The Syrian Future Movement is following with grave concern the reports in the media and human rights organizations regarding the Israeli occupation forces’ incursion into Syrian territory in the Quneitra countryside, during which four members of the same family were arrested in the town of Khan Arnabeh on November 16, 2025. This incident is an extension of a series of violations that have plagued border areas for years. The Movement emphasizes that this event, with its legal, humanitarian, and sovereign dimensions, imposes an urgent national and international responsibility to address its consequences and ensure it is not repeated.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that what occurred constitutes a direct violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, a breach of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, and a blatant violation of international law, which prohibits military incursions and the arrest of civilians within the territory of another state. Respect for Syrian sovereignty is not a matter for negotiation or political maneuvering, but rather an inalienable right and a fundamental guarantee for any peace process or regional stability.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the arrest of Syrian citizens from the same family by a hostile state, without clear procedures or charges, constitutes a threat to human rights principles and directly impacts the security of residents in the Quneitra countryside, who have already been living in precarious conditions for years. The Movement reiterates that the residents of border areas must be a national priority in any process of state-building or restructuring, and that ignoring the psychological and social impact of such violations undermines public trust in the state and its future institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that this incident comes at a time when Syria is working to establish the foundations of a transitional phase towards a state of law and institutions. These violations reveal the country’s urgent need for a new national security approach, capable of protecting its borders and citizens and preventing the exploitation of the transitional phase by any external party.
This incident underscores the necessity of investing in building a legitimate defense system and security institutions subject to national accountability, to guarantee the protection of Syrian citizens and their land within the framework of the state, not outside of it.
The Syrian Future Movement holds the international community, particularly the United Nations and the UNDOF peacekeeping force, responsible for following up on this incident, investigating its circumstances, taking measures to prevent its recurrence, and ensuring that all parties respect relevant international agreements.
The Movement also demands the immediate release of the detainees, or the disclosure of their legal status and enabling their families to contact them in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that protecting the Quneitra countryside and all border areas must be a central part of the vision for building the new Syrian state. The Movement believes that these areas must be transformed from conflict zones into areas of stability, development, and services through:
- Strengthening the state’s civilian and institutional presence.
- Developing education, health, and infrastructure services.
- Empowering local communities to participate in managing their own affairs.
- Establishing balanced security plans that respect the law and protect civilians.
The national future of Syria cannot be built without addressing the root causes of the threats facing citizens in the areas most vulnerable to violations.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that protecting the Syrian citizen is the core of the new national project, and that national sovereignty is not restored through slogans but by building a capable state: a state that protects its borders, safeguards the dignity of its people, and makes law and justice the foundation of its relations with the world.
The Movement calls on all national and civil forces to unite their efforts in documenting violations, defending the rights of the people of rural Quneitra, and working to establish a future vision that will make this region a model for the Syria we aspire to: free, safe, just, and sovereign over its land and people.
