The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) condemned the killing of a civilian by Israeli occupation forces during an incursion into Jamla village in western Daraa countryside last Thursday, calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
In a statement received by SANA on Sunday, the network said Israeli occupation forces entered the village with 12 military vehicles and deployed across several areas, particularly the eastern neighborhood.
During the incursion, Israeli soldiers opened fire on Moaz Salama al-Baeer, an unarmed civilian with Down syndrome, killing him, according to the network.
Citing local testimonies, the SNHR said al-Baeer was in a village street when Israeli soldiers ordered him to stop or turn back. He did not comply, which the network attributed to his condition.
Rights group calls for investigation and civilian protection
The network said the killing raised serious concerns about a possible arbitrary deprivation of the right to life and called for an independent investigation into the use of lethal force and accountability for any proven violations.
It also warned that the deployment of Israeli snipers on residential rooftops during the incursion posed additional risks to civilians, describing the practice as a new development in operations it has documented since the fall of the deposed regime on December 8, 2024.
The SNHR stressed that military operations in populated areas must comply with international legal obligations to protect civilians and civilian property.
Calls to respect Syrian sovereignty
The network condemned continued Israeli occupation incursions into Syrian territory, saying military operations conducted without a state’s consent and outside circumstances permitted by international law violate the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It called for respect for the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and relevant UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting military activity within the area of separation.
Syria has repeatedly demanded the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from its territory and urged the international community to take action to end the violations and ensure compliance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
