Human Rights Watch harshly condemned Hamas for killing, torturing and maiming Fatah opponents during the Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign. In a rare break from its reports that most often have criticized Israel or “balanced” criticism of Hamas with censure of Israel, the latest report issued Sunday did not mention the Jewish state. It noted that the United States funds Fatah forces, which the rights groups charged also are guilty of torture.
The rights group called on Hamas to end its attacks on political opponents. It said at least 32 people from Fatah and other groups were killed during the three-week campaign that was launched to stop rocket attacks on hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians. Others were maimed and tortured.
The report was based on interviews with victims and witnesses and confirms claims frequently made by the Gaza City-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights organization.
Entitled "Under Cover of War: Hamas Political Violence in Gaza," the report charged that Hamas executed 18 people without trial. Most of the victims were collaborators with Israel.
"During Israel's attack on Gaza, Hamas moved violently against its political opponents and those deemed collaborators with Israeli forces," Human Rights Watch's official Joe Stork stated. "The unlawful arrests, torture, and killings in detention continued even after the fighting stopped, mocking Hamas's claims to uphold the law."
Hamas’s Interior Ministry official Hassan al-Seifi told Human Rights Watch that his office suspended police officers involved in two cases, but the ministry spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, maintained the terrorist party was unable to prevent the incidents because of the chaos resulting from the battles against Israel.
Human Rights Watch dispelled his argument, stating that the executions continued after the end of Operation Cast Lead. The report repeated the Gaza City human rights group's allegations that several opponents to Hamas were gunned down after they escaped a Hamas prison during an Israeli bombing. Barhoum claimed that the collaborators were shot by their relatives.
As previously reported in Israeli media, Hamas terrorists shot four dozen Fatah supporters in the legs, one of them stating his crime was being overheard criticizing Hamas in a street conversation.
The reports did not spare the Palestinian Authority’s Fatah party from criticism. The Fatah-run authorities...have increased repressive measures against Hamas members and supporters there,” according to the report. Human Rights Watch recorded 31 complaints of torture and at least one death at the hands of Fatah.
The rights group pointed out that the United States finances and trains the PA security forces but has not voiced any criticism of the human rights violations. The European Union also heavily finances the PA.
The rights group pointed out that the United States finances and trains the PA security forces but has not voiced any criticism of the human rights violations.
"Western governments that support and finance the Fatah authorities in the West Bank have remained publicly silent about the arbitrary arrests and torture against Hamas members and others," Stork said.
Human Rights Watch used the same argument presented by Israel in blaming Hamas for actions by other terrorist groups. "Hamas is the undisputed political and security leader of Gaza," Stork declared.
Fatah charged Hamas on Tuesday with waging a new widespread arrest campaign against supporters of dialogue in Cairo. Fatah spokesman told the Bethlehem-based Ma'an News Agency, “Already Hamas police have stormed the homes of several Fatah affiliates and summoned dozens of others for interrogation.”
Last Sunday, Fatah security forces in Shechem shot a Hamas legislator, wounding him in the leg.