By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – Thousands of Syrian civilians have been displaced from their homes by the Autonomous Administration. The Autonomous Administration is led by the Syrian Kurdish party Partiya Yekitiya Demokrat (PYD). The United States has backed the Autonomous Administration in its fight against the Islamic State.

The Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International, Lama Fakih, stated, “By deliberately demolishing civilian homes, in some cases razing and burning entire villages, displacing their inhabitants with no justifiable military grounds, the Autonomous Administration is abusing its authority and brazenly flouting international humanitarian law, in attacks that amount to war crimes.”

The Autonomous Administration instructed a local armed group, the People’s Protection Units or YPG, to force Arabs and Turkmen from their homes.

According to Amnesty International, some civilians have reported that if they failed to leave, the U.S. led coalition would conduct airstrikes. One civilian, Safwan, told Amnesty International, “They told us we had to leave or they would tell the US coalition that we were terrorists and their planes would hit us and our families.”

The Kurdish authorities insist that displacement was limited and only for security purposes, to keep civilians out of areas facing conflict. However, there has been evidence that whole communities have been displaced and have had their homes destroyed.

It is alleged that the YPG threatened to burn down a house, with the inhabitants still inside. Bassama, a relative of the family, stated, “They started pouring fuel in my in-laws’ house. My mother-in-law was there refusing to leave and they just poured it around her.”

Amnesty International called for the United States and other allies of the Autonomous Administration to not turn a blind eye to the displacement of civilians. The forcible displacement of civilians for no military necessity is a violation of international humanitarian law.

Amnesty International also called for the Autonomous Administration to stop the displacement of civilians and to compensate the civilians whose homes were destroyed.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Syria: US Ally’s Razing of Villages Amounts to War Crimes – 13 October 2015

The Guardian – US-Backed Kurdish Forces ‘Committing War Crimes Against Syrian Civilians’ – 13 October 2015

FOX News – Amnesty Says US-Backed Kurds Displace Thousands of Arabs in Syria, Demolish Villages – 12 October 2015

The Washington Post – Report: U.S.-Backed Kurdish Rebels May Have Committed War Crimes in Syria – 12 October 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – As many as 11 people were wounded and one Israeli soldier was killed on Sunday by a Palestinian gunman in a bus station in the Israeli city of Beersheba. The attacker was shot and killed by police in what police described as a drawn out gun battle.

An individual who, at the time was believed to be a second attacker, was shot and wounded. The individual was mistaken as an assailant and was not involved in the attack.

Over the past month, 8 Israelis have been killed in random attacks by Palestinians and at least 18 suspected Palestinian attackers have been killed in the 30 attacks against Israel. Palestinians allege that Israel’s security forces are using excessive force. The latest attack is one of the more serious attacks this month.

Israel has erected a concrete wall approximately five meters high between Armon Hanatziv and Jabal Mukaber. The goal was to prevent rocks and petrol bombs from being hurled from Jabel Mukaber, a Palestinian neighborhood, into Armon Hazatziv, a Jewish neighborhood. Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry, stated, “This has no political meaning.” He continued, “It’s one more aspect of our security measures.”

Palestinians allege that the roadblocks are merely collective punishment. Israel’s police spokeswoman stated that the barrier would remain, “for as long as needed and that it could be lengthened based on security needs.”

Israel has increased the presence of security forces in its cities as well as setting up roadblocks in East Jerusalem.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have been high. Palestinians believe that Israel is changing the status quo of the hilltop compound, known as Temple Mount by Jews and the al-Aqsa Mosque by Muslims. Israel has denied any attempt to change the status quo and holds Palestinians accountable for promoting violence based off of false accusations.

Israeli’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated, “Israel is not the problem at the Temple Mount, Israel is the solution. He continued, “We will protect the status quo, we are the only ones who are doing this and we will continue to do it responsibly and seriously.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Israel-Palestinian Violence: Israeli Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack – 18 October 2015

Reuters – Palestinian Gunman Kills One, Wounds 11 in Israeli City of Beersheba – 18 October 2015

The Associated Press – Israel: Assailant Opens Fire on Bus Station, Soldier Killed – 18 October 2015

The New York Times – Israeli Soldier is Killed in Attack by Palestinian – 18 October 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey – Last Sunday, protestors took to the streets to mourn the deaths of as many as 95 people who were killed by an apparent suicide bomber at a peace rally in Ankara the day before.  The names of those who died, were read one by one on television, on Sunday.

The government stated that it was likely that either the Islamic State or the Kurdish rebels were responsible for the suicide bombing. It is alleged that the bombing is similar to a previous suicide bombing incident that had been carried out by the Islamic State in July. That incident had killed 33 Turkish and Kurdish peace activists.

Mourners of the latest suicide bombing placed blame on Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The protestors blame him for promoting nationalism and violence in order to gain votes for the upcoming election.

President Erdogan has pursued a military campaign against Kurdish forces and much of the public does not agree with that decision. The government attempted to shut down social media sites like Twitter an Facebook, in order to prevent images of the carnage from circulating, but were unsuccessful.

The attack was one of the deadliest in modern Turkey, and many fear it is just the beginning of violence and political turmoil. Ahmet Yilmaz, who had been injured in the bombing, stated, “If these crises, bombings and blood continue, we will all be crippled in Turkey.”

The government stated that elections will still be held on November 1, 2015, as planned. Many fear that the bombings have compromised a fair election, because of people’s belief that the President is promoting violence for nationalist goals. President Erdogan wants the ruling party to remain in the majority. The military campaign against Kurdish rebels is seen as an attempt to gain the votes of nationalists. A previous polling volunteer, Omur Bolat, stated, “This bombing shows quite clearly that the election will not be conducted in a free, fair, and healthy way.”

A military campaign against the Kurdish rebels may end up benefiting the Islamic State, however. The Kurdish rebels have allied with the Syrian Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State. A Turkish military campaign would against Turkey’s Kurdish rebels would take pressure off of the Islamic State.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Islamic State Could Gain From Turkish Peace Rally Bombing – 11 October 2015

Los Angeles Times – Protests and Skepticism in Turkey Follow Bombings at Peace Rally – 11 October 2015

Reuters – Turkey Sees Islamic State Hand in Bombing, Vows Election Will go on – 11 October 2015

The Huffington Post UK – Turkey Focuses Investigation of Peace Rally Bombing on Islamic State – 11 October 2015