‘Free Syrians must be cautious of Israel’ says Lebanese Druze leader
Walid Jumblatt added at a news conference on Sunday that he would visit Syria soon, and accused Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sowing sectarian division in the country.
“In Syria, there is a plot for sabotage. There is a plot for sabotage in the region and for the Arabs’ national security,” Jumblatt said.
Israel has expanded into southern Syria since the December overthrow of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, and Netanyahu recently said that Israel would not allow Syrian forces into areas south of Damascus.
Israel has used the security of Syria’s minority Druze population as a pretext for its most recent threats, particularly after clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian security forces in a suburb of Damascus. Many Syrian Druze have rejected Israel’s attempts to speak on their behalf, and protests have been held in the Druze-majority province of Sweida against Israeli air strikes in Syria.
Israel has its own Druze minority, who are largely pro-Israel, with the men conscripted into the Israeli military. However, the vast majority of Druze in neighbouring countries, such as Syria and Lebanon, are pro-Palestinian.
Syrian security forces enter Damascus suburb after Israeli threats
A convoy of Syrian security forces has entered Jaramana – a city where the majority of the population is Druze – after days of unrest following the killing of a security officer during clashes between local residents and security forces.
Video from Jaramana verified by Al Jazeera shows locals gathered around the convoy and appearing to celebrate its arrival.
As we mentioned earlier, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, has threatened to intervene in Syria “in defence” of the Druze minority, although religious leaders from the community denounced the killing of the officer as the actions of “an undisciplined mob”.
One killed as Israel launches drone attack on north Gaza
Israeli forces have launched a drone attack on Beit Hanoon in northern Gaza, killing at least one person and wounding another, according to Al Quds Today and the Shehab Agency.
Israeli tank fire wounds woman in southern Rafah
The attack took place in Rafah’s al-Jnaina neighbourhood, injuring at least one woman, report our colleagues on the ground.
Four Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic, citing medical sources, report that four Palestinians have been killed and five injured in Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave this morning.
Gaza’s Civil Defence also says there has been Israeli shelling near the southern city of Khan Younis.
Hamas demands US halt support for ‘war criminal’ Netanyahu
The Palestinian group has urged the US government to act more like a neutral mediator in the ceasefire process.
“We call on the US administration to stop its bias and alignment with the fascist plans of the war criminal Netanyahu, which target our people and their existence on their land,” Hamas said in a lengthy statement.
“We affirm that all projects and plans that bypass our people and their established rights on their land, self-determination, and liberation from occupation are destined for failure and defeat.
“We reaffirm our commitment to implementing the signed agreement in its three stages, and we have repeatedly announced our readiness to start negotiations on the second stage of the agreement,” it said.
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