Syrian Families Plead for News of Detainees Held by Israeli Forces
Families in the Syrian governorates of Daraa and Quneitra are expressing deep concern and ongoing distress over the continued detention of their sons by Israeli forces. Despite repeated appeals to international organizations and relevant authorities, families report a total lack of official information regarding the detainees’ whereabouts or their medical conditions.
In the town of Jamla, in the countryside of Daraa, Mohanna al-Baridi described the circumstances surrounding the detention of his 22-year-old son, Muhammad. Al-Baridi stated that an Israeli patrol raided his home on October 4, 2025, and arrested his son after searching the premises. Since that incident, the family has received no news regarding Muhammad’s fate. Al-Baridi confirmed that they have sent urgent appeals to United Nations missions, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), and the International Committee of the Red Cross, but have received no response or clarification. As Muhammad was the family’s sole provider, his absence has caused a severe decline in his mother’s physical and mental health. The father is now calling for immediate international intervention to ensure the safety and release of the detainees.
Similar cases of anguish are reported in the Quneitra governorate. Rasha Hassan Zaitoun, from the town of Khan Arnaba, described the pain of losing contact with her two sons, Muhammad and Mahmoud Mryoud, who were detained by Israeli forces approximately one year ago. Zaitoun recounted that Israeli forces raided their family home and later the home of the youths’ grandfather in the town of Jabata al-Khashab. The two 17-year-olds were then taken into occupied territory. Zaitoun noted that there have been unconfirmed reports of the brothers being moved between several Israeli prisons, but the family remains unable to verify these claims or establish any communication with them.
From the town of Jabata al-Khashab, Hassan Saad al-Din Ahmed confirmed that his son, Saddam, has been held by Israeli forces since April 25, 2024, alongside his relative, Hassan Ibrahim Ahmed. Ahmed explained that despite their efforts to engage international organizations, they have been unable to determine the location of detention or verify the health status of the captives. He emphasized that this uncertainty is causing devastating psychological and social consequences for the families involved.
These appeals are part of a broader push by affected families for humanitarian organizations to exert pressure to uncover the status of their loved ones and ensure their legal rights are protected. Reports indicate that these actions occur within the context of ongoing practices by Israeli forces that violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. These practices include frequent incursions into southern Syria, home raids, the intimidation of civilians, the arrest of young men, and the leveling of land. Syria continues to demand an end to the Israeli occupation of its territory, asserting that all measures taken by the occupying power are invalid and illegal, and is calling on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure the withdrawal of forces from the south.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
