Syrians rally nationwide to demand Israeli withdrawal after Moaz's death
Demonstrators gathered in Damascus and Homs following the death of a disabled man and ongoing military operations in Quneitra province.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Syrian residents faced renewed disruptions on Friday as Israeli forces advanced into Quneitra province, blocking roads and bulldozing olive groves. The military activity followed a strike earlier this week that killed a man with a disability in Daraa province, an incident that sparked public outcry across the country.
The timeline of events began with the death of the man, identified locally as Moaz, who died from Israeli fire during an incursion. By Friday, the incident had fueled nationwide rallies. State media confirmed that large crowds gathered in the capital, Damascus, and in Homs, located in central Syria. Protesters specifically condemned the repeated incursions into the southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa.
In Daraa, an AFP correspondent observed hundreds of participants at a rally, some waving national flags. Taysir al-Hariri, a protester at the scene, told the agency that the group aimed to "send a message to the world" regarding Syria's unity. He stated the crowd was protesting "against Israeli incursions and against anyone who is tempted to tamper. with national security".
Footage from state television showed marchers holding posters with the slogan "We are all Moaz." Outside a United Nations building in Damascus, the family of a Syrian man currently held by Israel demanded his release. Their children displayed signs reading "I want my dad" during the gathering.
The current escalation fits into a wider pattern of military activity since Syria's new government took power in December 2024, following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. The Israeli military has conducted hundreds of strikes and frequent incursions during this period. It also deployed troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights that has separated the two armies since 1974.
Israeli officials have stated their intention to maintain troops in a "security zone" in southern Syria. The stated goal is to create a larger demilitarized area. The military presence has included the setup of checkpoints and the detention of local residents in the affected regions.
