Violations in Southern Syria and an International Report Accusing Israeli Forces of War Crimes
September 18, 2025269 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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In a new development that complicates the situation in southern Syria, Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli forces of committing serious violations against civilians in the areas they have occupied since late last year. The international report released on Wednesday highlights practices that the organization described as "falling within the framework of war crimes" according to international law.
The detailed report documents the forced displacement of dozens of families from their villages, and the demolition of at least 12 homes in the village of Al-Hamidiyah in the demilitarized zone near the occupied Golan. According to testimonies collected by the organization, families were forced to flee without being provided with suitable alternatives or guarantees for their return later, while Israeli forces confiscated property and destroyed livelihoods.
The report also noted the detention of 8 Syrian civilians, including a child, and their transfer to Israel without legal charges or allowing them to contact the outside world. These practices, according to the organization, represent a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
Human Rights Watch emphasizes that these actions "are not justified by a legitimate military necessity," but are part of a systematic policy aimed at stripping the population of their basic rights. The report links these practices to similar restrictive policies implemented by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.
These developments come in the context of the expansion of the Israeli military presence in southern Syria, which began after the collapse of the Assad regime last December. Israeli military operations have been accompanied by official statements affirming Israel's intention to "disarm southern Syria" and maintain a military presence indefinitely.
In its reaction, the organization called on governments to suspend military support for Israel and impose sanctions on those responsible for these violations, as well as urging the international community to support the International Criminal Court to achieve accountability.
These accusations add a new dimension to the complexities in the Syrian scene and raise questions about the mechanisms for protecting civilians in areas experiencing multi-level conflicts. The situation in southern Syria remains one of the thorny issues awaiting serious international intervention to stop the escalating humanitarian suffering.
The detailed report documents the forced displacement of dozens of families from their villages, and the demolition of at least 12 homes in the village of Al-Hamidiyah in the demilitarized zone near the occupied Golan. According to testimonies collected by the organization, families were forced to flee without being provided with suitable alternatives or guarantees for their return later, while Israeli forces confiscated property and destroyed livelihoods.
The report also noted the detention of 8 Syrian civilians, including a child, and their transfer to Israel without legal charges or allowing them to contact the outside world. These practices, according to the organization, represent a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
Human Rights Watch emphasizes that these actions "are not justified by a legitimate military necessity," but are part of a systematic policy aimed at stripping the population of their basic rights. The report links these practices to similar restrictive policies implemented by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.
These developments come in the context of the expansion of the Israeli military presence in southern Syria, which began after the collapse of the Assad regime last December. Israeli military operations have been accompanied by official statements affirming Israel's intention to "disarm southern Syria" and maintain a military presence indefinitely.
In its reaction, the organization called on governments to suspend military support for Israel and impose sanctions on those responsible for these violations, as well as urging the international community to support the International Criminal Court to achieve accountability.
These accusations add a new dimension to the complexities in the Syrian scene and raise questions about the mechanisms for protecting civilians in areas experiencing multi-level conflicts. The situation in southern Syria remains one of the thorny issues awaiting serious international intervention to stop the escalating humanitarian suffering.
