GENEVA — A UN commission investigating Syria said Tuesday that it was deeply alarmed over Israel’s military activity inside Syrian territory, warning that some actions, including the detention of civilians, could amount to war crimes.
Presenting an update to the UN Human Rights Council, Commissioner Fionnuala Ní Aoláin said Israeli military operations in southern Syria had become “increasingly sustained and entrenched,” with recurring ground incursions, patrols, raids and searches affecting civilians.
In response, the Israeli Mission in Geneva accused the commission of conducting an “Israel-bashing session,” and said Israel had no territorial aspirations in Syria.
“[Israel] maintains a temporary buffer zone amounting to 0.1% of Syria to protect its citizens from proven security threats,” it said in a statement.
Syria is seeking to rebuild nearly two years after former president Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels led by a jihadist group commanded by Syria’s current president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
