Israeli Air Raids Kill Hundreds in Gaza

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

Niue MP Wants Human Rights Law

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand– Terry Coe, a Niue MP, says his country will need to put human rights standards in place for all immigrants planning to live on the island nation.  Twelve Indian men were taken to Niue over two years ago after they were promised jobs and possibly land.  After reportedly paying a New Zealand Indian tens of thousands of dollars, the men were never given jobs and had to live in squalid conditions.  The New Zealand government payed for the airfare of nine of the Punjabi men being flown back to India because the Niue government could not afford it.

The New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue, Bryan Smythe, said New Zealand had no option but to pay the fares, “These nine had been left here in most unfortunate circumstances.  They had been misled when they were brought here and they were not facing good conditions at all in Niue, with an ongoing problem that needed to be resolved and this was the best way of sorting it out.”  Niue has been in free association with the government of New Zealand in 1974, with their constitution providing that New Zealand will provide necessary economic and administrative assistance.  The people of Niue are New Zealand citizens.

The Indian men had been denied transit through Auckland, which is the only airport with regular links with Niue. Mr. Smythe said three of the twelve men have remained on Niue.

Mr. Coe said that Niue signed the United Nations human rights convention and some areas need to be addressed, “We don’t have any legislation, but it’s probably necessary if you sign the UN document then you become part of that document.  And that keeps one standard throughout the world on human rights, which we should abide by.”

Toke Talagi, the Niue Premier, has said there will be greater scrutiny of any similar groups coming to the island in the future.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report – Niue Lawmaker Wants Human Rights Law – 25 December 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Niue MP says country will need to implement human rights standards – 23 December 2008

Pacific Islands Report – Nine Indians Stranded on Niue for Two Years – 19 December 2008

Government of Niue

Assault Against Palestinian Detainees

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

International Community Call For Release of A Prominent Human Rights Activist in China

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – More than 150 international scholars, human-rights activists and Nobel Prize laureates calling for the release of a prominent human rights activist, Liu Xiaobo. In an open letter to the Chinese President Hu, they expressed their “deep concern” with the ongoing “arbitrary detention” of Mr. Liu.  “The presumption is that Mr. Liu has been arrested solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed under China’s constitution and international law,” the letter said.  The letter also asked Hu to ensure the civil rights of citizens and stand by the “rule of law” that the leadership says governs China.

According to human-rights groups, Mr. Liu, a former university professor, was arrested earlier this month for signing a petition called “Charter 08” earlier this month. “Charter 08”  is an open petition call for human rights and democracy and demand for an end to the dominance of the Communist Party in China.  Mr. Liu previously was jailed 20 months for participating in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Mo Shaoping, a lawyer who is representing Mr. Liu, said Mr. Liu’s wife had asked police about her husband but they refused to give her any information. Jiang Qisheng, another prominent Chinese activist who also signed Charter 08,  says that under Chinese law, authorities must tell family members where a person is being kept and the reason for their detention within 24 hours. Jiang said he welcomed the letter, “This will help, at what degree it’s difficult to say,” he told AFP.  The European Union and the United States have also expressed their concern over Liu’s detention.

In response, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that he did not know the specifics of Mr. Liu’s case, but that China would not tolerate interference in its internal affairs. “I can tell you that China runs the country according to law and will handle the relevant issue according to law,” Qin Gang said.

For more information, please see:

AP – Scholars, lawyers call for release of China critic – 23 December 2008

BBC – China urged to release dissident – 23 December 2008

International Herald Tribune – Petition over detained Chinese writer goes international – 23 December 2008

Wall Street Journal – Activists Demand Release of Leading Chinese Dissident – 24 December 2008

Disagreement Regarding Iranian Resistance Group’s Fate

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