Standards of human rights in the Palestinian territories have fallen to intolerable new levels

"Israel violates international law as expounded by the Security Council and the International Court of Justice and goes unpunished," he said.

"But the Palestinian people are punished for having democratically elected a regime unacceptable to Israel, the US and the EU.

"In effect, the Palestinian people have been subjected to economic sanctions - the first time an occupied people has been so treated," he said.