Some Israeli actions in Syria may amount to war crimes, UN probe says

The UN Syria commission has expressed deep concern over Israel's military activity within Syrian territory, warning that some actions may constitute war crimes. In an update to the UN Human Rights Council, Commissioner Fionnuala Ní Aoláin highlighted the increasing frequency of Israeli ground incursions, patrols, raids, and searches, which have affected civilians.

Israel maintains a temporary buffer zone in Syria, which it claims is necessary for border security, but Syria and the UN argue that this deployment violates Syrian sovereignty and a 1974 disengagement agreement. The commission has documented the establishment of Israeli temporary checkpoints and fixed military infrastructure in the southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, and has identified 49 Syrians, including two children, detained by Israeli forces on Syrian soil, many of whom were transferred across the border.

These actions, which include holding detainees incommunicado, may amount to war crimes, according to the commission. Syrian officials have welcomed the findings and condemned the Israeli military operations, accusing Israel of violating international law and the 1974 disengagement agreement.

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