BEIRUT — On Saturday, Syrian authorities took into custody Talal Naji, a well-known Palestinian official from Damascus, who is the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC). This group had maintained close ties with the government of Bashar Assad prior to his ousting.
Talal Naji, aged 79, was detained in the early hours of the morning after departing from his home with a driver and two guards, as reported by a Palestinian official. This official, who wished to remain anonymous due to the delicate nature of the situation, indicated that soon after Naji’s detention near his residence in the Mazze neighborhood, security personnel visited his home. They conducted an interrogation with the two unarmed guards present there for about an hour.
A representative from the Syrian government noted that Naji was taken in for questioning. According to this insider, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, Naji is expected to be released subsequently.
The PFLP-GC has a storied past involving high-profile attacks against Israel. Notable incidents include the hijacking of an El Al jetliner in 1968 and the subsequent machine gun assault on another aircraft at Zurich airport in 1969. In 1970, they were responsible for planting a bomb on a Swissair flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv, resulting in the tragic deaths of all 47 passengers on board.
Naji’s arrest follows the recent detention of two members of the Iran-supported Palestinian Islamic Jihad group by Syrian authorities. These individuals were identified by the group as Khaled Khaled, their leader in Syria, and another senior figure, Yasser Zafari. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad recently participated in the attack led by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, an event that escalated into the current Israel-Hamas conflict.
During Assad’s regime, several Palestinian factions found a base in Syria, with some maintaining their presence even after the end of the 54-year Assad family rule in December. This detention highlights the ongoing tensions and the complex relationship between Syria and the various Palestinian factions that continue to operate within its borders.