiable, and should be perpetuated. Yet, the demand for equality and for the protection of human rights for all, threatens only those opposed to these values. The claim that this demand causes them harm makes it abundantly clear which side they have chosen.

04.02.2022 - 09:08 [ Amnesty International ]

Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: a cruel system of domination and a crime against humanity

(February 1, 2022)

Israeli authorities must be held accountable for committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians, Amnesty International said today in a damning new report. The investigation details how Israel enforces a system of oppression and domination against the Palestinian people wherever it has control over their rights. This includes Palestinians living in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), as well as displaced refugees in other countries.

The comprehensive report, Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime against Humanity, sets out how massive seizures of Palestinian land and property, unlawful killings, forcible transfer, drastic movement restrictions, and the denial of nationality and citizenship to Palestinians are all components of a system which amounts to apartheid under international law. This system is maintained by violations which Amnesty International found to constitute apartheid as a crime against humanity, as defined in the Rome Statute and Apartheid Convention.

26.10.2021 - 10:45 [ Amnesty International ]

US/UK: “Drop the charges, stop the extradition and free Julian Assange,” says Amnesty head

Ahead of an appeal hearing against the decision by a UK court not to extradite Julian Assange to the USA, Amnesty International’s Secretary General has called on US authorities to drop the charges against him and the UK authorities not to extradite him but release him immediately.

The call by Agnès Callamard follows an investigation by Yahoo News revealing that US security services considered kidnapping or killing Julian Assange when he was resident in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. These reports further weaken already unreliable US diplomatic assurances that Assange will not be placed in conditions that could amount to ill-treatment if extradited.

28.07.2021 - 12:35 [ Amnesty International ]

Joint open letter by civil society organizations and independent experts calling on states to implement an immediate moratorium on the sale, transfer and use of surveillance technology

The investigation has so far also identified at least 180 journalists in 20 countries who were selected for potential targeting with NSO spyware between 2016 to June 2021. Deeply concerning details that have emerged include evidence that family members of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi were targeted with Pegasus software before and after his murder in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 by Saudi operatives,despite repeated denials from NSO Group that its products were used to target Khashoggi or his family members.

The revelations are only a tip of the iceberg.

28.07.2021 - 12:27 [ Digitalcourage.de ]

Digitalcourage und 145 weitere Organisationen fordern ein sofortiges Moratorium für Überwachungstechnologien

Digitalcourage und 145 weitere Organisationen fordern ein sofortiges Moratorium für Überwachungstechnologien. Als Reaktion auf die Veröffentlichungen des „Pegasus-Projekt“ ist jetzt die Politik gefordert, den Schutz von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern in den Vordergrund zu stellen. Daher müssen staatliche Genehmigungen für Verkauf und Export solcher Technologien umgehend ausgesetzt werden, mindestens bis Regulierungen zum Schutz der Menschenrechte umgesetzt wurden.

Die Berichterstattung der letzten Woche zum Pegasus-Projekt hat bestätigt, wie gefährlich die Entwicklung, der Vertrieb und die Nutzung von Überwachungstechnologien für Demokratie und Menschenrechte ist. Der Einsatz von Staatstrojanern, wie der Pegasus-Software, ist eine Gefahr für Demokratie und Menschenrechte. Durch die Installation derartiger Software können Dritte die vollständige Kontrolle über das Gerät übernehmen und so z.B. Nachrichten auf einem Smartphone mitlesen oder Mikrofon und Kamera aus der Ferne einschalten. Daher haben sich über 145 Organisationen und 28 Expert.innen zusammengetan und einen offenen Brief verfasst, welcher nun von Amnesty International veröffentlicht wurde.

19.07.2021 - 06:19 [ Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project / Twitter ]

iMessage, WhatsApp, and FaceTime are vulnerable to „zero-click exploits“ — bugs that allow hackers to commandeer a mobile phone even when the target does nothing to trigger the breach. #PegasusProject

19.07.2021 - 06:15 [ Bill Marczak / Twitter ]

(1) @AmnestyTech saw an iOS 14.6 device hacked with a zero-click iMessage exploit to install Pegasus. We at @citizenlab also saw 14.6 device hacked with a zero-click iMessage exploit to install Pegasus. All this indicates that NSO Group can break into the latest iPhones.

19.07.2021 - 05:06 [ Tagesschau.de ]

Spähsoftware: Wie „Pegasus“ aufs Handy kommt

Sicherheitsexperten von Amnesty International fanden auf mehreren, auch aktuellen iPhones Spuren der „Pegasus“-Software, die anscheinend auf diesem Weg auf das Gerät gelangt war. Ihrer Analyse zufolge kann das Spähprogramm unter Ausnutzung des internetbasierten Dienstes iMessage aus der Ferne installiert werden. Die NSO-Kunden müssen dafür nur die Telefonnummer der Zielperson eingeben.

19.07.2021 - 04:48 [ Tagesschau.de ]

Trojaner „Pegasus“: Wie autoritäre Staaten ihre Gegner ausspähen

Gemeinsam mit der Organisation Forbidden Stories und Amnesty International haben die Journalisten einen Datensatz von mehr als 50.000 Telefonnummern ausgewertet.

Es handelt sich dabei um eine Liste von potenziellen Ausspähzielen, die von Kunden der israelischen Firma NSO Group ausgewählt wurden. NSO gehört zu den führenden Herstellern kommerzieller Spionagesoftware,

19.07.2021 - 04:40 [ Haaretz ]

NSO‘s Pegasus: The Israeli Cyber Weapon Oppressive Regimes Used Against 180 Journalists

Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International had access to a leak of more than 50,000 records of phone numbers that NSO clients selected for surveillance. According to an analysis of these records by the group and its partners, more than 180 journalists were selected in 21 countries by at least 12 NSO clients.

26.04.2021 - 23:34 [ Amnesty International ]

Egypt: Nine people put to death in chilling Ramadan executions

Responding to the news that the Egyptian authorities executed nine people today, including an 82-year-old man, after a grossly unfair trial, in relation to the killing of 13 police officers during an attack on Kerdasa police station in August 2013, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Research and Advocacy Director, Philip Luther said:

23.03.2021 - 19:18 [ Al Jazeera ]

Top Saudi official issued death threat against UN investigator

A senior official issued a death threat against UN investigator Agnes Callamard following her inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Guardian reported on Tuesday.

08.02.2021 - 20:40 [ Al Jazeera ]

French security bill: ‘Illegal tactics’ used against protesters

Amnesty condemns police arrests of people who attended mass demonstrations against controversial bill.

10.08.2020 - 04:50 [ Max Blumenthal / the Grayzone ]

Western media’s favorite Hong Kong ‘freedom struggle writer’ is American ex-Amnesty staffer in yellowface

Since bursting onto the Hong Kong Twitter scene, Kong Tsung-gan has been quoted by a who’s who of Western corporate media outlets. He has been described as an “author” (CNN, Globe and Mail, Time), “writer and activist” (New York Times, Washington Post), “activist and author” (LA Times),“activist” (AFP, Al Jazeera), “writer, educator and activist” (Guardian), “political writer” (Foreign Policy), “writer” (Vice), and “Hong Kong writer and activist” in an op-ed posted by the Nikkei Asian Review.

Kong has also been cited as a “Hong Kong journalist and rights activist” by Radio Free Asia and as a “rights activist and author” by Voice of America, two subsidiaries of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Tasked with a mission to “be consistent with the broad foreign policy objectives of the United States,” the USAGM budgeted around $2 million to support protests in Hong Kong in 2020.

10.08.2020 - 04:36 [ Mark Ames / Twitter ]

Remember “Gay Girl In Damascus” the fake Syrian lesbian aka Tom MacMaster, who rallied gullible western liberal support for Syria regime change? Turns out one of the most popular US-backed Hong Kong protest “voices” is another hoax

04.08.2020 - 13:00 [ The Hill ]

Police committed 125 human rights violations during Floyd protests: Amnesty

In the report published Tuesday, Amnesty alleges the violations occurred in 40 states during demonstrations following the May 25 police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis.

04.08.2020 - 12:41 [ Tagesschau ]

Amnesty International: Schwere Vorwürfe gegen US-Polizei

Die Sicherheitskräfte hätten wiederholt körperliche Gewalt, chemische Reizstoffe wie Tränengas und Pfefferspray sowie Geschosse eingesetzt, um friedliche Proteste aufzulösen, heißt es in der Studie. Die jüngsten Ereignisse hätten Bedenken hinsichtlich „des Rechts auf Leben, der Sicherheit von Personen, dem gleichen Schutz vor dem Gesetz“ sowie der freien Meinungsäußerung und der friedlichen Versammlung geweckt.

14.07.2020 - 10:11 [ theGuardian.com ]

Israeli court dismisses Amnesty bid to block spyware firm NSO

A Tel Aviv court has rejected a legal case filed by Amnesty International that attempted to block the Israeli spyware firm NSO Group from selling its cyberweapons internationally.

The rights groups sought to force the Israeli defence ministry to revoke NSO Group’s export licence for its leading phone-hacking software, Pegasus. Amnesty’s lawyers alleged the product had been used by repressive governments to target activists, including one the rights group’s own researchers, as well as journalists.

14.07.2020 - 10:09 [ Amnesty.org ]

Israel: Court rejects bid to revoke notorious spyware firm NSO Group’s export licence

“Today’s disgraceful ruling is a cruel blow to people put at risk around the world by NSO Group selling its products to notorious human rights abusers. At a moment when NSO and the Israeli MOD should be held accountable for their practices, it is appalling that the court has failed to do so.

“NSO Group continues to profit from human rights abuses with impunity. The ruling of the court flies in the face of the mountains of evidence of NSO Group’s spyware being used to target human rights defenders from Saudi Arabia to Mexico, including the basis of this case – the targeting of one of our own Amnesty employees. We will continue to do all we can to stop NSO Group’s spyware being used to commit human rights abuses.

25.06.2020 - 21:41 [ Amnesty International USA ]

With Whom are Many U.S. Police Departments Training? With a Chronic Human Rights Violator – Israel

(August 25, 2016)

Baltimore law enforcement officials, along with hundreds of others from Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington state as well as the DC Capitol police have all traveled to Israel for training. Thousands of others have received training from Israeli officials here in the U.S.

Many of these trips are taxpayer funded while others are privately funded. Since 2002, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs have paid for police chiefs, assistant chiefs and captains to train in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

22.06.2020 - 08:24 [ Haaretz ]

Israel‘s NSO Helped Moroccan Gov‘t Spy on Journalist, Amnesty Claims

Israeli cyber espionage company NSO provided tools that helped the Moroccan regime track a local journalist named Omar Radi, according to a thorough investigation that human rights organization Amnesty International conducted over the past few months. The report was released on Monday.

The espionage against Radi began only a few days after NSO ostensibly committed itself to a new policy of transparency in keeping with the United Nations’ human rights guidelines for companies, according to the Amnesty investigation.

22.06.2020 - 01:06 [ Tagesschau ]

Journalist mit „Pegasus“ ausgespäht?

Das Programm, das auf sein Handy gespielt worden sein soll, soll laut Amnesty-Analyse von der israelischen Firma NSO stammen und nennt sich „Pegasus“. Mithilfe der Software ist es möglich, jegliche Kommunikation eines Mobiltelefons mitzuschneiden – egal, ob es sich dabei um Telefonate, SMS oder E-Mails handelt. Offiziell wird die NSO-Software zur Jagd auf Verbrecher und Terroristen eingesetzt.