Key facts
- An Israeli settler group, Pioneers of Bashan, has called for the cultivation and sale of crops from occupied Syrian land in Daraa and Quneitra.
- The group cited biblical texts as justification for settlement.
- Israeli forces entered the village of Abidin in Daraa, clashing with residents.
- Syria's foreign ministry condemned the Israeli actions as a violation of its sovereignty.
- An Israeli minister described a perceived anti-Israel alliance involving Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar.
An Israeli settler group, the Pioneers of Bashan, has called for the exploitation of Syrian land in the Daraa and Quneitra governorates, advocating for its cultivation and sale by Jewish settlers. The group, founded in April 2025 after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government, cited biblical justifications for settling the territory. They claimed that approximately 2,000 tons of wheat were harvested in the Quneitra District this year and suggested that Jewish settlers would yield more from the land than the current population.
On Sunday, Israeli forces advanced into the village of Abidin in Daraa province, encountering resistance from residents. Syrian state media reported that Israeli forces responded with artillery fire, causing residents to flee. Syria's foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the incursions as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In recent weeks, Israeli officials have heightened rhetoric regarding potential conflict with Syria. Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli described a perceived 'radical Sunni axis of evil' and expressed greater concern about an alliance between Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar than about Iran's ceasefire deal with the US. Israel has controlled the Golan Heights, a part of Syria, since the 1967 war.