Sa'ar greenlights aid to Syrian Druze as Shara'a's forces redeploy to Sweida
Foreign Minister Gidion Sa'ar ordered the urgent transfer of aid to Sweida's Druze population as Syrian security forces prepare to redeploy to the Druze-majority Sweida city to quell fighting by the Druze and Bedouin tribes, Sa'ar announced on Friday.
"The aid package, valued at 2 million NIS, will include, among other things, food packages, medical supplies, first aid kits, and medications. The aid will be provided from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' budget," Sa'ar wrote.
"The aid will be specifically directed to the Druze areas in the Sweida province that have been directly affected by the violent attacks against the Druze."
Israel has said it warned the Syrian government to withdraw from the south and that it would not allow the Islamist rulers to build up on its borders.
"In light of the ongoing instability in Syria, Israel has agreed to allow a limited entry of internal security forces into Sweida for the next 48 hours," a security source told The Jerusalem Post.
Syrian forces were set to withdraw following Netanyahu's ceasefire announcement
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that Israel had achieved a ceasefire in Syria through 'forceful actions,' and a source confirmed to the Post that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government was expected to withdraw its forces from areas with Druze populations.
Israel's strikes in Syria began on Wednesday, shortly after the Israeli Druze community announced a "day of rage" and declared they were prepared to assist their Syrian counterparts 'by all means necessary,' including crossing the border.
'Regrettably, despite explicit commitments, the IDF and the Israeli government have taken no meaningful action to stop the killing,' the statement read.
Dozens of Druze-Israeli civilians managed toinfiltrate Syrian territory from the area of the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the North, the IDF confirmed later that day.
The Druze-Israelis have said they infiltrated the area to help their Druze-Syrian relatives and friends who, in recent days, have been engaged in gunfights with Syrian-Bedouins and some forces of the new Syrian government.
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