By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On the morning of December 27, Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a series of massive air raids on Hamas targets in Gaza.  IAF air raids targeted “terrorist infrastructure” in Gaza and included targets from Gaza City to Khan Yunis.  According to analysts, this is the largest and most intensive air attack since the Second Intifada began in 2000.

For the first time, Israel attacked not just militants ordering or taking part in operations but members of the security forces and any buildings connected with them.  Every known police station, arms store and headquarters building in Gaza was attacked, regardless of whether they were occupied.

Israeli sources said that 50 targets were struck by 60 jet fighters in the first raid, beginning at around 11.40am. A second wave then attacked militants attempting to retaliate by launching rockets at Israel.

At least 200 people are believed to be killed; the BBC reports that 225 were killed.  In addition, the raid resulted in an estimated 400 injuries.  Retaliatory fire from Gaza killed one civilian in southern Israel.

The raids followed a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s Security Cabinet to widen reprisals for cross-border rocket attacks on Israel.  The rocket attacks began again, after the six month cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended last week.  On December 25, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, issued a warning.  She stated that Israel “cannot tolerate” continuing attacks.  This warning came after about 50 rockets or mortars were fired from Gaza.

While Israel had been warning for days of action against Gaza’s militants, the scale and intensity of the attack, code-named Operation Cast Lead, was unexpected.  Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, warned that air attacks would continue until the threat of militants firing rockets into Israel had been dealt with once and for all: “The operation will go on and be intensified as long as necessary… The battle will be long and difficult, but the time has come to act and to fight.”

The intensity of the operation and the number of casualties resulted in Palestinian, Arab, and international condemnation of Israel’s actions.  Knesset Member Jamal Zahalka, an Arab-Israeli, labeled the raid as a war crime and called for indictment of Barak, Israel’s Defense Minister, on war crimes in Gaza.  Zahalka also called for a general strike by Israel’s Arab community in protest of the operation.

Arab-Israelis across Israel rallied against the raids.  Protests also occurred in several West Bank cities and throughout the Arab world.  Egypt condemned the Israeli raids and opened its border with Gaza to allow casualties to be treated inside its hospitals. 

In Lebanon, Hizbullah called for speedy international and UN action against Israel. “What is going on in Gaza Strip is an Israeli war crime and represents genocide,” said a Hizbullah statement.  International and UN action is necessary “because silence is tantamount to complicity in this aggression.”

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said he was “deeply alarmed” by Israel’s air attack and appealed “for an immediate halt to all violence.”  Additionally, Javier Solana, the European Union Foreign Policy Chief, called for an immediate ceasefire and urged “everybody to exert maximum restraint.”  White House spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, blamed the recent violence on Hamas, yet urged Israel to “avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza.”

Despite the large number of casualties, Hamas leaders remain defiant.  Exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal, called for a new uprising against Israel; “I call upon you (Palestinians) to carry out a third intifada.” He added, “Resistance will continue through suicide missions.”

 

Meanwhile, Hamas leaders and former Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh declared that Gaza would never cave to Israeli pressure, no matter how great. “We will not leave our land, we will not raise white flags and we kneel only before Allah,” he said.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Thousands Protest in Rabat Against Israeli Strikes on Gaza – 27 December 2008

Al Bawaba – Hamas Calls for New Intifada Against Israel as Gaza Death Toll Climbs to 225 – 27 December 2008

Al Jazeera – Hamas Press Conference After Israeli Gaza Strikes – 27 December 2008

BBC – Massive Israeli Air Raids on Gaza – 27 December 2008

BBC – Israel Defends Gaza Strikes – 27 December 2008

CNN – Israel Vows to Keep Up Gaza Attacks – 27 December 2008

The Economist – Hamas Rocket Attacks on Israel are Met with a Huge Air Strike on Targets in the Gaza Strip – 27 December 2008

The Guardian – Ian Black on Israel’s Hammer Blow in Gaza – 27 December 2008

The Telegraph – Israel’s Heaviest-Ever Air Strikes on Gaza Strip Kills Hundreds – 27 December 2008 l

The Wall Street Journal – Israel Strikes on Gaza Kill Scores – 27 December 2008

Yedioth – “Israeli Ministers War Criminals” – 27 December 2008

Yedioth – Mashaal: Launch Third Intifada – 27 December 2008

Yedioth – Olmert: Patience Needed on Gaza Op – 27 December 2008

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAMALLAH, West Bank – On December 20, dozens of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) prison guards entered the Oufar detention facility to conduct a security search during which many detainees were abused. The prison guards broke into rooms of detainees. IOF guards were accompanied by administrators of the Oufar detention facility. Nearly 400 prisoners were targeted in the operation.

The IOF searched Department B of the prison and violently beat a number of detainees. The detainees refused to be searched and clashes erupted in the prison compound. Administrators at the facility used open hot water cannons, sound bombs and tear gas against the detainees. The prisoners tried to defend themselves and threw anything in their possession at the soldiers. Prison guards fired at the detainees as they attempted to confront the raid using soap pieces and shoes. A fire commenced in nine tents during the attacks.

To punish the detainees, the IOF prison guards confiscated many of their belongings. In addition, the prison guards removed groceries and television sets.

Eight detainees were injured. Some of the injuries included very serious trauma to the head. According to Oufar detainees, several of the injured prisoners were suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and heart ailment.

Oufar detainees declared a hunger strike and refused to have lunch and dinner after the security search. The detainees are demanding better food, treatment for the sick and to allow detained brothers to be in the same room. They are also seeking the right to hot water for showers, sanitary toilets and installing umbrellas for visitors.

Since the clash, prison administration has revoked all visitations. Many family members believe the ban on visitation is an attempt to prevent visitors from witnessing the injuries incurred by the prisoners during the clashes.

Lawyers and physicians have traveled to the facility to provide medical treatment and legal consultation, but the administration has not allowed them to enter the prison compound. The administration has declared the prison as a closed military zone and cannot be visited.

Approximately 1,200 Palestinians are currently detained in Oufar. Most of the detainees involved in the clash were Fatah members, the movement associated with Abbas and the ruling Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Occupied West Bank. Some belonged to smaller Palestinian resistance groups such as the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, stated the Israeli attack on the unarmed Palestinian prisoners reflected “Zionist terrorism and fanaticism.”

Raids in detention facilities by “Matsada” and “Nahshon” military units of the Israeli prison authority have escalated in the past year, especially since Bini Kaniac became director of the authority.

For more information, please see:

Sumoud – Israel Revokes Visitation Rights to Palestinian Detainees in Ofer Prison – 25 December 2008

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights – PCHR Strongly Condemns Assault Against Palestinian Detainees in Oufar Detention Center – 21 December 2008

Palestinian Information Center – Ofer Prison Guards Assault Palestinian Prisoners, Many Injured – 20 December 2008

Daily Star – Israel Still Abusing Palestinian Prisoners, Say Recently Released Detainees – 19 December 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BAGHDAD, IRAQ – On December 21, Iraq’s National Security Adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, traveled to Camp Ashraf, in Diyala Province, and met with leaders of the People’s Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI).  According to a statement from Rubaie, he told PMOI that “the government has plans to close the camp and deport its inhabitants to their native country, or voluntarily to a third country, and that staying in Iraq was not an option.”

The PMOI was founded in 1965 with the aim of replacing first the shah and then the clerical regime in Iran.  In the 1980s, the group was expelled from Iran and found refuge in Camp Ashraf, in Iraq.  It was financed by Saddam Hussein to carry out attacks against the regime in Tehran.  However, following the US invasion in 2003, the group has been disarmed.  

Despite being disarmed, the group remains designated as a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, as well as the Iraqi government.  However, PMOI has been under U.S. military protection following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.  

The Iraqi government informed the group that it would soon assume responsibility for security at Camp Ashraf and that residents would be repatriated unless they find a third country willing to take them.  It is assumed that the statement means that once the UN mandate in Iraq expires, the Iraqi government will forcibly expel the PMOI members living in Camp Ashraf.  Currently, there are 3,500 residents at the camp.

PMOI have criticized the Iraqi government’s attempt to expel its members.  According to the PMOI, it members at Camp Ashraf are protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention.  In addition, PMOI claims that its members will be executed if they are forced to return to Iran. Additionally, PMOI claims that its members are protected as refugees.

A statement from the group’s political wing, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), condemned the Iraqi government decision, saying it was a “blatant violation” of international law.  The NCRI condemned the Iraqi government statements, saying the closure of Camp Ashraf “sets the stage for war crimes, crimes against humanity and is a blatant violation of international laws and conventions.”

On December 22, the AFP reported that the US has received assurances from Baghdad regarding the Iranian rebel group.  According to White House spokesman, Benjamin Chang, Iraqi government had promised Washington in writing that members of the PMOI at a camp north of Baghdad would be treated humanely.

“What the (Iraqi) government has said is that no one will be forcibly transferred to a country where they fear persecution on account of political or religious beliefs or (where) they might face torture,” Chang said.

The Iraqi government is under considerable pressure from the Iranian government to expel the group.  During the Iran-Iraq War, PMOI was believed to be involved in cross border raids into Iran.

For more information, please see:

Middle East Times – Iranian Reform Groups Urge Action in Iraq – 23 December 2008

AFP – US has Assurances from Iraq on Iranian Rebels: Officials – 22 December 2008

Middle East Times – Iranian Resistance Slams Iraqi Exile Order – 22 December 2008

NY Times – Iranian Resistance Group Criticizes Iraq’s Efforts to Expel It – 22 December 2008

Washington Post – Iraq Threatens to Expel Iranian Rebels – 22 December 2008

BBC – Iraq says Iran Exiles Must Leave – 21 December 2008

By Lauren Mellinger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – On December 20, a Saudi Arabian court rejected a plea to grant a divorce to an eight-year-old girl from an arranged marriage with a man 50 years her senior.

The girl’s father had agreed to marry her off in exchange for a dowry of 30,000 riyals (US $7,500), paid to the girl’s father in advance of the marriage.  At the time the agreement was reached the girl’s father was experiencing financial difficulty.  The money he obtained from the marriage contract would be sufficient to erase all of his debt.

According to relatives of the girl, the marriage has not been consummated and the girl continues to live with her mother, at least until the case is heard on appeal.  The terms of the marriage contract arranged between the girl’s father and the groom stipulate that the marriage is not to be consummated for another 10 years, until the girl reaches the age of 18.  As of now, the girl has not been informed that she is married.

The girl’s husband considers the marriage to have been entered into legally and refuses to divorce her.  The girl’s father was present in court but continues to support the marriage contract he entered into on behalf of his daughter.

The case was brought before the court in Unayzah by the girl’s mother in August, shortly after the marriage contract had been signed by the girls father and the groom.  At the time the case was filed the girl had not yet reached the age of puberty and under Saudi law could not file a claim on her behalf. According to the presiding judge Sheikh Habib al-Habib, the girl could file the case herself when she reaches puberty.  Currently a lawyer for the girl’s mother is appealing the verdict to the Court of Cassation – the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia.  However, the Court of Cassation applies Sharia law, and arranged marriages, including those involving pre-adolescents are common in Saudi Arabia, where the majority of the population observes the strict Wahabi interpretation of Sunni Islam.

The girls’ lawyer, Abdullah al-Jutaili, is urging the government to use this opportunity to improve regulations for marriage procedures throughout the country.  In this case, the 58-year-old groom was able to obtain a premarital health certification for the girl, despite the fact that she is only eight-years-old.  According to Al-Jutaili, the notaries who issue marriage contracts are a large part of the problem, as they often issue the certificates without first seeking the consent of the bride, and taking into account the reports of the health workers regarding the premarital tests.

For more information, please see: 

Arab News – Court Rejects Onaizah Girl’s Divorce Plea – 22 December 2008 

Gulf Daily News – Divorce Plea is Rejected – 22 December 2008

Sky News – No Divorce for Eight Year Old – 22 December 2008

AFP – Saudi Court Rejects Divorcing Eight-Year-Old Girl – 20 December 2008

Sydney Morning Herald – Delay on Divorce Running for Girl, 8 – 20 December 2008

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On December 21, Iranian authorities raided and indefinitely closed down the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) in Tehran. The DHRC was founded five years ago by 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. Ebadi received the award for her human rights work, making her the first Iranian to receive the honor. Ebadi was arrested at the raid and taken into custody for several hours. No other arrests were made, but the office remains closed.

The DHRC served as a place to report human rights violations in Iran, defend political prisoners and support families of those prisoners. The raid occurred as the center was preparing a celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Human Rights Day on December 10.

Iran’s judiciary confirmed the closure of the center, stating it was involved in illegal activities. The judiciary claims the center was acting as a political party without obtaining a legal permit. The center is targeted for having illegal contacts with local and foreign organizations, and organizing news conferences.

In August 2006, the Iranian government informed Ebadi that the center was illegal and planned to arrest those who continued to work there.

According to Narges Mohammadi, deputy head of the center, dozens of policemen entered the office without showing a search warrant. The policemen said they were not obliged to show a warrant because they were wearing police uniforms. Iranian authorities have provided no written justification for the raid.

The DHRC is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights and has also been awarded a human rights prize by the Human Rights National Commission in France.

Over the years, Ebadi’s advocacy of human rights has led to imprisonment and a stream of threatening letters and telephone calls. Ebadi has noted the raid will not stop human rights activists in Iran. She insists the raid was illegal and she plans to protest.

 

For more information, please see:

CNN – Iran Raids, Closes Office, Nobel Winner Says – 21 December 2008

Huffington Post – Shirin Ebadi Office Shut Down by Iran: Nobel Laureate Claims Harassment – 21 December 2008

Iran Press Watch – Police Raid, Close Offices of Shirin Ebadi – 21 December 2008

News Daily – Police Raids Iran Nobel Laureate’s Office – 21 December 2008