weekly report -02/12
Syrian opposition declares capital Damascus ‘liberated’, topples President al-Assad
On Sunday, December 8, Syrian opposition fighters declared Damascus ‘liberated’. According to the BBC, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies’ fighters had entered Damascus without resistance, after which they declared President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. This was confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, cited by the BBC, according to which al-Assad had “stepped down” and “left Syria.” AP News reported that prior to Assad’s departure, he had left “instructions” to “transfer power peacefully.” Russian state sources, cited by the BBC, reported on Sunday evening that Assad and his family are in Moscow where they have been granted asylum. According to Reuters, the events that ended the 50 year rule of the Assad family marked a “seismic moment for the Middle East,” as well as a blow to Assad’s allies, Russia and Iran. According to Al Jazeera, Syrian Prime Minister al-Jalali has stated his support for the transition of power to the opposition and his willingness to cooperate with them after al-Assad’s departure. The commander of HTS, al-Julani, confirmed this by stating that state institutions will remain under the supervision of the Prime Minister until official transition. The rapidly escalated events have sparked various reactions globally: While several news outlets have reported Syrians celebrating in the country, international actors have shown concern over the current instability of the situation. Al Jazeera reported that French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the fall of Assad’s “barbaric state” and sent wishes of “peace, freedom and unity.” The country’s Foreign Ministry warned against “extremism” in Syria, which was echoed by Germany, concerned by “radicalisation” in post-Assad Syria. The UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed “cautious hope” and called for a “political way out of this.” Calls for a political solution also came from a joint statement issued by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkiye and Russia.
Sources: BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, AP News
Amnesty International’s report finds that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide
On Thursday, December 5, Amnesty International published a report saying that Israel “has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip.” The London-based organization’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that Israel’s actions violate the Genocide Convention, citing a “specific intention to destroy Palestinians in Gaza” which is demonstrated in Israel’s treatment of “Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity.” Callamard called the report a “wake-up call to the international community.” According to The Guardian, Amnesty’s report examines the situation in Gaza between October 2023 to July 2024 and is based on fieldwork, interviews, visual and digital evidence, and statements from Israeli officials. The Guardian noted that Amnesty’s research builds on a March report by the UN special rapporteur for Palestine that showcased “reasonable grounds to believe” that Israel’s actions amounted to genocide. Amnesty’s report has faced a mixed reception: Le Monde reported that the US described the claims as “unfounded”, however urging Israel to improve humanitarian conditions. According to The Times of Israel, Germany joined the US in rejecting the accusation, with the country’s foreign ministry’s spokesman stating that “it is still our opinion that Israel is acting in defense against Hamas which sparked this conflict with its terror attacks.” The Times of Israel also noted that Israel’s foreign ministry called the report “fabricated” and “entirely false and based on lies.” Le Monde reported that Amnesty International Israel has distanced itself from the report, disputing the claims of genocide.
Sources: Amnesty International, The Guardian, Le Monde, The Times of Israel
Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah sees violations
Since the beginning of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the US and France, both sides have accused each other of violations. On Monday, December 2, 11 people, including a State Security officer, were killed in several Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon. According to Reuters, the strikes came after Hezbollah fired at an Israeli military target in Shebaa Farms in what the group called a “defensive warning strike.” Under international law, the area is considered Syrian territory that is occupied by Israel, as per CNN. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised a “strong response” to Hezbollah’s attack, according to The Guardian. Prior to this, Hezbollah had accused Israel of breaches of the ceasefire. A source from the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), cited by CNN, stated that Israel has breached its ceasefire agreement with Lebanon “approximately 100” times. Middle East Monitor reported that “occupation forces have shot at civilians returning to their homes,” killing some and destroying a mosque in the Bint Jbeil District of southern Lebanon. According to Le Monde, Israel has denied claims of ceasefire violations, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stating that "We hear claims that Israel is violating the ceasefire understandings in Lebanon. On the contrary! Israel is enforcing them in response to Hezbollah's violations, which demand immediate action." While the ceasefire agreement doesn’t include such unilateral Israeli action, Israeli officials claim that the US provided the state with a separate letter that permitted military action under certain scenarios, as per CNN. This was echoed by Middle East Monitor, according to which a separate agreement was signed between Israel and the US, making Israel the chief enforcer of and a party to the truce.
Sources: CNN, Reuters, The Guardian, Le Monde, Al Jazeera, Middle East Monitor
