Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israeli forces will maintain an occupation of a buffer zone within Syrian territory for the foreseeable future. This recent occupation has faced significant backlash, with critics accusing Israel of breaching the ceasefire established in 1974 and taking advantage of the current chaos in Syria for territorial gains.
Netanyahu visited the buffer zone on Tuesday, marking him as the first sitting Israeli prime minister to enter this part of Syria.
As Israeli troops push further into Syria, they concurrently continue military operations in Gaza against Hamas. Multiple countries, including Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., have reinstated efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the region, highlighting the gravity of the ongoing conflict.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli assaults in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians within the last 14 months. The ministry’s statistics do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, yet reports indicate that more than half of the fatalities were women and children.
The escalation in violence followed Hamas’ attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 250, with about 100 hostages still unaccounted for.
In a related development, the U.N. Security Council has released its first statement concerning Syria since the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, emphasizing the necessity for a Syrian-centered political process to facilitate elections. The council urged nations to uphold Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and stated that Syrians should democratically shape their futures, supported by principles outlined in a 2015 resolution focused on peacebuilding.
However, the council’s statement did not reference the recent removal of Assad, who has taken refuge in Russia following the intervention of the opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
The Security Council expressed its commitment to countering terrorism in Syria while advocating for humanitarian access and adherence to human rights. This includes backing the ongoing U.N. peacekeeping operations along the Israel-Syria border.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have proposed the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Kobani, indicating a willingness to submit to American oversight and distribution of security forces in a bid to address Turkish security concerns.
Residents of Kobani, however, have reacted with skepticism, fearing repercussions from ongoing hostilities and questioning the reliability of any potential agreements.
The new humanitarian chief overseeing operations in Syria has assured the international community that the rebel-led government is committed to ramping up humanitarian aid for the 17 million individuals in need across the country. The delivery of aid had previously been disrupted due to the upheaval following Assad’s ousting.
Recently, the U.N. reported that Israel’s actions in seizing the border buffer zone constituted a breach of the long-standing ceasefire.
Concurrently, the rebel leadership in Syria has begun issuing “reconciliation IDs” to former soldiers of the Syrian military, facilitating their reintegration into society following their disarmament.
In diplomatic moves, Qatar has reopened its embassy in Damascus, with France following suit symbolically by raising its flag in recognition of the regime change, while Turkey stresses that developments in Syria should not detract from Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The Iranian leadership has voiced that they believe the threat to Hezbollah and the resistance faction in the region remains, asserting that Israel cannot suppress their influence.
Israel’s recent military actions have raised considerable concerns, particularly as Hamas maintains that negotiations for a ceasefire remain viable despite mutual disagreements on terms and conditions.
Mass graves have emerged in southern Syria, revealing the bodies of those reportedly executed by the Assad regime, emphasizing the ongoing atrocities faced by the Syrian populace amidst the shifting power dynamics.
International charities, such as Doctors Without Borders, are struggling to provide assistance in Gaza amidst increasing Israeli military operations, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.
The situation remains precarious, with Israel’s Central Bank reporting minimal impact from Houthi attacks on shipping routes, while claims of a genocide in Gaza continue to mount from various global actors, including Turkey.
Iran has pledged to mobilize support against what they describe as Israeli aggression in the region but has maintained that the Syrian people should determine their own future after the significant political upheaval.
Meanwhile, the EU has committed additional funding to assist Turkey in managing the Syrian refugee crisis as diplomatic conversations continue regarding the future government structure in Syria.
U.N. representatives are eager to collect evidence of past atrocities under Assad’s regime, while the EU plans to resume its ground operations in Damascus to facilitate constructive engagement with the new authorities.
Diplomats from various nations are actively pursuing dialogue with the new authorities in Syria, reflecting the shifting landscape and the hope of a more stable and just governance in the aftermath of years of devastation.