The United Nations High Commissioner fo Human Rights said on Tuesday that the Israeli army has detained at least 250 people in southern Syria, including children, since December 2024, calling for an end to all violations related to international humanitarian law and for urgent investigations and accountability for those responsible.
The spokesperson for the High Commissioner, Thameen Al-Kheetan, explained during a press briefing in Geneva that around 50 detainees remain in custody, some of whom have been transferred to the occupied Golan Heights, warning of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.
He added that there are increasing worrying indicators regarding the protection of civilians in southern Syria, amid the expansion of Israeli operations in the areas it occupies, which has led to restrictions on family life and privacy, as well as significant impacts on livelihoods, particularly in agricultural communities.
He also pointed to reports of harassment, detentions, raids, and movement restrictions, in addition to home searches and the establishment of checkpoints in Quneitra. He further noted reports of chemical substances being sprayed on agricultural lands and restrictions on farmers’ access to them.
