Geneva (AP): UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has accused Israel of violating the rules of war with its blockade stopping people and goods from moving in and out of the Gaza Strip.

Ms. Pillay says in a 34-page report on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that the blockade amounts to collective punishment of civilians under the Geneva Conventions.

She says Israel should ease restrictions on Gaza immediately and move toward a complete lifting of the blockade and other restrictions.

The UN high commissioner for human rights said today that both Palestinians and Israelis committed breaches of international humanitarian law in their December 2008-January 2009 war.