UK names Israel as state with human rights concerns, alongside Iran and North Korea

The human rights situation in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza “remains concerning” according to an updated assessment by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

An interim statement delivered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister for the UN, Commonwealth and South Asia, gave an interim on the FCDO’s 31 human rights priority countries highlighted the latest conflict between Israel and Gazan terrorists as one reason for concern.

The report also warned that violence by Israeli settlers was also on the rise, along with demolitions of Palestinian property, and said “concerns remained” over the use of “excessive force” by the IDF.

Israel was placed in the “Countries of continued concern” section of the report, alongside Bangladesh, North Korea, Congo, Egypt, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq.

Countries deemed to have improved their human rights records included Bahrain, Sudan and Uzbekistan.

Areas of deterioration included Afghanistan, China, Eritrea and Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

The interim report noted how, in May, Palestinian and Islamic Jihad had launched 4,360 rockets into Israel.

It noted the death toll among Palestinians and Israelis during the conflict.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire,” said the report, adding that “Hamas authorities continued to repress Gazans civil and political rights.”

It was based on an assessment made from January to June 2021.

The report provided an assessment of the global human rights situation, and set out the UK government’s thematic, consular and programme work to advance human rights throughout the world.