The Syrian Network for Human Rights condemned the killing of a civilian from the village of Jumla in western Daraa countryside by Israeli occupation forces, during their incursion into the village last Thursday.
The Network emphasized in a statement received by SANA today, Sunday, that the information it documented regarding the incident raises serious concerns about a violation of the right to life, and necessitates an independent and effective investigation to determine the circumstances of the use of lethal force and its legality, ensuring accountability for any proven violations.
Details of the Incursion and Incident
The Network stated: "According to preliminary information gathered from multiple sources, including reliable local sources and open-source materials, Israeli forces entered Jumla village in western Daraa countryside on foot, accompanied by 12 military vehicles, early Thursday morning, and spread throughout the village, particularly in the eastern district."
The Network clarified that "during the incursion, the civilian Muaz Salama Al-Ba’ir, who has a disability, was shot by Israeli forces elements, resulting in his death," noting that local testimonies confirm he was present in one of the village streets when Israeli soldiers ordered him to stop or return, but he did not comply due to his Down syndrome.
The Network indicated that, according to the information it documented, the civilian Al-Ba’ir was unarmed, highlighting that his killing raises serious indicators of potential arbitrary deprivation of the right to life, in accordance with the UN Charter. It emphasized that the deployment of snipers on the roofs of residential houses within an inhabited village raises legal concerns regarding the safety of civilians and civilian objects, and the extent of compliance with taking feasible precautions to protect them from the dangers of military operations.
The Network explained that this development involving the use of snipers raises additional concerns about the safety of civilian populations, especially given the risks that may arise from using residential buildings for military purposes, and the potential exposure of residents of those buildings and neighboring houses to danger.
The Network also condemned the continued Israeli military incursions into Syrian territory, warning of additional risks resulting from the deployment of snipers on residential rooftops during the same incursion, a new development observed for the first time within the pattern of operations monitored by the Network since the fall of the ousted regime on December 8, 2024.
Civilian Protection Obligations
The Network affirmed that conducting military operations within populated areas imposes an obligation to take feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects, and to avoid exposing them to avoidable risks. Military forces must, to the greatest extent feasible, avoid establishing military sites and targets within or near densely populated areas.
The Network warned that the continued incursion of Israeli forces into residential neighborhoods in villages and towns, accompanied by house searches, establishment of temporary military checkpoints, and deployment of armed elements on rooftops, increases the risks faced by civilian populations and undermines their sense of security and stability in their areas.
Violation of Sovereignty and Agreements
The Network affirmed that conducting military operations within the territory of another state without its consent, and outside cases permitted by international law, contradicts the principle of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the prohibition on the use of force stipulated in the UN Charter. It stressed the necessity of respecting the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and the obligations stipulated in relevant Security Council resolutions, which confirmed the need to respect the agreement’s provisions and prohibited any military activity within the separation zone.
Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement through repeated incursions into southern Syria, raiding civilian homes, arresting individuals, leveling land, and carrying out attacks with shells and other means.
Syria demands the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from its territory, affirming that all measures taken are null and void under international law. It calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities and put an end to these violations, compelling the Israeli occupation to comply with international law and relevant UN resolutions, thereby helping to spare the region further tension and creating the necessary conditions for achieving sustainable security and stability.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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