HRW accuses Israel of war crimes in Syria over forced displacement

The Human Rights Watch claims Israel's actions amount to war crimes.

A new report from Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of forcibly displacing Syrians and demolishing homes in southern Syria. The IDF defends actions in Syria as an “operational necessity.”

The group’s findings focus on the border village of Al-Hamadiyah, where it alleges Israeli troops destroyed homes and barred residents from farmland to expand military positions.

The report claims these actions amount to war crimes, stating, “Rather than responding to an immediate threat, Israeli forces appear to have cleared and destroyed homes as part of a broader strategy to entrench their military presence.”

Israel captured territory along the border in December 2024 after the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime and maintains operations within 15 kilometers of the frontier to counter Iran-backed groups.

Demolitions consistent with international law, IDF says

The IDF responded that demolitions were consistent with international law and acknowledged transferring Syrians across the border for intelligence purposes under judicial oversight.

The accusations come as Israel faces regional criticism but has also positioned itself as a protector of Syria’s Druze community, which has suffered brutal attacks in recent months. In April, militias aligned with the new Syrian regime executed Druze civilians near Damascus.

Bedouin raids on Druze villages in Sweida province followed in July. Druze leaders denounced the violence as genocide, prompting Israeli airstrikes against the perpetrators.