U.N. Report Finds Possible War Crimes Committed in Gaza by Both Israel and Palestinian Militants

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

JERUSALEM, Israel – The United Nations released a report on Monday concluding that war crimes may have been committed by both Israel and Palestinian militants during the 2014 conflict in the Gaza Strip. The investigation revealed “serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

Shoppers take cover in shopping mall as air raid siren warns of incoming rockets on July 10, 2014. (Photo Courtesy of New York Times)

The report found that 2,251 Palestinians were killed, 1,462 of whom were civilians. It was also found that 67 Israeli soldiers were killed, as well as six civilians. Children on both sides were “savagely affected,” the report concluded. “Children on both sides suffered from bed-wetting, shaking at night, clinging to parents, nightmares, and increased levels of aggressiveness.”

The conflict, which ended with a truce, lasted for 50 days during July and August 2014. On June 12, 2014 three teenagers had been kidnapped and killed by two Hamas militants. Israel cracked down against Hamas who responded with rocket fire. Israel in turn began a military operation and launched an offensive against Gaza Strip.

The report stated that Israel launched 6,000 airstrikes, 14,500 tank shells, and 35,000 artillery shells. Palestinians were found to have used 4,881 rockets and 1,753 mortars.

It was found that Israel used artillery in residential areas, which violated rules of “distinction, precaution, and proportionality.” These violations could constitute as a war crime. In addition, attacks on medical and school facilities that had been used as shelters may be considered another war crime.

Israel dismissed the investigation and refused to co-operate stating that the investigation was “politically motivated and morally flawed.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated that the report, “failed to recognize the profound difference between Israel’s behavior… and the terror organization it confronted.”

The report also found that Palestinian armed groups, “indiscriminate nature of most of the projectiles launched into Israel and the targeting of civilians” may constitute a war crime. Palestinian officials, while reviewing the report expressed a commitment and respect for international laws. A Hamas official rejected the reports findings that Palestinians committed any war crimes, arguing that military sites had been targeted not civilian areas.

International humanitarian law requires that there be sufficient warning when civilian areas may be affected by attacks. Israel used roof-knocks, small strikes that precede major attacks. The report found that these however do not constitute as an effective warning.

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) led the investigation, which resulted in a 217 page report based off 280 interviews with witnesses and victims, 500 written submissions, and other publically available sources. The investigation began with William Schabas as head, but Mary McGowan Davis, took over after allegations of bias. William Schabas had previously done work for the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The UN Human Rights Council will discuss the report this month. Ms. McGowan Davis stated that the report must not be considered a judicial process but rather as objective findings to lay groundwork for further investigation.

For further information, please see:

BBC- Gaza Conflict 2014: ‘War Crimes by Both Sides’- UN – 22 June 2015

CNN- Israel, Palestinians Both may Have Committed War Crimes in 2014 Conflict – 22 June 2015

New York Times- U.N. Report on Gaza Finds Evidence of War Crimes by Israel and by Palestine Militants – 22 June 2015

Reuters- Israel, Palestinians may Have Committed War Crimes in Gaza: U.N. Report– 22 June 2015

Attack by Ethnic Uighurs was Likely Fueled by China’s Religious Controls

By Christine Khamis, Impunity Watch Reporter

 

BEIJING, China –

A clash between Ethnic Uighurs and Chinese police on Monday led to the death of an estimated 18 people in Kashgar, a city in the Xinjiang region in western China. The attack by the Uighurs on a police checkpoint was reported by Radio Free Asia.

Radio Free Asia, or RFA, is a Washington-based news service that employs Uighur reporters. Chinese news media fails to report much of what the RFA and pro-Uighur websites report on attacks against Chinese authorities.

RFA has reported that a car attempted to go through the police checkpoint in the Xinjiang region without stopping. A police officer attempted to stop the car and the car backed up, crushing the officer’s leg. Two individuals got out of the car and stabbed two traffic officers. Several other attackers arrived at the scene, as well as armed police officers. 15 of the attackers and 3 police officers were killed during the attack.

The RFA’s report has been corroborated by members of the neighborhood where the attack occurred. A police officer also confirmed the attack but wished to remain anonymous because he was not allowed to speak with foreign news organizations.

There is a long history of tension and conflict between the Uighurs and Chinese authorities. Tensions especially intensified in 2009 when there was ethnic rioting in Urumqi, Xinjiang’s regional capital. Hundreds of people have been killed during attacks throughout the past three years.

The Uighurs are an ethnic Turkish group comprising more than forty percent of the 22 million people in the Xinjiang region. Most Uighurs are Muslim. Beijing has increasingly controlled the Uighurs’ right to practice Islam, including allowing fewer mosques and strict oversight of religious schools.

In July 2014, some Muslim civil servants were not allowed to fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In some areas of the Xinjiang region, Uighurs are subject to fines or detention for wearing veils or having beards.

 

Members of ethnic Uighur population. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

 

The Xinjiang region has expanded economically and with that expansion, a number of Han Chinese have settled in the region. The Han Chinese are said to have the best employment options in the region and many of them do well financially. This has also fueled animosity among Uighurs.

Some of the Uighurs are separatists who want to create an independent East Turkestan, and some of those separatists commit similar attacks against Chinese authorities.

An Amnesty International report in 2013 stated that Chinese authorities criminalized “what they labeled ‘illegal religious’ and ‘separatist’ activities” and cracked down on “peaceful expressions of cultural identity”.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC – China Police Checkpoint Attack ‘Kills 18’ in Xinjiang – 24 June 2015

Bloomberg Business – Attack in China’s Xinjiang Region Kills at Least 18, RFA Reports – 24 June 2015

New York Times – Deadly Clash Between Police and Ethnic Uighurs Reported in Xinjiang Region of China –24 June 2015

Reuters – Bomb Attack In Restive Xinjiang and Police Response Kill at Least 18: Radio Free Asia – 24 June 2015

BBC – Why Is There Tension Between China and the Uighurs? – 26 September 2014

Amnesty International – Annual Report: China 2013 – 25 May 2013

Amnesty International, Others, Barred from Azerbaijan During European Games

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

BAKU, Azerbaijan–

From June 12-28, over 6,000 athletes will compete in the first-ever European Games, which is styled after the global Olympic Games. Prior to the Games, however, the host country, Azerbaijan, blocked a number of media outlets and human rights organizations from entering the country due to its history of substantial human rights abuses and a violent track record of suppressing dissent.

The Baku Olympic Stadium, the main venue for the Baku 2015 European Games. Azerbaijan, the host country, has come under strict scrutiny for their human rights abuses. (Photo courtesy of The Guardian)

Amnesty International is among those organizations barred from entering Azerbaijan during the European Games. The organization had been planning to report on the recent suppression of free speech, as protests have erupted over the Games. However, shortly before Amnesty officials were to arrive in Azerbaijan, they received a message from the Azerbaijan Embassy in London on June 9th, stating that the officials were no longer welcome until after the Games had ended.

At least 20 political prisoners are currently being held for exercising free speech and protesting peacefully against the European Games, according to Amnesty. However, activists within the country have drawn up a list of at least 80 names being held, with many more experiencing harassment, and seizure of property by local Azerbaijani authorities. Among those being held that are known are Khadija Ismayilova, an investigative reporter, and Intigam Aliyev, a human rights attorney for the European court of human rights.

Amnesty International’s deputy director for Europe and Central Asia, Denis Krivosheev, said, “The actions of the authorities have only highlighted their desperate attempts to create a criticism-free zone around the games. Far from advancing the goals of press freedom and human dignity enshrined in the Olympic charter, the legacy of these games will be to further encourage repressive authorities around the world to view major international sporting events as a ticket to international prestige and respectability.”

Azerbaijan has managed to repel criticism thus far by making powerful allies in international settings. By offering things such as free trips, expensive meals and other major gifts to Western European decision makers, as well as paying agencies to lobby on the country’s behalf, the Azerbaijani government has wrestled itself into a comfortable position within the Council of Europe to avoid condemnation of its policies. Its additional resourcefulness as a source of oil and gas makes Azerbaijan a useful alternative to Russian oil and gas. Member states of the European Union, looking to avoid Russian supplies, have subsequently turned to Azerbaijan. As a result of Azerbaijan’s successful marketing campaign and the reality of realpolitik, most countries participating in the games, as well as the European Union, have remained silent about Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses.

For more information, please see–

Washington Post– A letter from an Azerbaijani prison— 18 February 2015

UN Human Rights–“Azerbaijani activists must be freed before the Baku 2015 Games” – UN expert— 2 June 2015

The Guardian– Amnesty International blocked from visiting Azerbaijan before Baku 2015— 10 June 2015

The Guardian– Azerbaijan bans Guardian from reporting on Baku European Games— 11 June 2015

Newsweek– Games Put Azerbaijan’s Appalling Human Rights Record In The Spotlight— 12 June 2015

UN News Centre– Azerbaijan: UN rights office urges Government to ensure free expression and association— 16 June 2015