Quneitra: People in the southeastern Syrian province of Quneitra took out a rally protesting Israeli incursions following the collapse of the Baath regime. The demonstration took place in Salam City (formerly known as Al-Baath City), with protesters carrying signs in Arabic and English denouncing Israel’s actions, such as ‘We condemn Israeli incursions into our land’ and ‘UN forces must fulfill their peacekeeping role.’ A UN convoy passed near the rally en route to the governorate building, currently occupied by the Israeli forces in Salam City.
According to Anadolu Agency, a human rights activist, Mohamed Fayad, stated that Israel began occupying parts of Quneitra the day after the Assad regime fell. Fayad highlighted that when they entered Al-Hamidiya village, it became apparent that Israel was preparing for a settlement project by gathering demographic data, suggesting a long-term settlement plan. Fayad’s team is working on a documentary to highlight the Israeli occupation, although they faced detention by the Israeli military, accused of filming military installations. They were interrogated for eight hours before being released. Fayad called on the international community to act against Israel’s expansionist policies.
Moufaq Al-Hafri, a protester from Daraa, condemned the occupation as a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria. He expressed that the joy of toppling Bashar al-Assad’s regime was short-lived due to Israel’s occupation of their lands. Another protester, Omar Mohammed Tahan, emphasized the need for Israel to withdraw from the 45 villages it controls, while Youssef Al-Hawamdeh urged the international community to ensure Israel’s immediate retreat to pre-occupation borders, particularly in Quneitra.
In December 2024, the Israeli army announced its occupation of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement. This move expanded Israel’s control over the Golan Heights, most of which it has occupied since the June 1967 war. Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new administration led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa has now taken control of the country.