Quneitra Between the logic of borders and the logic of sovereignty

Executive Summary:

The visit of the UN delegation to the Quneitra border region in southern Syria represents a significant event with political, humanitarian, and legal implications, given the ongoing Israeli incursions into the area since 1967.

This study aims to analyze the background of the event, assess its political and sovereign dimensions, examine the service and humanitarian situation, and explore the international and legal implications of this visit.

The study also discusses the impact of this visit on the Syrian state in securing its sovereignty and protecting its citizens, while offering recommendations to strengthen the national role in confronting border challenges.

The study employs a descriptive-analytical and reportorial methodology, relying on reliable Arab sources, UN reports, and international academic studies to provide a comprehensive perspective that integrates the political, service, and legal dimensions of the event.

Introduction:

The Quneitra border region with Israel has been experiencing a state of continuous tension since the 1967 war and the subsequent occupation of the Golan Heights.

In recent years, this region has witnessed an increase in Israeli military activity, in addition to tangible humanitarian and service-related challenges for the local population, including partial displacement, the cessation of basic services, and the disruption of educational and health institutions.

The recent visit of the UN delegation comes within the framework of the international community’s monitoring of the humanitarian and political situation in the region, with the aim of assessing risks, providing relief support, and monitoring potential Israeli violations.

This visit carries symbolic, political, and legal dimensions, as it represents a signal of the international community’s monitoring of the Syrian borders at a time when the Syrian state is attempting to consolidate its sovereignty over all its territory.

Background and Field Context:

Quneitra is located in southwestern Syria, a strategic area situated between the occupied Golan Heights and the Syrian interior. Since the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel, the area has been under the presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Syria (UNDOF) to monitor the ceasefire, while Israel has continued to conduct limited incursions into Syrian territory.

The UN delegation visited Quneitra in early October 2025 to assess the situation of residents in villages such as Ghadeer al-Bustan, Saida, and al-Mu’allama, where basic services are deteriorating, education and healthcare are lacking, and the partial displacement of residents has impacted the population structure.

This visit comes within the context of escalating international pressure on Israel to comply with Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 242 and 338, which emphasize its withdrawal from the occupied Syrian territories.

The Political and Sovereign Dimension of the Visit:

The UN delegation’s visit in late October represents yet another real test of the Syrian state’s sovereignty over its border territories and its ability to protect its citizens. Our political analysis points to several key issues:

1. The Syrian State’s Reaffirmation of its Sovereignty: The presence of the UN delegation within Syrian territory necessarily implies cooperation with local authorities, which gives Damascus an opportunity to reassert its sovereignty in these areas and demonstrate its capacity to manage border affairs.
2. The symbolism of the international visit: We largely agree with the view held by some observers that the visit carries a clear message to Israel and the international community that the situation in Quneitra is under international scrutiny, and that any violation or incursion will prompt international intervention or follow-up.
3. The importance of local diplomacy: Meetings with local dignitaries and notables strengthen the local legitimacy of the Syrian state and help build trust between residents and official institutions, thus mitigating the impact of the security and service vacuum.

The service and humanitarian situation in Quneitra:

Field data shows that the residents of Quneitra are suffering from multiple challenges:

1- Basic services: Deteriorating electricity and water networks, the closure of several schools and health centers, and a persistent shortage of relief aid.

2- Internal displacement: As a result of Israeli incursions and ongoing threats, villages have witnessed partial displacement of residents to safer areas within Syria.

3- Food and economic security: High cost of living and difficulty accessing markets, coupled with shortages of basic food supplies and medical services.

These circumstances are a key incentive for the UN delegation’s visit, which focused on directly assessing the service and humanitarian situation, with the aim of highlighting the needs of the population, and perhaps paving the way for the implementation of urgent support programs.

The International and Legal Implications of the Visit:

From a legal standpoint, the visit carries several implications:

1. The international community’s follow-up on Security Council resolutions, as the United Nations is keen to monitor the implementation of Resolutions 242, 338, and 497 concerning the occupied Syrian borders, thus giving the visit political and legal significance.
2. Strengthening the legal framework for UN monitoring, as the UN delegation’s visit falls within the mandate of UNDOF, which aims to monitor the ceasefire between Syria and Israel and assess potential threats.
3. International humanitarian response: According to OCHA reports, such visits help in developing urgent aid programs for the population and providing recommendations to the Syrian government on improving services and border monitoring.

Quneitra as a Model of the Sovereignty and Service Crisis in the Contemporary Syrian State:

Quneitra represents a prime example of the challenges facing the Syrian state in border areas, where military threats and Israeli incursions intersect with a lack of basic services, an administrative vacuum, and international pressure to monitor the humanitarian and political situation.

This situation demonstrates that the Syrian state needs to strengthen its capabilities in securing border areas and developing monitoring systems and services, while preserving its sovereignty and the rights of its citizens.

Conclusion:

The UN delegation’s visit to Quneitra underscores the importance of combining political considerations, sovereignty, and the humanitarian dimension in managing Syria’s borders. It reflects the need for a delicate balance between protecting the state and the rights of its citizens, as well as the international community’s monitoring of the volatile border.

It also shows that UN intervention is not a substitute for the state, but rather a tool to support its capabilities and enhance the legal and humanitarian protection of the population.

Therefore, we in the Syrian Future Movement recommend the following:

1. Strengthening state sovereignty by developing the capabilities of security and civilian agencies in Quneitra to ensure border control and the protection of citizens, and developing professional plans for this phase if necessary.
2. Improving basic services and focusing on reopening schools and health centers, and providing water and electricity to affected areas.
3. International cooperation and leveraging UN visits to provide long-term relief and development support programs.
4. Documentation and follow-up through the establishment of an internal monitoring system to document violations and incursions, thus facilitating the provision of information to the international community when needed.
5. Communicating with local residents and strengthening trust between the state and citizens by involving village leaders and elders in formulating administrative and service-related solutions. The Syrian Future Movement, given its connections in Quneitra, can contribute to facilitating this communication.

References:

1. UNDOF, Mandate and Operations Reports, United Nations, 2024.
2. Syria TV, “وفد أممي يزور قرية في القنيطرة للاطلاع على الواقع الخدمي”، 29 أكتوبر 2025.
3. UN Security Council Resolutions 242 & 338, 1967 & 1973.
4. International Crisis Group, The Golan Heights and UNDOF, Brussels, 2023.
5. Chatham House, Syria-Israel Border Dynamics, London, 2022.
6. OCHA Syria, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Quneitra, 2025.
7. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “تقرير حول النزوح في ريف القنيطرة”، 15 أكتوبر 2025.
8. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Syria Situation Report, 2025.
9. Human Rights Watch, Israeli Violations in Syrian Golan, 2024.
10. Wikipedia Arabic, “قنيطرة”، آخر تحديث 2025.
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12. Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies, Syria Border Governance, Doha, 2023.