An international human rights group Monday accused the Zionist entity of barring foreign researchers from entering the Gaza Strip to document abuses.

In a 47-page report, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of “systematically” preventing its researchers from visiting Gaza since 2008, only granting them one exceptional permit last year. The group also said that Egypt has prevented it and London-based Amnesty International from entering Gaza from its territory since 2012.

The Israeli occupation and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2 million people, since 2007.

‘Israel’ has long accused Human Rights Watch of being unfairly biased against it. Last month, the occupation entity refused to grant a work permit to the New York group’s regional director, though it later allowed him to visit the country as a tourist.

Human Rights Watch said the Israeli restrictions cast doubt on the authority’s claims that it is conducting its own investigations and there is no need for the ICC to get involved.

“If Israel wants the ICC prosecutor to take seriously its argument that its criminal investigations are adequate, a good first step would be to allow human rights researchers to bring relevant information to light,” said Sari Bashi, ‘Israel’ and Palestine advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

Source: AP