In a few hours, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be addressing a joint session of Congress.

His visit comes as daily military strikes in Gaza, powered by U.S.-made weapons, are killing children and tearing families apart.

A human rights thread.⬇️ Here are the facts.

Netanyahu has evaded calls for a ceasefire and denied critical aid, even as Palestinian civilians are being starved and remain at risk of genocide.

Israel/OPT: ICC Applications for Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Sinwar and Other Senior Israeli and Hamas Officials Crucial Step Towards Justice

@AgnesCallamard, @Amnesty’s Secretary General, said:

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “No one is above international law: no leaders of armed groups, no government officials – elected or not, no military officials. Regardless of the cause they are pursuing, no one is above the law.

BREAKING: Amnesty International USA Response to New Weapons Transfer to Government of Israel

@dpaulobrien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, made the following statement:

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “One day President Biden expresses concerns about the actions of Israeli forces in Rafah, the next day he plans to send them weapons. This is at best mixed messages, or worse, total complicity.

Israel/OPT: US-Made Munitions Killed 43 Civilians in Two Documented Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza – New Investigation

@dpaulobrien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, said:

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “Amnesty International’s devastating research findings link US-made weapons to civilian killings. This demands urgent attention and action by President Biden and the U.S. Congress.

BREAKING: Amnesty USA urges @SecBlinken to Center his visit to Ethiopia on Human Rights

In response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announced trip to Ethiopia, @kahixo, Africa Advocacy Director at @amnestyusa, said:

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “Secretary Blinken’s trip to Ethiopia comes at a critical time in the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH)...

BREAKING: Amnesty International urges Biden Administration to reject detaining migrant families

@amnestyusa's Americas Advocacy Director, @amywfischer, issued the following statement:

cc @POTUS @DHSgov

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “Amnesty International USA is profoundly concerned by these reports and reminds the Biden Administration of its promise to fully end family detention, a practice that is prohibited under international human rights law.

On 1 June 2018, 21-year-old paramedic Razan al-Najjar was killed by Israeli sniper fire while she was treating injured protesters during the Great March of Return. Razan was wearing her white coat, clearly identifying her as a medic. 🧵 amnestyusa.org/endapartheid According to an investigation by the New York Times, the sniper fired one round of live ammunition into the crowd.

BREAKING: Congress must use power to advance human rights for all in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
amnestyusa.org/press-releases… Amnesty International is committed to researching and documenting human rights abuses wherever they occur. We have issued reports on crimes against humanity committed by authorities in countries around the world, from China to Sudan to Saudi Arabia.

BREAKING: Biden administration must uphold human rights for Palestinians in Israel and in the OPT

@dpaulobrien, Executive Director at Amnesty International USA said:
amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “Amnesty International USA appreciates the State Department’s attention to our report in yesterday’s press briefing.

What are the consequences of restricted movement? Abdul Nasser Al-Yazji was two years old when he died on 28 August 2020 in the Gaza Strip. 🧵 amnestyusa.org/endapartheid In 2019 Abdul had been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer in his neck, and his parents were trying to get him to a hospital in East Jerusalem to receive specialist treatment. Abdul and his family were waiting for the permit to be issued when he died.

Under international law, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty is a crime against humanity. What does this look like? Meet Ahmad Qatamesh. He is a writer and university professor from Ramallah in the West Bank. 🧵 amnestyusa.org/endapartheid Israeli authorities have repeatedly arrested and detained Ahmad over his peaceful expression of his political views, including in his writing and teaching. In total, Ahmad has spent more than 10 years in administrative detention and four years in prison. He told Amnesty:

How do home demolitions devastate communities and families? Khirbet Humsa is a Palestinian village in Area C of the West Bank, home to approximately 177 people. 🧵 amnestyusa.org/endapartheid On 3 November 2020, Israeli forces demolished or confiscated 29 residential and livelihood structures, displacing 73 people, including 41 children. It was the largest forced displacement incident recorded in recent years.

What is the toll of home demolition? This family’s story will stick with you. Mohammed Al-Rajabi is a resident of Al-Bustan area in Silwan, a village on the outskirts of the Old City of Jerusalem, which became part of annexed East Jerusalem in 1967. 🧵 amnestyusa.org/endapartheid For decades, Silwan has been the target of home demolitions under Israel’s discriminatory policies relating to planning and building (eg. denying building permits to Palestinians), and the construction of illegal settlements.

Today, Amnesty International released new research documenting that the Israeli government is maintaining a system of apartheid over millions of Palestinians. Let’s answer some questions. 🧵 amnestyusa.org/endapartheid How would you respond to the claim that Amnesty is biased against Israel? Amnesty measures each government against the same international laws and standards, using the same methodologies.

BREAKING: New report from Amnesty International finds Israeli authorities are committing the crime against humanity of apartheid against Palestinians in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Palestinian refugees.
amnestyusa.org/reports/new-re… Said @dpaulobrien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA:

"Apartheid touches on the most intimate moments of a Palestinian’s life. It separates families and destroys homes.

BREAKING: Biden administration's approval of weapons sale to Israel will put civilians at greater risk

@ptnassif, the advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa at AIUSA said:
amnestyusa.org/press-releases… "@POTUS’s approval of a $735M offensive arms sale to Israel in the midst of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups directly undermines his commitment to upholding human rights around the world.

BREAKING: Pattern of Israeli attacks on residential homes in Gaza must be investigated as war crimes

Said Saleh Higazi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at @amnesty:
amnestyusa.org/press-releases… "There is a horrific pattern emerging of Israel launching air strikes in Gaza targeting residential buildings and family homes – in some cases entire families were buried beneath the rubble when the buildings they lived in collapsed.

In response to @SecMayorkas’s comments that a detention center is “not where a family belongs,” Denise Bell, AIUSA researcher for refugee and human rights, said: “We could not agree more with Secretary Mayorkas: families do not belong in detention.” (1/6) "All family detention centers must be closed and the policy and practice of detaining families ended altogether. Children should live in freedom with their families as they pursue their right to seek safety." (2/6)

BREAKING: Today's report on family separation highlights need for accountability

Denise Bell, the researcher for refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International USA said:

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “Today’s report only confirms what this administration’s immigration policies have shown: cruelty was always the point.

BREAKING: First confirmed use of cluster munitions by Armenia is cruel and reckless

Said @struthers_marie, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia:

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “The firing of cluster munitions into civilian areas is cruel and reckless, and causes untold death, injury and misery.

BREAKING: Authorities in Nigeria must stop attempts to cover up Lekki Toll Gate massacre #EndSARS

Said Osai Ojigho, Country Director of Amnesty International:

amnestyusa.org/press-releases… “What happened at Lekki Toll Gate has all the traits of the Nigerian authorities’ pattern of a cover-up whenever their defense and security forces commit unlawful killings.