UN ‘must act’ on Syria slaughterhouse claims

A handout image released on February 7, 2017 by Amnesty International shows a cemetary next to the military-run Saydnaya prison, one of Syria's largest detention centres located 30 kilometres north of Damascus, in three distinct satellite pictures: one taken on August 5, 2009 (L) , another taken on June 3, 2014 (C) and the third one taken on September 18, 2016. (AFP)
Updated 08 February 2017
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UN ‘must act’ on Syria slaughterhouse claims

JEDDAH/WASHINGTON: A damning report by Amnesty International detailing extrajudicial killings of as many as 13,000 Syrians sparked demands Tuesday for the UN Security Council to hold Bashar Assad to account for war crimes. 

Syrian authorities have killed possibly thousands more detainees since the start of the 2011 uprising in mass hangings at a prison north of Damascus known to detainees as “the slaughterhouse,” Amnesty said on Tuesday.

Dr. Nasr Al-Hariri, a top official in the opposition Syrian National Coalition, told Arab News that “tens” of other detention centers exist in the country.

The executions and treatment of detainees qualify as war crimes and crimes against humanity and “hundreds of thousands” more may be languishing in Syrian jails, Al-Hariri said.

“This brutal regime has been committing war crimes and must be tried as such. If the UN and the Security Council do not take action, then there will be no meaning for their existence as a body to protect humanity,” Al-Hariri said.

Amnesty International’s chilling report, covering the period from 2011 to 2015, said 20-50 people were hanged each week at Saydnaya Prison in killings authorized by senior Syrian officials, including deputies of President Assad, and carried out by military police.

The report referred to the killings as a “calculated campaign of extrajudicial execution.”

Amnesty has recorded at least 35 different methods of torture in Syria since the late 1980s, practices that only increased since 2011, said Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnesty’s regional office in Beirut.

Other rights groups have found evidence of torture leading to death in Syrian detention facilities. In a report last year, Amnesty found that more than 17,000 people have died of torture and ill-treatment in custody across Syria since 2011, an average rate of more than 300 deaths a month.

Those figures are comparable to battlefield deaths in Aleppo, one of the fiercest war zones in Syria, where 21,000 were killed across the province since 2011. No international observer has ever set foot inside the Saydnaya prison, according to Amnesty. 

Amnesty’s report comes just two weeks before a new round of talks is due to take place in Switzerland aimed at putting an end to nearly six years of civil war.

“The upcoming Syria peace talks in Geneva cannot ignore these findings. Ending these atrocities in Syrian government prisons must be put on the agenda,” Maalouf told The Associated Press.

The High Negotiations Committee, which is set to represent Syria’s opposition at the talks, said the investigation “leaves no doubts that the regime has carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

Anna Neistat, senior director of research at Amnesty International, told Arab News late Tuesday the revelations should be on the table for peace negotiations.

“To establish a long-lasting peace, to have any talks of peace to be meaningful, then this must be part of the peace process,” Neistat said.

Neistat said the UN Security Council has options to put pressure on the Syrian regime to halt executions by taking the Assad government to the International Criminal Court. But Russia, Assad’s ally, stands in the way.

“As long as Russia has veto power that won’t happen,” she said. “But the General Assembly could overturn the Security Council.”

The UN General Assembly can take up the matter if the Security Council fails to move toward a resolution in the international courts. However, whatever action the Assembly takes is largely symbolic since the Security Council is responsible for enforcement. Perhaps the most notable failure of the General Assembly in a similar situation was its 1980 resolution demanding that the Soviet Union withdraw its military forces from Afghanistan. The Soviets ignored the resolution.

Amnesty International’s accounts in Tuesday’s report came from interviews with 31 former detainees and over 50 other officials and experts, including former guards and judges.

According to the findings, detainees were told they would be transferred to civilian detention centers but were taken instead to another building in the facility and hanged.

“They walked in the ‘train,’ so they had their heads down and were trying to catch the shirt of the person in front of them. The first time I saw them, I was horrified. They were being taken to the slaughterhouse,” Hamid, a former detainee, told Amnesty.

Another former detainee, Omar Alshogre, told The Associated Press the guards would come to his cell, sometimes three times a week, and call out detainees by name.

Alshogre said a torture session would begin before midnight in nearby chambers that he could hear.

“Then the sound would stop, and we would hear a big vehicle come and take them away,” said Alshogre, who spent nine months in Saydnaya. Now 21, he lives in Sweden.

Alshogre survived nine months in the prison, paying his way out in 2015 — a common practice. He suffered from tuberculosis and his weight fell to 35 kilograms.

Maha Akeel, director of communications at the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said: “The Syrian regime should be held accountable for what can only be described as war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

She urged the international community to take immediate action to stop “these horrific human rights violations and abuses.”

“With such credible reports as this one by Amnesty International, the UN Security Council in particular should have the moral responsibility to remove this bloody regime from power,” Akeel told Arab News.

A US State Department official told Arab News on condition of anonymity that the US administration is “in the process of looking at the report but our initial assessment is that we’re not surprised by its allegations.” 

Tobias Schneider, a defense analyst and an expert on the Syrian war, said “the horrors described in this latest report, disturbing as they are, do not come as a surprise to those familiar with the merciless cruelty of Assad’s security services.” On its impact on the international community, Schneider is doubtful that it will change the narrative.

“Almost six years after the revolution, there is little reason to hope that Amnesty’s most recent revelations would change the fundamental calculus of those who long ago decided to abandon the Syrian people to their fates,” he added.

At best for Assad opponents, the expert sees the report magnifying “the sheer scale of the horror” that could be used to “slow (the) drift in Western capitals toward re-normalization of (the) Assad regime.” 

However, Schneider added that “with the US strategically sidelined, and a majority of European states even slowly pushing for rapprochement with Damascus, forcefully worded statements and public hand-wringing by government officials is likely the most we can expect.”

Where the report might make a difference is in the legal procedures against the Assad regime. Schneider cites “the court case filed last week in Spain, where the report can help build a historical record that may aid exiled Syrians trying to permanently entrench opposition to the Assad regime in Western policy circles."

 


King Abdullah of Jordan discusses Gaza during summit with Egyptian, French presidents in Cairo

Updated 19 min 19 sec ago
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King Abdullah of Jordan discusses Gaza during summit with Egyptian, French presidents in Cairo

  • Leaders urge global community to advocate for end to Israeli war in the enclave
  • Israeli attacks undermine diplomatic efforts, risk dragging region into chaos, Jordanian ruler warns

LONDON: King Abdullah II of Jordan emphasized the need to halt the Israeli offensive in Gaza during a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Cairo.

The leaders on Monday urged the international community to advocate for an end to the Israeli war in Gaza, restore the ceasefire agreement, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian coastal enclave.

King Abdullah said that Israeli attacks on Gaza undermine all diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to resolve the crisis and risk dragging the entire Middle East into chaos, the Petra news agency reported.

He stressed the need for a political solution based on the two-state vision, which would ensure security and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis.

King Abdullah said that Jordan opposes the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, warning against Israeli unilateral actions and assaults on Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, the Petra added.

The Jordanian ruler and El-Sisi welcomed France’s support for resolving the Palestinian issue. They highlighted the need for international cooperation, especially from EU countries, including France, to aid in Gaza’s reconstruction.

After arriving in Cairo on Sunday, Macron will travel to Al-Arish, 50 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, on Tuesday to meet with humanitarian and security authorities, and push for a ceasefire. On Monday, he expressed strong opposition to any displacement or annexation in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

King Abdullah, El-Sisi, and Macron highlighted the need for a political solution to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, aiming for lasting peace, the Petra reported.

The Jordanian delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, Ayman Safadi; Director of the King’s Office, Alaa Batayneh, and the Ambassador to Cairo, Amjad Al-Adaileh.


UAE to host World Crisis and Emergency Management Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi

Updated 07 April 2025
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UAE to host World Crisis and Emergency Management Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi

  • Forum to be held under patronage of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi and national security adviser
  • Sheikh Tahnoon highlights UAE’s efforts to address crises, emergencies, and disasters worldwide 

LONDON: Global resilience and policies for mitigating future risks will be explored at the World Crisis and Emergency Management Summit 2025 hosted by the UAE in Abu Dhabi this week.

The summit will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi and national security adviser, from April 8-9 under the theme “Together Towards Building Global Resilience.”

Sheikh Tahnoon said the summit reflects the UAE’s “firm belief that international cooperation and cross-border collaboration are vital to achieving true global resilience.”

He highlighted Abu Dhabi’s efforts to address crises, emergencies, and disasters worldwide, the Emirate News Agency reported.

“Our strategic deployment of artificial intelligence and cutting-edge innovations places us at the forefront of leveraging technology to enhance emergency preparedness and response systems,” Sheikh Tahnoon said.

This year’s summit will focus on global resilience, strategic foresight, and enhancing partnerships among governments, international organizations, and the private sector.

Emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and advanced communication systems, will also be discussed, the WAM added.

The summit will bring together decision-makers and experts, and feature two exhibitions: the Crisis Management Technologies Exhibition 2025 and the Generation Readiness Exhibition 2025. Both will explore the connections between technology and education to promote resilient, preparedness-oriented societies.

Sheikh Tahnoon said the UAE has consistently led efforts to deliver urgent aid to crisis-stricken communities worldwide, and the summit reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to unifying global humanitarian initiatives and strengthening international solidarity.

“We are confident that the dialogues and outcomes of this summit will generate shared insights and unify aspirations, contributing meaningfully to the creation of a safer, more sustainable, and prosperous future for all of humanity,” he added.


Palestinians in West Bank strike to demand end to Gaza war

Updated 07 April 2025
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Palestinians in West Bank strike to demand end to Gaza war

  • A coalition of Palestinian political movements — including rivals Fatah and Hamas — called the strike to protest what they described as “the genocide and the ongoing massacre of our people”
  • Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza on March 18, ending nearly two months of ceasefire with Hamas

RAMALLAH: Shuttered storefronts lined empty streets in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank on Monday, as Palestinians held a general strike demanding an end to the Gaza war.
“I walked through the city today and couldn’t find a single place that was open,” Fadi Saadi, a shopkeeper in Bethlehem, told AFP.
Shops, schools and most public administrative offices were closed across the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
A coalition of Palestinian political movements — including rivals Fatah and Hamas — called the strike to protest what they described as “the genocide and the ongoing massacre of our people.”
It called for the strike “in all the occupied Palestinian territories, in the refugee camps... and among those who support our cause.”
Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza on March 18, ending nearly two months of ceasefire with Hamas. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed almost daily since Israel restarted its military offensive.
“We close today about our family in Gaza, our children in Gaza,” said Imad Salman, 68, who owns a souvenir shop in Jerusalem’s Old City.
“In Jerusalem, in the West Bank, we can’t do something more than what we’re doing here now,” he told AFP.
In Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the usually bustling commercial Salaheddin street was empty.
“This strike is in solidarity with Gaza and what is happening there, and the war being waged against the Palestinian people, whether by (US President Donald) Trump, (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, the Israeli government, or the American government,” said Ahmed, who did not want to his surname.
“This war must stop, the killing and destruction must stop, and only peace should prevail — peace, and nothing but peace.”
A rally is planned Monday in the center of the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority has its headquarters.
“This time, the strike is serious, and the population’s commitment is significant because Israeli aggression now affects all Palestinian households, whether in the West Bank or Gaza,” said Issam Baker, a community organizer in Ramallah.
“We have seen total commitment in support of the strike today throughout the West Bank, which has not happened since October 7” 2023, when the Gaza war started, said a security source from the Palestinian Authority.
Since the start of the Gaza war, violence has soared in the West Bank.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 918 Palestinians, including militants, in the territory since then, according to health ministry figures.
Palestinian attacks and clashes during military raids have killed at least 33 Israelis, including soldiers, over the same period, according to official figures.


Dutch tighten controls on military and dual use exports to Israel

Updated 07 April 2025
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Dutch tighten controls on military and dual use exports to Israel

AMSTERDAM: The Dutch government said on Monday it had tightened export controls for all military and ‘dual use’ goods destined for Israel.
All direct exports and the transit of these goods to Israel will be checked to see if they comply with European regulations, and will no longer be covered by general export licenses, the government said in a letter to parliament.
“This is desirable considering the security situation in Israel, the Palestinian territories and the wider region,” foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp and trade minister Reinette Klever wrote.
“Exporters will still be able to request permits, that will then be checked against European regulations.”
The government said no military goods for Israel had been exported from the Netherlands under a general permit since Israel started its war in Gaza following the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
It said that the general license for the export of “low risk information security goods,” such as routers for network security, was frequently used for export to Israel.
It estimated that between 50 and 100 permits for the export of those goods would now have to be requested on an individual basis.
A Dutch court last year ordered the government to block all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel over concerns they were being used to violate international law during the war in Gaza. Israel denies violating international law.


Dossier accuses British serving in Israeli military of war crimes in Gaza

Updated 07 April 2025
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Dossier accuses British serving in Israeli military of war crimes in Gaza

  • Report compiled by Hague-based UK lawyers will be handed to Metropolitan Police
  • ‘British nationals are under a legal obligation not to collude with crimes committed in Palestine’

LONDON: A group of UK citizens who served with the Israeli military in Gaza will be the subject of a war crimes complaint handed to the Metropolitan Police, The Guardian reported on Monday.

A 240-page dossier compiled by a group of lawyers based in The Hague documents the activities of 10 Brits in Gaza, with complaints against them including alleged targeting of civilians and aid workers, coordinated attacks on hospitals and protected sites, and the forced displacement of people.

The dossier, which covers the period from October 2023 to May 2024 and took six months to compile, will be handed to the Met’s war crimes unit.

The complaint against the 10 Brits, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be brought on behalf of the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the UK-based Public Interest Law Centre.

The dossier includes eyewitness testimony from civilians in Gaza. One passage features evidence from a witness who recalled an attack on a hospital, including seeing corpses “scattered on the ground, especially in the middle of the hospital courtyard, where many dead bodies were buried in a mass grave.”

The account added that a bulldozer being used to demolish part of the hospital “ran over a dead body in a horrific and heart-wrenching scene desecrating the dead.”

Raji Sourani, director of the PCHR, said: “This is illegal, this is inhuman and enough is enough. The government cannot say we didn’t know; we are providing them with all the evidence.”

PILC legal director Paul Heron said: “We’re filing our report to make clear these war crimes are not in our name.”

The 2001 International Criminal Court Act says it “is an offence against the law of England and Wales for a person to commit genocide, a crime against humanity, or a war crime.”

Michael Mansfield KC, the lawyer leading the group, said: “If one of our nationals is committing an offence, we ought to be doing something about it. Even if we can’t stop the government of foreign countries behaving badly, we can at least stop our nationals from behaving badly.

“British nationals are under a legal obligation not to collude with crimes committed in Palestine. No one is above the law.”

Sean Summerfield, a barrister who also worked on the dossier, said: “The public will be shocked, I would have thought, to hear that there’s credible evidence that Brits have been directly involved in committing some of those atrocities.”

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.