The IDF says a group of Israeli settlement activists from the 'Bashan Pioneers' group crossed the border into Syria near Majdal Shams on Thursday and spent a full day there before being located and detained by troops on Friday. Additional attempts to cross in the southern Golan Heights were prevented. The military warned of a rise in such incidents, calling them a criminal offense.
At 22:42 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the IDF confirmed a group of Israeli settlement activists from the 'Bashan Pioneers' group crossed the border into Syria near Majdal Shams on Thursday, remained in Syrian territory for a full day, and were located and detained by troops on Friday evening. The group was handed over to police for questioning. Separate incidents on Friday saw the IDF prevent additional crossing attempts in the southern Golan Heights, the military said.
The IDF's Friday evening announcement marked the first successful crossing among a series of recent attempts by the group. Earlier reports at 22:42 Jerusalem noted that the IDF had initially located the civilians, then specified that they had crossed on Thursday, and finally confirmed the full-day duration of their stay. The military condemned the incident as a criminal offense and warned of a rising pattern that diverts attention from operational activities, as reported by N12.
The 'Bashan Pioneers' group, which advocates for establishing Israeli settlements in Syria, has been involved in multiple recent border-crossing attempts. The Zioneer reported on July 6 that the IDF detained 70 activists near Mount Hermon, on July 9 that activists were stopped overnight in the same area, and on July 13 that activists were detained in the southern Golan Heights. The group has received support from coalition lawmakers, as previously noted.
The exact details of how the activists crossed the border and remained undetected for a full day remain unclear. The IDF is conducting an investigation, but no further information has been released.
11 developments
- ConfirmedIDF detains settler activists after overnight attempt to cross into Syria at Mount Hermon
- ConfirmedIDF detains 'Bashan Pioneers' settlers attempting to cross into Syria in southern Golan Heights
- DevelopingIsraeli security forces apprehend illegal residents
- DevelopingIDF estimates incident near Syria border approaching conclusion
Source and signal
- Internal intake