The Documentary Podcast Assignment: What future for Assad's army?
The former rebels who now rule Syria dismantled the old regime's security forces as soon as they came to power last December. Overnight, half a million soldiers, police and intelligence officers, and some civil defence workers lost their jobs and income. Many of those sacked were guilty of atrocities. But the majority probably were not. Tim Whewell reports on the reconciliation process which deprived servicemen of their jobs – but delayed justice. He talks to a variety of former junior members of the security forces – a civil defence worker, a policeman and an officer of the elite Republican Guard – to ask how and why they originally became servants of the regime – and find out how they are living now. War crimes investigator Kilman Abu Hawa says only 10-15% of former servicemen are guilty of crimes: the guilty should be prosecuted, and the innocent reinstated. Nanar Hawach of the International Crisis Group draws a parallel with Iraq, where the security forces were dismantled after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Many discontented former officers in Iraq eventually joined the jihadi group, ISIS. Do the mass dismissals in Syria risk provoking a similar insurgency?
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The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
UN Security Council will vote on a resolution demanding a Gaza ceasefire, with US veto expected
The U.N. Security Council will vote Wednesday on a resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and the Trump administration is expected to veto it because it does not link the ceasefire to the release of all the hostages held by Hamas. The resolution before the U.N.'s most powerful body also does not condemn Hamas' deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza — two other U.S. demands. The U.S. vetoed the last resolution on Gaza in November, under the Biden administration, because the ceasefire demand was not directly linked to the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Similarly, the current resolution demands those taken by Hamas and other groups be released, but it does not make it a condition for a truce. Calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'catastrophic,' the resolution, put forth by the 15-member council's 10 elected members, also calls for 'the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution at scale, including by the U.N. and humanitarian partners.' President Donald Trump's administration has tried to ramp up its efforts to broker peace in Gaza after 20 months of war. However, Hamas has sought amendments to a U.S. proposal that special envoy Steve Witkoff has called 'totally unacceptable.' The vote follows a decision by an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation to pause food delivery at its three distribution sites in the Gaza Strip after health officials said dozens of Palestinians were killed in a series of shootings near the sites this week. Israel and the United States say they supported the establishment of the new aid system to prevent Hamas from stealing aid previously distributed by the U.N. The United Nations has rejected the new system, saying it doesn't address Gaza's mounting hunger crisis, allows Israel to use aid as a weapon and doesn't comply with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. The U.N. says its distribution system throughout Gaza worked very well during the March ceasefire and is carefully monitored. The resolution demands the restoration of all essential humanitarian services in line with humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law and U.N. Security Council resolutions. Several U.N. diplomats from different countries, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said they expect the United States to veto the resolution. They also said they expect a similar vote to the one in November, when the 14 other council members supported the resolution. Israel's U.N. Mission said Ambassador Danny Danon, who will speak after the vote, will say the resolution undermines humanitarian relief efforts and ignores Hamas, which is still endangering civilians in Gaza. He also will say the resolution disregards the ceasefire negotiations that are already underway, the mission said. Gaza's roughly 2 million people are almost completely reliant on international aid because Israel's offensive has destroyed nearly all food production capabilities. Israel imposed a blockade on supplies into Gaza on March 2, and limited aid began to enter again late last month after pressure from allies and warnings of famine. 'The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat,' U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement Wednesday. He called for a flood of aid to be let in and for the world body to be the one delivering it. The Security Council has voted on 14 Gaza-related resolutions and approved four since the war began. That is when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers. ___
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Keir Starmer faces calls for stronger line on Gaza
Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from some of his own MPs to take further action against Israel over what they say is a genocide in prime minister's questions, Sir Keir described the situation in Gaza as "appalling and intolerable" and repeated calls for a added that further actions against Israel will be considered, including his words were not enough to satisfy opposition critics and left-wing Labour MPs, who are calling on the government to take stronger action against Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers. It comes after aid distribution centres in Gaza were closed for the day, with the Israeli military warning roads leading to the sites will be considered "combat zones".At least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire close to a distribution centre on Tuesday, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency. The Israel Defence Forces say its troops fired shots after identifying suspects who moved towards them "deviating from the designated access routes".The UK's Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer faced the anger of backbench Labour MPs - many of whom were wearing red "stop arming Israel" badges - in the House of said he was "appalled" by Palestinians being killed when trying to access aid sites, adding: "We call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events for the perpetrators to be held to account."He added: "Israel's unjustified block on aid into Gaza needs to end - it is inhumane."Israel must immediately allow the United Nations and aid partners to safely deliver all types of aid at scale to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity." Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan called for Mr Netanyahu and "the other murderous figures who are responsible" to be sanctioned. "Words are not enough," she said, as she called for a date for when the government would impose restrictions on MP Paula Barker said the history books "will not be kind" to the government unless action is taken."What more evidence do we need to call this exactly what it is? A deliberate policy of annexation and genocide," she call for the government to acknowledge that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza was echoed by a number of said he understood their frustrations, and promised further action if the UK could not persuade the Israeli government to "change course".He added that it was a matter for a "competent court to determine".Israel says it is working to destroy the Palestinian armed group Hamas and get back hostages they have taken. It has strongly denied allegations of genocide, claims which are also being examined by the International Court of government is also facing calls to "urgently" recognise the state of Palestine - including from Conservative MP and former attorney general Sir Jeremy Jeremy told MPs he he had changed his mind the timeframe for such a move - traditionally seen as being part of a "two-state solution" - over the rhetoric coming from the Israeli government. 'Desperately needed aid' During the debate, protesters gathered outside Parliament to demand the end of arms sales to Israel, something that was repeatedly echoed by MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy MP, who now sits as an independent, is calling for a public inquiry to uncover what he called the "murky history of what's gone on, the murky arms sales and the complicity in appalling acts of genocide".He has tabled a draft bill to set up an inquiry to examine the "any UK military, economic or political cooperation" with Israel, with powers to question ministers and bill is backed by prominent left-wing Labour MPs including Diane Abbott and Richard Burgon, four independent MPs, two Greens and members of Plaid Cymru and the SNP. It has been scheduled for debate on 4 July, but is unlikely to become law without government was among the MPs calling for a total embargo on the sale of arms to Israel - including parts for F-35 fighter Falconer said the UK had already taken steps to "ensure that weapons directly for use in Gaza have been suspended," and had stopped supplying F-35 parts "directly to Israel".But he said the UK would continue to supply parts to the "global pool" of F-35 spares, as this was needed to help "the defence of Nato allies" and support the Ukraine war it was put to him that Ukraine did not use F-35s, he said the planes were needed for the redeployment of F-15s, which were used in the fight against Corbyn and other critics insist the government's explanations lack credibility and they must know that the parts are being used to attack Palestinians in Lib Dems are also urging a tougher stance from the government on prime minster's questions, Sir Ed Davey urged Keir Starmer to "push at the UN Security Council for humanitarian corridors to get the desperately needed aid urgently into Gaza".Sir Keir said that the government is "working at pace with our allies on that very issue, to take whatever measures we can to get that humanitarian aid in".Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas' cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken least 54,607 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 4,335 since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, according to the territory's health ministry.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Keir Starmer calls Israel's recent actions in Gaza ‘appalling and intolerable'
Keir Starmer has called Israel's recent actions in Gaza 'appalling, counterproductive and intolerable', as the government comes under mounting pressure to take stronger action after the killings of dozens of civilians at aid posts in recent days. The prime minister told MPs on Wednesday the UK was considering imposing sanctions on members of the Israeli government, but is so far resisting growing calls for a complete ban on arms sales and immediate recognition of Palestine. Starmer was speaking after several attacks on aid posts in recent days left dozens dead and hundreds more injured. The attacks prompted British aid charities to step up calls for urgent humanitarian and political action, and the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) described conditions in Gaza as 'worse than hell on earth'. With protests taking place outside the Commons and growing unease from MPs inside it, Starmer said: 'Israel's recent action is appalling and, in my view, counterproductive and intolerable.' He added: 'We will keep looking at further action, along with our allies, including sanctions, but let me be absolutely clear: we need to get back to a ceasefire, we need the hostages, who have been held for a very long time, to be released, and we desperately need more aid, at speed and at volume, into Gaza, because it is an appalling and intolerable situation.' The ICRC president, Mirjana Spoljaric, said what was happening in Gaza surpassed 'any acceptable legal, moral and humane standard' that 'humanity was failing' and that the Palestinian people had been 'stripped of human dignity'. Oxfam UK said conditions in Gaza had reached a 'level of inhumanity that is inconceivable in modern times'. It said there was a 'massive disconnect' between public despair at events in Gaza and what it called the 'complacency' of political leaders. Oxfam UK's chief executive, Halima Begum, said: 'It is beyond comprehension that aid distribution points should be turned into killing fields.' Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said later on Wednesday that if Israel did not cease 'the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in this place'. He added: 'I will not say from the dispatch box today when that might be.' Falconer was confronted on Wednesday by angry MPs from multiple parties, demanding stronger British action on sanctions, weapons sales and Palestinian recognition. Dozens of Labour and Tory MPs have recently signed letters to the prime minister calling for Palestine to be recognised immediately but have not so far received a response. Paula Barker, the Labour backbencher, asked: 'What more evidence do we need to call this exactly what it is – a deliberate policy of annexation and genocide?' Kit Malthouse, the Conservative MP, said: 'We're all, frankly, getting a bit fed up with the theatrics in this chamber. And, if I'm honest with the minister, it feels like the whole house is being played. He shows up, he mouths the words full of condemnation and being appalled, and very occasionally, the government leaks out just enough sanctions, frankly, I'm afraid, to keep the Labour benches from open revolt.' Malthouse's Tory colleague Jeremy Wright added: 'I now believe it's necessary for the UK, hopefully, in conjunction with others, to recognise the state of Palestine. Why has it not yet?' Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, successfully passed a bill calling for an independent inquiry into British involvement in Israeli military action in Gaza. The inquiry is unlikely ever to happen, however, because the government will not support a substantive vote that would enable one to be set up. While MPs were debating in the Commons chamber, dozens of protesters gathered outside, one of whom was arrested after an altercation with a police officer at the gates of parliament. Falconer confirmed to MPs the government is reconsidering its position on Palestinian statehood, and ministers are open to the idea of immediate recognition. Government sources said one option is to make an announcement at or after a UN conference later this month being hosted by France and Saudi Arabia to talk about a two-state solution. The government is keen to secure compromises in exchange, including an agreement by Hamas to leave Gaza entirely. On arms sales, ministers have already cancelled licences for many of the weapons Britain used to sell to Israel, saying it would only export 'defensive' arms in the future. The Guardian revealed last month that British companies had managed to export thousands of military items to Israel, including munitions. Meanwhile, ministers are fighting a legal case to be allowed to continue making spare parts for American-made F-35s, which are used by Israel but also many Nato allies. They argue that stopping such sales could harm other non-Israeli partners. The ICRG, which is in effect the guardian of the Geneva conventions governing the conduct of war, is carefully diplomatic in its dealings with warring parties and normally does not speak publicly about convention violations. However, Spoljaric told the BBC in an interview that Israel's current actions in Gaza amounted to a 'hollowing out' of international law and not enough was being done by to end the war, stop Palestinian suffering and release Israeli hostages. She highlighted the level of destruction and suffering in Gaza, and said the world was 'watching a people being entirely stripped of its dignity' and this 'should really shock our collective conscience'. She added: 'State leaders are under an obligation to act. I'm calling on them to do something, and to do more, and do what they can, Because it will reverberate, it will haunt them, it will reach their doorsteps.' On Tuesday the ICRC reported its Rafah field hospital in southern Gaza, which is close to an aid distribution site, received 184 patients in what it called a 'mass casualty influx.' It said 19 patients were dead on arrival, the majority with gunshot wounds. Eight more died of wounds.
