"Instead
of protecting Sinai residents in their fight against militants, the Egyptian
The armed fighters have also committed horrific crimes, including kidnapping and torture of residents, some of whom were killed, the New York-based watchdog said. They have also killed captured members of the security forces, HRW said.
Access to North Sinai has been restricted for years, making it difficult to independently verify what is happening on the ground.
The report said that tens of thousands of residents have been forcibly evicted or fled their homes due to the ongoing violence.
The HRW report called on the United States, which gives $1.5bn annually in aid, and Egypt's other international partners to halt military and security assistance.
It also called on the Egyptian authorities to allow independent humanitarian and relief groups to conduct operations in Sinai, including the Egyptian Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
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