Violence against Palestinians in the Iraq War

During the occupation of Iraq, Palestinians who lived in the country became the targets of violence, killings and scapegoating by Shia militant groups.

Background

A sizable amount of Palestinians came to Iraq after the Nakba in 1948.^[1] Before 2003, there were about 35,000 Palestinians in Iraq, mainly concentrated in the large cities. At the time of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the population is between 5,000 and 15,000, although it's difficult to get the exact number.^[2][3][4]

Iraq War

Things quickly went downhill for Palestinians during the Iraq War. After 2003, they became the target of attacks, persecution, eviction, expulsion, harassment, rape, and killings by Shia militants, and the new Iraqi Government with militant groups particularly targeting them for their support for Saddam Hussein and that they were treated better than Shias under Saddam's Rule.^[5][6] After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Palestinians in Iraq were subject to discrimination, violence and mass killings by the new Iraqi government and many militias. al-Hurriyya, al-Doura and al-Baladiyyat in Baghdad were Palestinian neighborhoods that were also raided and attacked.^[7] UNHCR in 2007 provided details of violence and persecution against Palestinians in Iraq, that included abductions, attacks, torture by militias and the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior and the deaths of many Palestinian women, men and children.^[8][9][10] After Al-Askari Mosque was bombed, Palestinians in Iraq were immediately blamed for the attack and became targets. According to Human Rights Watch, in March, a militia known as the "Judgment Day Brigades" passed around leaflets in Palestinian neighborhoods, accusing Palestinians of working with terrorists and said the following: "We warn that we will eliminate you all if you do not leave this area for good within ten days." Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa demanding killings of Palestinians to stop. However, violence continued and the mass killings and death threats put the Palestinians in fear and forced thousands to flee Iraq, stated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.^{[citation needed]}

Leaving Iraq

Most Palestinians in Iraq were killed or left for Syria and Jordan (None of which are signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention, although they adhere to the 1965 Casablanca Protocol without reservation.^[11]) Despite all the generosity and hospitality of Syria and Jordan to Iraqis, and their population of Palestinian refugees, both countries only accepted a few Palestinians coming from Iraq. After that, many have been left in filthy conditions in border camps such as Al-Waleed or Al-Karama, both of them are in "No Man's Land" near the near the Jordan-Syria border.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. (PDF). fmreview.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
2. . Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
3. . Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
4. Sassoon, Joseph. The Iraqi Refugees: The New Crisis in the Middle East, Paperback Edition. I.B. Tauris, 2011., p. 75
5. "Palestinian Refugees from Iraq in Critical Need of Protection".
6. "Nowhere to Flee". Human Rights Watch. 9 September 2006.
7. . Archived from the original on 2009-07-20.
8. http://www.unhcr.no/Pdf/Position_countryinfo_2007/Iraq%20guidelines.pdf^{[permanent dead link]}
9. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Iraqi Asylum-seekers". Refworld.
10. "Iraq" (PDF). UNHCR Global Appeal 2007.
11. ""Protocol for the Treatment of Palestinians in Arab States, Casablanca Protocol", accessed on March 12th 2011".