Israeli forces commit war crime by displacing Syrian residents
- Israeli forces have conducted operations in southern Syria, resulting in forced displacements and home demolitions.
- Human Rights Watch reported these actions as war crimes that violate international law.
- The organization urges the international community to suspend military support to Israel and impose sanctions.
In southern Syria, Israeli forces have been accused of numerous human rights violations that may constitute war crimes. Human Rights Watch released a statement detailing that after the ousting of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime in December 2024, Israel advanced into a U.N.-monitored demilitarized zone shared with the Golan Heights. Israeli military presence has increased with the establishment of nine posts and intensified airstrikes on military targets in the region. The group emphasizes that the forced displacement and demolition of homes by Israeli forces, purportedly to create military installations, constitute violations of international law. Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with local residents between June and September 2025 who faced home demolitions or were restricted from accessing their agricultural lands. Some families were expelled from their homes in December 2024 by Israeli soldiers under the claim that the actions were necessary for security reasons related to new military constructions nearby. The rights organization cited evidence including satellite imagery, photographs, and testimonies from the affected individuals, asserting that the demolitions were part of a larger strategy to solidify Israel's military position rather than a response to immediate threats. The report stresses that actions such as forced displacements in occupied territories are illegal under international law and qualify as war crimes. Israeli officials have claimed their operations in the region are aimed at 'demilitarizing' southern Syria and have expressed intentions to maintain their military presence indefinitely. Human Rights Watch rebuffed these justifications, stating they violate the laws of war. The organization has called upon the international community to take action by suspending military support to Israel and imposing targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for these abuses. It noted that the inaction from global powers allows Israel to continue its allegedly unlawful conduct without accountability. The situation in southern Syria represents a grave humanitarian concern that underscores the need for immediate response from the international community to prevent further violations of human rights and international law.