Several provinces in Syria witnessed a widespread wave of protests and sit-ins rejecting the law permitting the execution of Palestinian prisoners, recently approved by the Israeli Knesset. These popular movements came to affirm the depth of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, as demonstrators gathered in the capital Damascus and its countryside, as well as in Daraa, Quneitra, Aleppo, Latakia, Homs, Idlib, and several Palestinian refugee camps.
The number of participants in the protests ranged from hundreds to thousands in each area, with the movements taking various forms, including massive popular marches, symbolic sit-ins in front of mosques and universities, and student gatherings within university campuses. The most notable scene was at Aleppo University, where its courtyards witnessed a large-scale student movement, with thousands participating in raising both Palestinian and Syrian flags, holding banners that read "Palestinian prisoners are not numbers" and "Executing prisoners is a humanitarian crime."
Details of the Event
Students chanted slogans such as "With our soul, with our blood, we sacrifice for you, O Palestine" and "Freedom for the prisoners of Palestine," in a scene considered the largest of its kind in Syrian universities in years. Syrian political activist Khazima Al-Abdo emphasized in his statements that the law permitting the execution of prisoners "is not just a legal measure, but a declaration of war on all human values," pointing out that executing prisoners—including children and women—represents a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and all international charters.
Al-Abdo added that the Syrian people, who have suffered from arrest, torture, and enforced disappearance, understand well what it means to be just a number in the prisons of tyrants, which is why they came out to say: Enough of the international silence. He noted that these sit-ins are not merely expressions of solidarity, but a clear message that Arab peoples will not accept mass execution policies as a political tool.
Background & Context
Last Monday, the Israeli Knesset definitively approved—through second and third readings—a draft law imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. This step received widespread Arab and international condemnation and came amid the Israeli and American war on Iran, where the occupying authorities tightened their grip on thousands of Palestinian prisoners in their jails.
The timing of the law's enactment coincided with the one-month anniversary of the complete closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque under the pretext of preventing gatherings, where the occupying authorities prevented the Eid al-Fitr prayer from being held there for the first time since the occupation of East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. Activist Abdul Rahman Fallah, who participated in a protest in Aleppo, described the approval of the law permitting the execution of Palestinian prisoners as "a crime against humanity."
Impact & Consequences
The popular movements in Syria reflect a growing awareness among Arab masses regarding the Palestinian cause, as Khaled Masri—one of the organizers of the sit-in in Aleppo—called for a more effective Arab stance towards the Palestinian issue, considering that current positions do not rise to the level of challenges. He emphasized the necessity of seriously supporting Arab issues.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades—the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)—"Abu Ubaida" sent greetings to the Syrian people, praising the crowds that came out to chant for resistance and express solidarity with Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinian prisoners. In a message published through his official account on Telegram, Abu Ubaida confirmed that the resistance is monitoring these movements and considers them evidence of Arab popular awareness.
Regional Significance
These protests come at a sensitive time for the Palestinian cause, reflecting an increasing Arab public awareness of the importance of the Palestinian issue as a central issue for every Arab. These movements may contribute to enhancing pressure on Arab governments to take more serious stances towards the Israeli occupation and its crimes against Palestinians.
In conclusion, the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails remains one of the most prominent humanitarian issues that require continuous support from Arab peoples, as popular solidarity could exert real pressure on Arab governments to reconsider their positions towards the occupation.