Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Amnesty International, a prominent non-governmental organization dedicated to human rights advocacy, has recently issued a strong call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The organization’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, emphasized that the ceasefire is not only a moral imperative but also a global responsibility. This call comes amidst ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups, with significant humanitarian concerns.
Amnesty’s Demands and Concerns
Immediate Release of Hostages:
Amnesty International has demanded the immediate release of all civilian hostages taken during the attacks on October 7, 2023, by Palestinian armed groups. These groups, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), must ensure humane treatment of captives, allow access to international monitoring mechanisms, and enable regular communication with families. Hamas and other Palestinian groups must also return all bodies captured on October 7, 2023, without further delay.
End to Alleged Genocide by Israel:
Callamard has accused Israel of committing “genocide” against the Palestinian population in Gaza, citing deliberate starvation policies and forced displacement. The organization claims that Israel’s recent military operations in Gaza aim to seize control of the city, resulting in increased civilian casualties and deliberate destruction of infrastructure. This has forced hundreds of thousands to flee southward within the enclave, demonstrating Israel’s intent to cause physical destruction of Palestinians.
Humanitarian Consequences
Amnesty International has highlighted the catastrophic consequences of these military operations on the Gazan population, which struggles with artificially induced famine and forced displacement. The organization argues that these actions not only endanger the lives of hostages but also threaten the overall well-being and survival of civilians.
Arbitrary Detentions and Body Retention by Israel
Amnesty International has reported a significant increase in the detention of Palestinians across the West Bank, with over 11,040 Palestinians currently imprisoned—57% of whom are held without charges or trial, some for decades. Furthermore, Israel holds at least 730 Palestinian bodies, some for decades, as leverage in negotiations. The organization calls on Israel to release arbitrarily detained individuals and end its policy of retaining bodies for negotiation purposes.
Sexual and Psychological Abuse of Hostages
Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse against hostages taken on October 7, 2023. Multiple liberated hostages have reported being beaten, subjected to forced intimacy or marriage threats, and experiencing isolation or darkness without basic necessities. Medical professionals treating these hostages in November 2023 confirmed accounts of beatings, forced participation in violence, isolation, and sexual assault.
War Crimes: Killing and Body Capture
Amnesty International has gathered evidence suggesting that Palestinian armed groups transported corpses of those killed or mortally wounded during Israeli attacks into Gaza. This prevented families from burying their loved ones and, in some cases, left them uncertain about their relatives’ status for months. At least 48 hostages have died in Gaza since their capture, while others were released or rescued in military operations. However, some hostages have been killed by the Israeli army.
Threats and Executions
Armed wings of Hamas and PIJ have threatened to kill hostages in response to Israeli actions. In September 2024, Hamas’s spokesperson, Abu Obeida, acknowledged the possible execution of six hostages to prevent their rescue. Three hostages were killed by Israeli forces in December 2023 during an escape attempt, and three more died in a bombing just a month prior.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Amnesty International’s primary demand? Amnesty International calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and an end to what it describes as Israel’s “genocide” against Palestinians.
- What specific actions by Israel does Amnesty International criticize? The organization accuses Israel of deliberate starvation policies, forced displacement, and the killing of Palestinian civilians. It also criticizes Israel’s mass detention of Palestinians without charges and its retention of bodies for negotiation purposes.
- What forms of abuse have hostages experienced? Hostages have reported physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, including beatings, forced intimacy, isolation, and threats of marriage. Medical professionals treating liberated hostages confirmed accounts of violence and sexual assault.
- What evidence supports Amnesty’s claims? The organization has gathered testimonies from liberated hostages, medical reports, and information from human rights groups like HaMoked, which provides legal assistance to Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
