Israel rescued hundreds of members of the Syrian "White Helmets" humanitarian organization on Saturday, allowing them to cross the Israeli-Syrian border and transport them to Jordan. The operation was confirmed by both the Israeli army and the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"After a directive from the Israeli government and at the request of the United States and other European countries, the Israeli army recently completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civilian organization and their families. families, "said the Israeli army.
Israeli evacuation operation of hundreds of Syrian White Helmets militants in Jordan IDF Spokesman Unit
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were two of the Western leaders who asked Israel to help White Helmets members leave Syria. "Those people who saved lives were now under deadly threat," Netanyahu said in a statement. "I have therefore authorized their transfer by Israel to other countries as an important humanitarian measure."
On Saturday, Israeli security forces closed roads in the Golan Heights on the Syrian border before the evacuation operation.
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"Civilians have been evacuated from the war zone in southern Syria because of immediate threats to their lives and the transfer of displaced Syrians through Israel is an exceptional humanitarian gesture," the statement said, adding that "civilians Israel continues to maintain a policy of non-intervention regarding the Syrian conflict and continues to hold the Syrian regime responsible for all activities in Syrian territory. "
A few weeks ago, the United States, Canada, France and Great Britain appealed to Israeli politicians to try to help the evacuation of some 800 activists and members civilians of the White Helmets of Syria. The army had received a list of the names of all the people to be evacuated.
Under the greatest secrecy, the organization began to gather its people; Activists were invited to travel to two locations along the barrier – one to the north of the Golan Heights near Quneitra and the other to the Israeli-Golan-Jordanian border. They traveled to these points on foot and by other means. At 11 o'clock in the morning. On Saturday night, the army began opening border crossings, keeping the evacuees tightly lest they be attacked while crossing Israel. Syrian militants and civilians were transported by bus, and IDF soldiers gave them food on the bus while they were traveling to the crossing point with Jordan. No stop has been made.
Fantastic news: we have saved white helmets and their families – United Kingdom and friends – thank you Israel and Jordan for We acted so fast at our request. PM are the bravest of the brave and in a desperate situation it is at least a glimmer of hope
The Jordanians were waiting, as expected, on their side of the border. By 6 am Sunday, the whole group of Syrians had been transferred to Jordanian buses. Most of the people were children, some of them relatives of activists and other orphans who had been injured in the battles. The IDF Basan division was in charge of the operation, particularly its security aspects, while the National Security Council was responsible for political coordination.
White helmets are sponsored by humanitarian groups mainly in the United States and Canada and work in Syria to provide food, psychological support and other forms of assistance.
A spokesman for the Jordanian Foreign Ministry confirmed Sunday that Jordan had "allowed the UN" to organize the entry and passage of 800 Syrian civil security workers whose life was in danger.
The kingdom accepted the request of Great Britain, Germany and Canada to grant temporary asylum to white helmet workers in the kingdom before colonization in the West for humanitarian reasons, said spokesman Mohammad al Kayed.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians recently fled to the Israeli and Jordanian borders after forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad embarked on a campaign to return to Daraa province in southern Syria.
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In recent months, Assad forces have returned to the area surrounding the Syrian capital of Damascus and pushed the rebels north towards Idlib. Assad also looked south, wanting to regain control of the Syrian border with Jordan and Israel. Since the rebels do not receive logistical support, overtaking their areas is considered relatively easy for the Assad regime.
According to the United Nations and human rights organizations, 270,000 people fled their homes in southern Syria during the regime's last offensive, mainly to the Jordanian border and to Quneitra on the heights. Syrian Golan. Some went to existing refugee camps and others to new tent camps that Israel and Jordan helped to establish.
When settlements began to be visible across the Israeli Golan border, Israel said it would provide humanitarian aid but would not allow entry to the refugees. Since the beginning of the civil war, Israel has allowed Syrian refugees to receive medical treatment.
