The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, is concerned by the continuing impact of Israeli military operations on civilians in southern Syria. Some 280 incidents involving armed Israeli incursions into Syria were recorded in September alone, through open-source monitoring -the highest monthly number since the start of the year. These include reported raids on homes, restrictions on movement, harassment and intimidation of civilians, arbitrary detention and destruction of livelihoods.
Our Office continues to document the detention of Syrians by Israeli forces. According to information we have received, 49 Syrians currently remain in Israeli custody, although we have not independently verified a comprehensive, current total.
Information from released detainees and other sources describe prolonged detention periods – in some cases exceeding a year, detainees reportedly not being informed of the reasons for their detention, as well transfers between several and unknown facilities, and allegations of torture and ill-treatment. These include beatings, prolonged forced standing, setting dogs on detainees, and threats to harm them and their families.
At least 14 long-term detainees were released during August and September, yet new detentions continue to occur. Serious protection concerns remain, with the Israeli military regularly accessing concerned villages.
We received reports on Wednesday that a farmer with a disability was reportedly shot and temporarily detained during an Israeli military incursion in Jubbata Al-Khashab in northern Quneitra. According to information received, the individual attempted to move away from the area, frightened by the presence of soldiers, after which Israeli forces opened fire, shooting him in the leg. He was then detained while bleeding, and released an hour and a half later, after which he was transferred by Syrian Civil Defense personnel to Al-Golan Hospital in Quneitra for medical treatment and subsequent surgery.
On Monday, a 22-year-old man from Jaba town in Quneitra governorate, was killed by Israeli forces near Al-Hamidiyah town. Information we received indicates that he was walking at night in an area unfamiliar to him and did not know an Israeli military position was at the end of the road. No warning shots were known to have been fired. The High Commissioner calls for a prompt and impartial investigation. Outside of hostilities, the intentional lethal force may be used only when strictly unavoidable to protect life.
Israeli authorities should cease actions that harass or intimidate civilians in Syrian villages, including raids, restrictions on freedom of movement, detention and destruction of crops. No person may be detained absent proper basis in international law, and the important procedural guarantees under applicable international human rights and humanitarian law that protect any individual taken into custody must be fully respected. All detainees must be treated consistent with their dignity and human rights.
