Reviewing 2007 with Human Rights Watch: The HRW 2008 World Report
On the 31st of January, Human Rights Watch released its annual World Report. This document provides a summary of the key activities of Human Rights Watch over the year, and by implications, the key areas where human rights have been of concern during the year.
The Mission of NGO Monitor is to promote critical debate and accountability of Human Rights NGOs in the Arab-Israel conflict. For this reason our analysis focuses on the section ‘Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT)’ (pp.484-91).
In the section on ‘Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT)’ the report highlights an important aspect of the conflict that is often missed in the public’s understanding, the issue of violence by Palestinians. The publics understanding on this point is not helped by the sometimes selective reporting of Human Rights NGOs. In this report, however, Human Rights Watch states, “In 2007 more Palestinians died as a result of internal Palestinian fighting than from Israeli attacks.” Human Rights Watch also explains that in the six month period since the Hamas takeover of Gaza, 475 missiles and 631 mortar bombs were launched against civilians in Israel. The report describes these attacks as “serious violations of international humanitarian law”.
There is, however, still room for improvement. While the section on the Palestinian Authority and “Intra-Palestinian Fighting and Lawlessness” condemns Hamas by name for “reportedly engaged in torture and inhumane and degrading treatment of detainees during interrogation”, violence against Israelis coming from Gaza are said to emanate from “Palestinian armed groups”. Unless Hamas is held responsible by Human Rights organisations for the attacks that emerge from Gaza, the reporting on these Human Rights abuses is a gesture without effect.
The report also notes the suicide bombings carried out by “Islamic Jihad and the Fatah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade” which killed three Israeli civilians. It highlights how “The Palestinian Authority failed to take action to apprehend those who had ordered or organized the attack.” The condemnation of the lack of response against terrorist attacks by the Palestinian Authority is welcome, but again, why was a similar condemnation not made against Hamas?
Unfortunately yesterday there was another suicide bombing. The attack killed one woman and wounding others nearby. So far no human rights organisations have condemned the organisations that carried out the attack, never mind Hamas who made it possible when they broke down the border between Gaza and Egypt. Perhaps next year’s report will highlight this and hold Hamas responsible for the attacks from Gaza. To prevent human rights abuses Hamas can not be given a free ride when their actions, nor with their inactions when these cause the death of civilians. This applies equally whether the civilians are in Israel, Gaza or the West Bank.
