On Thursday, May 22, 2025, an Israeli occupation forces patrol carried out an incursion into the northern countryside of Quneitra Governorate, setting up a temporary checkpoint on the road between the village of Jabata al-Khashab and the Ain al-Bayda area, near the village of Ufaniya.
The incursion occurred without prior announcement, sparking anticipation and anxiety among the local population. The targeted area falls within the buffer zone and is administratively under the control of the transitional government in Syria.
According to information obtained by SNHR from reliable local sources, checkpoint personnel searched civilians passing through the checkpoint.
This incursion comes in the context of repeated Israeli military operations, which seek to impose a new security reality through ground operations that threaten the local population and lead to increased tension in the area.
According to initial information, the operation did not result in direct clashes or arrests, but it caused fear among residents, especially given the growing concerns that such incursions could continue. It should be noted that the targeted area is under the control of the transitional government in Syria and has been under a new civilian administration since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024.
Legal Conclusions
- These operations constitute a clear violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and a breach of international law, including Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any Member State, in addition to the Disengagement Agreement signed between Syria and Israel in 1974. The continued Israeli incursions into the border areas constitute a direct threat to the security of the civilian population and raise the possibility of forced displacement or the imposition of illegal military arrangements in the area.
- Under the disengagement agreement signed between Syria and Israel, Israeli forces are prohibited from entering specific areas near the contact lines in the Golan Heights. These incursions constitute a direct violation of the terms of the agreement, undermining any existing framework for preventing escalation.
- The entry of military forces into territory under the control of another state without a declaration of war or the existence of an active confrontation, while implementing practices such as establishing a checkpoint and searching civilians, constitutes a violation of Articles 49 and 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
- The implementation of incursions, along with the intensive military presence and the imposition of temporary field control, threatens the imposition of a new demographic and security reality by force, which may amount to forced displacement practices prohibited under international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute (Article 7).
- The absence of any direct confrontation or immediate threat undermines any possible justification for the Israeli operations under the right of self-defense stipulated in Article 51 of the UN Charter and shows that the incursions were provocative and violated the principles of proportionality and necessity.
- The sudden military deployment and entry into residential neighborhoods has caused a direct violation of the right to personal security, movement, and freedom from intimidation, which are rights guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 9 and 12).
Recommendations by SNHR
- Clear condemnation from the UN Security Council and General Assembly, considering the Israeli incursions as aggressive acts that violate the sovereignty of a member state, and an immediate call for an end to these violations.
- Calling on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to open an urgent field investigation into all incursion sites and submit an official report to the Security Council on the Israeli violations.
- International pressure on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure that these incursions, which threaten the security of the local population, are not repeated.
- Providing legal and humanitarian support to affected civilians, particularly those subjected to interrogation or arbitrary detention, with full documentation of the incident within the framework of international accountability mechanisms such as the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM).
- Demanding the International Criminal Court open an investigation into serious Israeli violations, particularly those that may be classified as crimes against humanity or war crimes, such as unlawful detention or possible displacement.
- Strengthening the humanitarian and human rights presence in Quneitra Governorate by deploying non-governmental human rights monitoring teams and providing psychological support and legal services to those affected by these operations.
