Amnesty International Monday accused Israel of “collectively punishing” the population of the Gaza Strip with border closures tightened after the Hamas movement's 2007 takeover. The British-based rights group said the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants - which the Israeli military says has dropped by about 90 percent since its offensive in Gaza last year - did not justify the sanctions. “The blockade does not target armed groups but rather punishes Gaza's entire population by restricting the entry of food, medical supplies, educational equipment and building materials,” said Malcolm Smart, the group's Middle East and North Africa director, in a statement. “The blockade constitutes collective punishment under international law and must be lifted immediately.”
