Israel detains 49 Syrians amid 280 armed incursions in September, UN says
Israel is holding 49 Syrians and carried out 280 armed incursions into southern Syria in September, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has said. Released detainees alleged torture and ill-treatment, including beatings, prolonged forced standing and threats against their families, said a statement from Mr Volker's office on Friday. He called on Israeli authorities to halt such…
In September, Israel detained 49 Syrians and conducted 280 armed incursions into southern Syria, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. Detainees claimed they faced torture and ill-treatment, including beatings, prolonged forced standing, and threats against their families. Speaking on Friday, Turk's office urged Israeli authorities to halt these actions.
The statement highlighted that September saw the highest monthly number of armed Israeli incursions since the start of the year, as per open-source monitoring. These incursions included raids on homes, movement restrictions, harassment, arbitrary detention, and destruction of livelihoods. The office could not independently confirm the exact number of detained Syrians, but acknowledged that 49 remained in Israeli custody.
Turk's office called for Israel to cease harassing or intimidating civilians in Syrian villages, specifically raids, movement restrictions, detention, and crop destruction. Meanwhile, Syria accuses Israel of constructing significant military fortifications in Syrian territory along the occupied Golan Heights, in violation of prior agreements.
Syrian officials claim Israel is completing its "Sufa 53 Line". Areas near the Golan Heights witnessed a surge in Israeli incursions this year, with Israeli troops venturing into southern Syria and regions west of Damascus, and occupying parts of these areas, following the ousting of Assad's regime by rebel forces in December 2024.
The United States, supporting Syria's current rulers, has facilitated several meetings between Israeli and Syrian officials to negotiate a peace deal, aiming to halt Israeli attacks on Syria and return Israeli forces to the 1974 armistice line near the Golan Heights.
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- UN: Israeli forces made 280 incursions into Syria, detain 49 Syrians middleeasteye.net
