Israel’s relentless violations of international law and its aggressive occupation of Syrian territories are destabilising the region, most recently with the invasion of the UN-patrolled buffer zone. The silence of the UK and other Western nations, prioritising diplomatic rhetoric over decisive action, emboldens these transgressions and compounds the instability in Syria, where the humanitarian crisis deepens daily.
On December 8, Israel flagrantly breached the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, a cornerstone of regional security between Syria and Israel, by seizing land under international protection for five decades. This illegal incursion occurred amid Syria’s fraught political landscape, further destabilised by the militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s ousting of the Syrian government from Damascus. Israel’s actions, driven by a clear agenda of territorial expansion, have been met with scant opposition from the global community.
LATAKIA, SYRIA – DECEMBER 15: A view of Port of Latakia as removal of wreckage of Syrian navy vessels destroyed by Israeli airstrikes (Credit: Kinane Hendavi – Anadolu Agency)
The UK government, when questioned by The Muslim News, failed to condemn Israel’s brazen actions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson issued a tepid call for peace talks and a political resolution, coupled with a perfunctory acknowledgement of the need to protect civilians. The Foreign Office maintained that the UK does not recognise Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights but fell short of denouncing the occupation of the buffer zone, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the seized land—more than twice the size of the Gaza Strip—would remain occupied for the “foreseeable future.” Such equivocal responses starkly contrast with the gravity of the situation, reflecting a troubling reluctance to hold Israel accountable for its blatant disregard for Syria’s sovereignty.
Israel’s record of occupation is a long and unbroken one. Since 1967, it has refused to vacate territories it occupies, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, instead escalating its land grabs without consequence. Far from imposing sanctions, the UK and Western allies have fostered preferential trade agreements with Israel and supplied arms that perpetuate its illegal occupations. This unwavering support signals complicity and undermines international legal frameworks meant to safeguard sovereign nations.
The ramifications of Israel’s latest incursion in Syria extend beyond territorial disputes; they erode the fragile equilibrium of the region and set a dangerous precedent for international lawlessness. By allowing Israel’s actions to go unchecked, the global community sends a chilling message: sovereignty and legal agreements can be trampled without consequence, so long as the violator enjoys Western backing.
It is imperative that the international community, led by nations that champion the rule of law, demand accountability from Israel. Decisive actions, including sanctions and a revaluation of diplomatic and trade relationships, are necessary to uphold international law and restore regional stability. The cost of inaction is far too high—not just for Syria, but for the integrity of global governance itself.
Photo: A view of the wreckage of Syrian navy vessels at the Port of Latakia, following Israeli airstrikes. The removal of the destroyed ships has been completed, paving the way for the port’s reopening on December 15, 2024, in Latakia, Syria. (Credit: Kinane Hendavi/AA)
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