(8 December 2024)
During the period from 2009 until 2024 the Syrian refugee crisis has been one of the largest humanitarian disasters in the world. More than half of Syria’s population is currently displaced (an estimated 16.7 million people)
On Sunday 8 December 2024 Syria’s refugee crisis ended
“It’s an indescribable feeling. We are so happy,” said the man. “After all the years of dictatorship we have lived in our lives! We were in prison in 2014 and now we’re out thank God. We won because of our men, our fighters, and now we are at the moment that we are going to build the greatest Syria!”
“We call our sisters and brothers who left the country to come back,” he added. “Our hearts and homes are open for you.”
(via BBC)
❤️
(via The Guardian)
And in the category of same olde same olde from Netanyahu …. “reportedly Netanyahu immediately seized the Golan demilitarized buffer zone after the overthrow of Assad on Sunday.
Golan is around a thousand square kilometers on the border between Syria and Israel.
Syria and Iran signed an armistice in 1974 and a UN observer force has been in place on the ceasefire line since 1974.
Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981. The move was not recognised internationally, although the US Trump Administration did so unilaterally in March 2019.
There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan, which are home to an estimated 20,000 people. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
The settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs, who did not flee when the Golan was captured on the weekend.
Reportedly Syria has always insisted that it will not agree a peace deal with Israel unless it withdraws from the whole of Golan.”
(10 December 2024
“the UN warned on Monday (9 December) that Israeli military activity along the Golan Heights buffer zone in Syria “would constitute a violation” of a 1974 pact on disengagement between Israel and Syria. Told of the Israeli plans, UN peacekeepers “informed the Israeli counterparts that these actions would constitute a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement, that there should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation” a UN spokesman told a news conference”)
(20 December 2024
“France Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine reiterated that “all actors” must respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and added “Regarding Israel’s operations in the Golan, we reaffirmed our full support for the United Nations (UN) forces in the region, whose role is to observe the withdrawal.” Lemoine said France has made it clear that any military deployment in the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria would violate International Law”)
(19 December 2024 – “an international war crimes prosecutor said on Tuesday that evidence emerging from mass grave sites in Syria has exposed a state-run ‘machinery of death’ under Assad. One of the largest mass graves ever found in history estimated to contain around 100,000 people tortured and killed by the Assad government since 2011 has been found this week” (via reuters))
Aljazeera reports ex-Syrian Bashar al-Assad-appointed ex-prime-minister al-Jalali being peacefully led from parliament
(10 December 2024 – On Monday Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Safadi reminded that “A buffer zone was established in 1974 to separate the Israeli-held and Syrian territories, with UN peacekeepers stationed there since then” and he condemned Netanyahu’s conduct in taking control of the buffer zone referring to it as a violation of International Law.
Safadi also said “The Jordanian government will support any political path the Syrians devise to end the crisis and restore security and stability to their country. A stable Syria is a top strategic interest for Jordan and the entire Arab region”)
(12 December 2024
Reportedly the UN is deeply concerned about the hundreds of air raids Netanyahu is conducting across Syria during the past week saying there is an “urgent need to de-escalate violence on all fronts throughout the country”)
(14 December 2024
“Qatar will soon re-open its embassy in Damascus, after having severed all diplomatic relations with Bashar Assad’s regime and closing its embassy in 2011. The re-opening of the embassy is reflective of the “continuation of the State of Qatar’s firm and supportive position towards the Syrian people and their struggle to wrest their legitimate rights to a decent life””)
(19 December 2024
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani met in the Saudi Arabian ancient north-west city of AlUla (a Unesco heritage site – well worth a visit) to discuss Syria and stated the importance of “the unity of Syrian territory and added that any governance should include all Syrian people”
(via The National)
)
(18 December 2024)
The Greek Herald reports people attending church in Syria this week
(20 December 2024)
via aljazeera.com
(20 December 2024
Germany, China and many other countries are offering to assist Syria with rebuilding)
(18 December 2024 – in another dazzling display of efficiency the first elections in decades in Syria have already been scheduled to be held on March 1 2025)
God Bless
(30 March 2025
Syria’s new government has been sworn in
“This moment, in which we announce the formation of the first government, is a declaration of our shared will to build a new, strong, and stable state, one that places the interests of the nation and its citizens at the forefront of its priorities and works to restore life to every corner of our beloved country. It is decisive moment in our history, and as President of the Republic, I promise you that I will stand with you at every step on the path to building the future. Together, we will provide a homeland worthy of all our sacrifices. I want to stress that this government is the government of change and development, a government that bears the responsibility of the peoples aspirations and hopes of a bright and sustainable future. We believe that hard work and loyal work, along with cooperation between the people will be the key to achieving these goals.”
We should all be so lucky to have politicians that make speeches like that.
Elections in Syria are to be held in four years.
)
(14 December 2024 – (via skynews)
“Seven days after the Assad regime fell, Syrian civilians have returned to their daily lives. People freely attending churches, mosques and temples.
Schools and universities were once again filled with students after the new government instructed them to open again”)
love and peace ❤️
(in no particular order schools, health care, agriculture, government services and infrastructure, carpenters and builders, recyclers of scrap metal/glass/concrete, gardeners, artisans, airbnb for tourists, cafes, restaurants, create a few new tech corps and voilà! Am amongst the many people who would love to visit Syria. The world just got a whole new country to visit and do business with and that’s exciting!
Freedom brings out the best in people)
.. 