Syria's defence ministry says it is aware of reports of 'shocking violations' in Sweida
Sectarian clashes have escalated in Sweida this month between the Druze - a religious minority native to the area - and Syrian Bedouin tribes. Ferocious fighting then broke out between Druze militia and government forces sent to the city to quell the unrest.
The fighting left over 300 people dead and drew in neighbouring Israel, which carried out airstrikes in southern Syria and on the defence ministry in Damascus last week. Israel said it was protecting the Druze, who form a significant minority in Israel.
On Friday, Israel and Syria agreed to a ceasefire supported by Turkey, Jordan and neighbours.
Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement there would be "no tolerance" for perpetrators of human rights violations in Sweida, even if they were committed by ministry forces. A committee has been formed to investigate reports of killings by people wearing military fatigues and to try to identify them, he said.
Separately, the Syrian interior ministry said it had launched an investigation into reports of field executions committed by "unknown people" in Sweida.
"Such acts constitute serious crimes," ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din Al-Baba said, stressing that the ministry was also working on identifying those involved.
A Syrian fact-finding committee said separately on Tuesday that 1,426 people had died in March in attacks on security forces and subsequent mass killings of Alawites, but concluded that commanders had not given orders for the revenge attacks.
The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad last year. The new leadership is made up mainly of former anti-Assad rebel fighters, who are facing fresh unrest this month involving other minority groups in the southwest.
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Telegraph
22 minutes ago
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British hostage Emily Damari: Shame on Starmer for rewarding terror
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Sir Keir also reiterated his calls for Hamas to release the remaining hostages captured in the attacks of Oct 7 2023 but did not explicitly say that is required before recognition of Palestinian statehood. Downing Street is now under growing pressure to explain its approach, with some warning it incentivises Hamas to avoid a ceasefire by keeping hostages in order to secure recognition. Meanwhile, the families of hostages held by Hamas have criticised Sir Keir for failing to make their release a precondition to recognising Palestine. Two representatives of families who still have relatives held by Hamas issued criticism of the Prime Minister's approach on Wednesday morning. Bring Them Home Now, a campaign group aimed at securing the release of hostages, published a statement posted on the social media site X. The statement read: 'Recognising a Palestinian state while 50 hostages remain trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism. Such recognition is not a step toward peace, but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimises horrific war crimes. 'The abduction of men, women, and children, who are being held against their will in tunnels while subjected to starvation and physical and psychological abuse, cannot and should not serve as the foundation for establishing a state.' Another part read: 'Recognition of a Palestinian state before the hostages are returned will be remembered throughout history as validating terrorism as a legitimate pathway to political goals.' Adam Wagner KC, a barrister who has represented families of hostages taken by Hamas, wrote on X: 'We are concerned that the UK's proposal risks delaying the release of the hostages. 'This is because the UK has said that it will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees a ceasefire. But the risk is that Hamas will continue to refuse to a ceasefire because if it agrees to one this would make UK recognition less likely.' 'Concern is to bring loved ones home' Mr Wagner went on: 'The families are therefore deeply concerned that the UK's approach risks disincentivising Hamas from releasing the hostages. This risks doing exactly what the Prime Minister's statement says the UK will not do: reward Hamas for its heinous and illegal acts. 'The British hostage families take no position on the wider politics. Their concern is to bring their loved ones home, and time is fast running out.' Sir Keir's change in position was revealed in a statement issued by Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon following an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. The statement said that the Prime Minister had told Cabinet 'that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (UN General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution'. The wording of the position made clear that Israel would have to meet all four conditions if it wanted to stop the recognition of Palestine in September. The Downing Street statement also said Sir Keir had 'reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain, that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarm'. However these demands were not explicitly linked to the declaration of Palestinian statehood, meaning they do not need to happen for recognition to take place. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, was repeatedly pressed on the point on Sky News on Wednesday morning but would not say release of the hostages by Hamas was a necessary step that had to be taken before recognition of Palestine. Ms Alexander said: 'We have always said right from day one that the hostages needed to be released. 'We're absolutely clear that Hamas is a vile terrorist organisation, it has committed heinous crimes and the wounds of Oct 7 will live forever in Israel and in the consciousness of the Israeli people. 'This isn't about Hamas. This is actually about delivering for the Palestinian people and making sure that we can get aid in.' UK humiliated, says Tice Richard Tice, the Reform deputy leader, told The Telegraph: 'Starmer's recognition of Palestine as a state sends a dangerous message, that acts of terrorism are somehow acceptable. 'The fact that he has made this decision before the hostages are returned validates the violence that occurred on Oct 7 and humiliates us on the international stage against our main strategic ally, the United States. 'This decision amounts to nothing more than appeasement of the far Left and a desperate attempt to claw back votes from Jeremy Corbyn.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Freed British-Israeli hostage accuses Starmer of ‘moral failure' over move to recognise Palestine
A British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for more than 15 months has accused Keir Starmer of 'moral failure' after he set the UK on course to recognise a Palestinian state. Emily Damari, 29, who was released in January, said the prime minister was 'not standing on the right side of history' and should be ashamed. Her criticism came as lawyers representing British families of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas warned the UK government's intention to recognise a Palestinian state risked disincentivising the release of captives. Starmer said on Tuesday that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government abided by a ceasefire and committed to a two-state solution to the conflict. The UK government also said Hamas must release all hostages immediately, disarm, sign up to a ceasefire and accept it would play no role in the government of Gaza. In a post on Instagram, Damari said: 'Prime Minister Starmer is not standing on the right side of history. Had he been in power during World War II, would he have advocated recognition for Nazi control of occupied countries like Holland, France or Poland? 'This is not diplomacy – it is a moral failure. Shame on you, prime minister. 'As a dual British-Israeli citizen who survived 471 days in Hamas captivity, I am deeply saddened by Prime Minister Starmer's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood. This move does not advance peace – it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.' Damari was shot in the leg and hand when she was dragged from her home in the kibbutz Kfar Aza on 7 October. She was taken from the safe room of her house with her friends Ziv and Gali Berman, twin brothers who are still being held in Gaza. Since her release as part of a ceasefire deal, Damari has campaigned for the release of about 20 hostages believed to be still alive and for the bodies of about 30 dead hostages to be returned to their families. In a separate statement, Adam Rose and Adam Wagner, who have represented relatives of hostages who are either British or have close British ties since 7 October 2023, said the UK had made the hostages a 'bargaining chip'. They said: 'The risk is that Hamas will continue to refuse a ceasefire because if it agrees to one this would make UK recognition less likely.' The families they represented had asked Starmer to 'confirm, unambiguously, that Hamas will not be rewarded and that the UK will not take any substantive steps until all the hostages are free'. They added: 'For almost two years, the British hostage families have encouraged the UK to use any leverage it has to help secure the release of their loved ones. They have sat in 10 Downing Street with successive prime ministers and foreign secretaries who have looked them in the eyes and promised the UK will do everything in its power to secure the immediate and unconditional release of their loved ones, whose detention is unambiguously a war crime. 'We are concerned that the UK's proposal risks delaying the release of the hostages. This is because the UK has said that it will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees a ceasefire. But the risk is that Hamas will continue to refuse a ceasefire because if it agrees to one this would make UK recognition less likely. 'The families are therefore deeply concerned that the UK's approach risks disincentivising Hamas from releasing the hostages. This risks doing exactly what the prime minister's statement says the UK will not do: reward Hamas for its heinous and illegal acts.'
Reuters
an hour ago
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Trump envoy Witkoff heading to Israel for Gaza talks, Axios reports
WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Israel on Wednesday for talks on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials.
