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Syrian leader’s speech ‘encouraging’ for Druze, but action needs to follow: Analyst
Al Jazeera spoke earlier to Mohamad Elmasry, professor of media studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. Here’s more from what Elmasry said about the televised speech by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Israeli attacks on Syria.
“It’s a very difficult situation in Syria. You are talking about a very multiethnic society. You have outside forces, starting with Israel, trying to basically fragment the country and establish a separatist system, if you will, in Syria,” Elmasry said.
“I thought it was interesting that al-Sharaa decided to devote part of his speech to the Druze, and the messages were encouraging. He said that the Druze are an essential component. They are an essential part of Syria. He said it’s the Syrian government’s responsibility to protect them and to hold to account those who have transgressed against them in recent days. So that’s all encouraging,” he said.
“But it’s going to come down to policy and what he does and what the government does with their actions, because I think their actions will speak louder than words for those minority groups in Syria.”
Rights group urges accountability for abuses against civilians in Syria
The Syria director of the Norwegian Refugee Council says ensuring accountability is “paramount” as the country continues to rebuild after years of violence and war.
“With hundreds of deaths reported among civilians, at least 1,200 families have fled their homes to seek shelter with friends and relatives elsewhere in Sweida [Suwayda], in rural areas south of the city, and the neighbouring Daraa [Deraa] governorate,” Federico Jachetti said in a statement.
“Hospitals in the region are overwhelmed as medication runs out while shops have closed amid water and power cuts.” He also said Israel’s attacks across Syria, including on the main square in the capital, Damascus, had shattered “any hope of normalcy returning to Syrian lives”.
“For months, Israel has occupied further Syrian territory in the southwest, repeatedly attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure. The international community must make it clear that such actions are unacceptable, represent a violation of international law, and directly contribute to Syria’s instability,” Jachetti said.
