Druze leader accuses Syrian regime of crimes against humanity

Dr. Rafea Halabi, a Druze leader from Daliyat el-Karmel, Israel, has addressed a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for urgent international action against the massacres of Alawites and other minorities in Syria.

In his strongly worded message, Dr. Halabi accuses the new Syrian leadership under President Ahmed al-Shara of committing acts of genocide, comparing the situation to the atrocities committed by ISIS in Iraq.

Halabi states that the new Syrian regime, backed by terrorist factions such as Jabhat al-Nusra, Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hamas, is orchestrating a systematic campaign of mass killings. He urges the International Criminal Court in The Hague to impose sanctions and restrictions on al-Shara and his government to prevent further war crimes.

He highlights that in recent weeks, massacres targeting the Alawite community in Syria have escalated, with widespread executions and ethnic cleansing in coastal areas and Hama province. He also alleges that Syrian forces attempted a large-scale slaughter of the Druze community in Damascus and the city of Germana, an attack that was reportedly thwarted by Israeli intelligence and intervention from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Concerns Over Regional Destabilization

Dr. Halabi warns that the new Syrian regime is aligned with radical Islamist movements that seek the "liberation of Palestine from the Zionist occupier." He argues that Russia and Iran's support for al-Shara will lead to another major regional war, fueled by terrorist organizations with longstanding grievances against minorities in Syria.

In his letter, Dr. Halabi criticizes the international community's double standards, particularly South Africa's recent legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

He questions why nations that condemned Israel's defensive war against Hamas remain silent on Syria's ongoing atrocities, where over 1.5 million people have been killed in over a decade of civil war under Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

"Where were they when Assad massacred his people for 14 years? No one tweeted, no one spoke up," he laments, contrasting it with the swift global outcry against Israel.

Israel’s Humanitarian Role and Security Threats

Dr. Halabi underscores Israel’s humanitarian efforts, including its role in providing medical aid, food, and shelter to civilians in conflict zones. However, he expresses frustration over Hamas’s continued attacks on Israel, despite the country’s efforts to assist Palestinians in Gaza. 

He describes the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the most humane military in the world, emphasizing that no nation has ever been attacked while providing humanitarian aid to its enemies.

Halabi concludes his letter by calling on the UN and world powers to take decisive action against the Syrian regime. He urges global leaders to acknowledge the atrocities being committed and impose punitive measures to hold the perpetrators accountable.

In a final note, he expresses his unwavering support for Israel, stating:

"We wish success from the bottom of our hearts and from the bottom of our souls to the State of Israel, because we have no other country."

With tensions escalating in Syria and sectarian violence threatening to spiral further, Dr. Halabi’s message serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for international intervention to prevent further bloodshed.