By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

NABLUS, West Bank – Early on January 3, hundreds of Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers entered the West Bank city of Nablus.  Then, the soldiers conducted house-by-house searches and arrested several people, including three high-ranking members of al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigades.  Allegedly, the soldiers were following a lead in the deaths of two Israelis in the West Bank a week earlier.

During the arrests, local Palestinian youths demonstrated against the raid and clashed with the IDF soldiers.  The youth threw rocks, while the Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds, which resulted in nearly 30 injuries, at least one of which is critical.  The demonstrators were expressing their discontent over the IDF raid despite Palestinian police forces already deployed in Nablus.  In addition to the raid, IDF imposed a curfew on the city.

On January 4, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad criticized the operation and claimed that it undermined the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to secure Nablus.  Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank, has been a hot-bed for militant groups.  Fayyad designed a plan to ensure security and rein in militant groups after Fatah lost control of Gaza this past summer.  The Palestinian Authority claims that the plan, which has been implemented in Nablus, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem, is working.  Fayyad stated that Israeli operations in the West Bank could negatively impact the effort to revive the peace process.

In addition, Israel launched several airs strikes against targets in Gaza.  Target included the homes of members of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas.  On January 3, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) hit the home of Mohammed Dadouh, a rocket-maker and a member of the Islamic Jihad, who was killed by the IDF in December 2007.  The home of Abu al-Murshed, a leader of the Islamic Jihad, was also targeted.  An IDF spokeswoman confirmed the strikes but did not comment whether any causalities occurred.

In an incursion near Khan Yunis, Israeli forces destroyed a house, killing two brothers, Ahmad and Sami Fayyad, and their sister and mother, and injuring their father, Sami’s wife and daughter.  The home was destroyed when Israeli soldiers and the brothers were engaged in a firefight and the brothers were firing from in or near the house.  The house was hit by at least tank shell.  Sami was a member of the Islamic Jihad.

These strikes were in response for what Israel calls “an escalation” in rocket attacks.  On January 3, Gaza residents fired a Katyusha rocket and it landed in northern Ashkelon, about 10 miles into Israel.  This is the deepest rocket attack from Gaza.  While the rocket did not cause any causalities or property damage, Ashkelon has a population of 120,000 people and may now be vulnerable to frequent attacks.  Members of the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees claimed responsibility for the Katyusha rocket.

During a 24 hour period from January 3 to 4, Israeli operations resulted in the deaths of 11 Palestinians; including several civilians.  Israeli officials place the blame of the civilian deaths on the militants and state that militants endanger civilians when they seek refuge or engage Israeli soldiers near civilians.

For more information, please see:
The Daily Star – Israeli Forces Kill Two Hamas Men in Gaza, Wound Dozens in West Bank Raid – 5 January 2007

Al Jazeera – Israel Kills Hamas Fighters in Gaza – 4 January 2008

Associated Press – Broad Israeli Offensive Kills 11 in Gaza – 4 January 2008

BBC – Fayyad Condemns Nablus Incursion – 4 January 2008

BBC – Palestinians Killed in Gaza Raid – 4 January 2008

New York Times – Israeli Forces  Kill 9 in Gaza – 4 January 2008

Reuters – Palestinian PM Assails Israel Over West Bank Raids – 4 January 2008

Al Jazeera – Israel Bombs Gaza Homes – 3 January 2008

CNN – Israel Pounds Gaza in Response to “Escalation” – 3 January 2008

Reuters – Israeli Jets Bomb Islamic Jihad Buildings in Gaza – 3 January 2008

Yedioth – Report: 25 Palestinians Wounded in IDF Operation in Nablus – 3 January 2008

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria- Survival Sex is the term coined by the UNCHR to describe refugees forced to enter the sex industry to support their families.  Although the idea is repulsive to most refugees many teenage women are forced to enter this type of work to help their family survive, because they are unable to find conventional jobs.

The increase in women forced into Survival Sex is directly linked to the general impoverishment of the refugee population according to UNHCR representative Laurens Jolles.  “We are more and more confronted with examples of young girls or women who have decided on their own or through their families to get involved in night clubs to supplement the family income or just to look after their children,” Jolles continued.  (Yahoo News)  The girls usually make $30 a night and $100 a night whenever they enter the private villas to render private services.  (BBC News)

Some girls are abducted and forced into the sex trade.  However, there are some situations where the Iraqi refugee women willingly join the sex industry.  First, some teenage girls have been abandoned by their families and do not have a way to support themselves.  Sometimes this happens because a girl lost her virginity or has been divorced, even if it was not her choice to engage in sex.  Also, many girls are forced into the sex industry when they are choosing to support their mothers and family, because their fathers were killed in the war.  Sometimes the girls can remain at home while engaging in the sex industry.  However, it is also common for the girls to married off into temporary marriages or sold directly to exploiters who promise to support the family through the services rendered by the girl.

It is difficult for the Syrian government to be able to address the situation because the shame of the women in the sex industry usually stops them from reporting their situation to the authorities.  Also, the women who are discovered to be engaged in the industry are only arrested by the authorities and bailed out by those who are engaged in exploiting the girls.

The dire situation has caused many Iraqi refugees to lose hope and remain in the sex industry.  For example, a girl who was kidnapped raped and forced into prostitution because her father abandoned after her cousin took away her virginity complained about her situation. “Now they will send me back to Iraq, I have no-one there and in any case I am afraid for my life. I have no hope leaving here. I have told the government I don’t want to go back. My family has abandoned me.”  (BBC News)

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Prostitution ordeal of Iraqi girls- 3 December 2007

Yahoo News (Reuters)- Iraqi refugees turn to sex trade in Syria- 30 December 2007

The marine officer in charge of the soldiers who are alleged to be responsible for the death of 24 Iraqis in the village of Haditha has had the most serious charges against him dropped.

The charges of unpremeditated murder have been dropped.  However, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich still faces charges of voluntary manslaughter for the killings that were committed by his marines.

Wuterich’s lawyer, Neal Puckett, viewed the reduction of evidence of their client’s claim that the marine officer’s orders were justifiable responses in accordance with the situation of a roadside bomb.  “We are confident that a military jury will acquit Staff Sgt. Wuterich of all remaining charges, because he is, in fact, not guilty.”   (Washington Post)

For more information, please see:

Washington Post- Marine Faces Reduced Charges in Iraq Killings- 1 January 2008

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

El-ARISH, Egypt – Following a pilgrimage to Mecca, two thousand Palestinians are stranded in Egypt as a result of a dispute on their re-entry into Gaza.  The Egyptian and Israeli governments would like the pilgrims to return to Gaza via the Israeli controlled Aouja crossing, to ensure that weapons or money are not smuggled into Gaza.

However, Palestinians insist that the pilgrims be allowed to re-enter via the Egyptian controlled Rafah crossing.  The Rafah crossing is the only entry into Gaza which is not controlled by Israel.  In mid-December, the Egyptian government permitted the pilgrims to exit Gaza through the Rafah crossing, despite Israeli protests against it.

Some of the Palestinian pilgrims are members (or are related to members) of Hamas or are wanted by the Israeli government.  They fear that if they will be arrested if forced to return through the Israel.  Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, said that Hamas rejects any other crossing.  Also, Hamas lawmaker, Yehia Moussa, said that Egypt had an obligation to allow the pilgrims to return home.

On December 28, over two thousand Palestinian pilgrims left Jordan to sail to the Red Sea port of Nuweiba, Egypt.  The Egyptian government finally permitted entry into Egypt after the pilgrims were stranded on the ferries for two days.  Then, the Palestinians were bused to several camps in the Sinai until the parties agree on a method of re-entry.  Currently, Egyptian officials are considering several options; including receiving assurances from Israeli authorities that no one will arrested or allowing the pilgrims to re-enter through Rafah, despite Israel’s wishes.

Following the busing of at least one thousand pilgrims to temporary camps near el-Arish, Egypt, many of the pilgrims began protesting.  Many refused to exit the bus, while others broke windows and started fires to protest Egypt’s decision.  Masses of Palestinians gathered on the border between Gaza and Egypt and demanded that the pilgrims be allowed to enter.  However, the demonstration was quickly controlled by the Hamas security forces.

In a similar incident, Palestinians and Israelis clashed at a border crossing.  According to an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) official, IDF soldiers fired warning shots into the air to disperse the on-coming crowds and these warning shots resulted in the death of a Palestinian woman.  However, witnesses claim that following warning shots in the air, IDF soldiers also fired shots into the crowd, killing one woman and wounding three others.

For more information, please see:
Al-Jazeera – Stranded Pilgrims Riot in Egypt – 31 December 2007

BBC – Protest by Stranded Gaza Pilgrims – 31 December 2007

Jerusalem Post – IDF: Pilgrim ‘Apparently’ Shot by Troops – 31 December 2007

London Times – Pilgrims Left in Limbo as Egypt Bars Their Route Home to Gaza– 31 December 2007

Reuters – Stranded Palestinian Haj Pilgrims Protest in Egypt – 31 December 2007

AFP – Palestinian Pilgrims Stuck in Egypt Refuse to be Moved to Camps – 30 December 2007

Associated Press – Pilgrims Stuck in Egypt Taken to Camps – 30 December 2007

BBC – Gaza Pilgrims Stay on Their Buses – 30 December 2007

Reuters – Gunfire Kills One Palestinian Pilgrim, Wounds Four – 30 December 2007

Al-Jazeera – Gaza Pilgrims Stranded off Egypt – 29 December 2007

BBC – Gaza Pilgrims Stranded in Red Sea – 29 December 2008

International Herald Tribune – Close to Two Thousand Palestinian Pilgrims Trapped in Egypt – 29 December 2007

The Kurds have promised to continue fighting Turkey until they are promised equal rights including the right to teach the Kurdish language in public schools.  Suzdar Avista a local Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) leader stated that “We will not surrender, and if Turkey continues its aggression against our bases and kills civilians we will respond, we’ll begin fighting inside Turkey.” (International Herald Tribune)

Some locals have remained in the area despite the constant shelling.  They have condemned the Turkish actions.  They believe that the purpose of the attacks has only to improve the morale of the Turkish people, rather than actually eliminate the PKK rebels.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune (AP)- Kurdish rebels in Iraq vow to carry out more attacks against Turkey if airstrikes continue- 30 December 2007