Report Omits References to Israeli Abuses in Gaza
(Washington, DC – August 12, 2025) – The U.S. State Department's 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Israel, West Bank, and Gaza, released today, omits reference to some of the most serious violations of human rights by Israeli forces in Gaza and undermines the value and credibility of the annual report, said DAWN in a statement issued today.
"Secretary Rubio has revamped the State Department reports for one principal purpose: to whitewash Israeli crimes, including its horrific genocide and starvation in Gaza. The report shockingly includes not a word about the overwhelming evidence of genocide, mass starvation and the deliberate bombardment of civilians in Gaza," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of DAWN. "Rubio has defied the letter and intent of U.S. laws requiring the State Department to report truthfully and comprehensively about every country's human rights abuses, instead offering up anodyne cover for his murderous friends in Tel Aviv."
"Contrary to established practice, Secretary of State Rubio and the Senior Official of the Bureau of Democracy, Human RIghts and Labor both did not join the press conference to present the Reports," noted DAWN advocacy director Raed Jarrar. "Moreover, the Department Spokesperson refused to answer questions about the details of the Reports, including questions about Israel and Palestine."
"The Human Rights Reports have been among the U.S. Government's most-read documents," said DAWN senior advisor and 32-year State Department official Charles Blaha. "This year, the Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Reports' significant omissions render them functionally useless for Congress and the public as nothing more than a pro-Israel document."
*This is an updated version of the statement, reflecting corrections to the previously released draft.
