Amnesty International has called for an investigation into Israel’s destruction of civilian homes in southern Syria, saying the actions may amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law. In a report released May 14, the rights organization said Israeli forces destroyed or damaged at least 23 civilian buildings in three villages in Syria’s Quneitra province since December 2024.
Amnesty said the demolitions occurred without “absolute military necessity” and led to the displacement of entire families. The organization said Israeli forces entered the demilitarized buffer zone between the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and Syrian-controlled territory on Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of the Assad regime.
Amnesty said troops carried out raids on homes, ordered residents to leave and later demolished buildings in the area. The group verified the destruction through satellite imagery, witness testimony, videos and photographs.
Amnesty reviewed 35 videos and images that showing bulldozers demolishing homes or the remains of damaged buildings. Witnesses also reported the destruction of nearby gardens and farmland. According to Amnesty, the affected areas did not experience active fighting immediately before, during or after the demolitions.
Amnesty Cites International Law Concerns
Christine Beckerle, deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said the destruction reflected a broader pattern documented in other conflicts in the region.
“The unlawful destruction of civilian property has become a hallmark of Israeli military operations in the region,” Beckerle said in the report. She added that “securing Israel’s borders cannot be used as a justification for bulldozing and blowing up people’s homes and villages in the territory of another country.”
Amnesty said international humanitarian law applies to Israeli military operations in Syria and that occupation law, including provisions under the Fourth Geneva Convention, imposes additional obligations in occupied areas. The organization called for accountability and compensation for affected civilians.
The group interviewed eight residents of Quneitra province, including four people whose homes were demolished and two who witnessed neighboring homes being destroyed. Amnesty said the testimonies aligned with media reports and satellite analysis showing no active combat in the vicinity of the damaged buildings.
Tensions Persist Along the Golan Border
Israel has increased aggression in southern Syria in recent months, particularly in Quneitra province near the occupied Golan Heights. Israeli officials have cited border security concerns and the threat of attacks similar to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
Israeli forces illegally occupy Syrian land creating milliary outposts and checkpoints in what it calls a “buffer zone,” according to Amnesty and local reports. Syrian officials consistently reject Israel’s continued military presence and called for a withdrawal from areas entered after Dec. 8, 2024.
Separate monitoring by the Register Center for Human Rights documented 254 alleged Israeli violations in southern Syria during April, with most incidents reported in Quneitra province. The reported violations included incursions, raids and checkpoint activity.
