Syrian Druze Protest in Soueïda Expresses Solidarity with Israel
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Dozens of demonstrators in Soueïda, Syria, held a protest on October 7 to show solidarity with Israel on the third anniversary of the Hamas attack. Organized by the al-Sumoud battalion, the rally featured portraits of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri. Participants drew parallels between violence against Israelis and Druze, condemning extremism. This event reflects a pro-Israel sentiment within a segment of the Druze community, despite internal controversy.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Dozens protested in Soueïda, Syria, on October 7 to show solidarity with Israel.
- The protest marked the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
- Participants displayed portraits of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri.
- The al-Sumoud battalion organized the rally, drawing parallels between violence against Israelis and Druze.
- The demonstration highlights a pro-Israel sentiment within a segment of the Druze community.
- Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri has made recent statements favorable to Israel.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered in Soueïda, southern Syria, on Wednesday, October 7, to express solidarity with Israel on the third anniversary of the Hamas attack. The protest, which included a car procession and a rally in al-Karama square, was organized by the al-Sumoud battalion, a group affiliated with the Soueïda National Guard. Participants displayed portraits of Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, holding signs that read "We will not forget, we will not forgive" and "Different massacres, same perpetrator."
The al-Sumoud battalion stated that the initiative was intended as a tribute to victims and a rejection of extremism and violence against civilians. The group drew a parallel between the violence against Israelis and that experienced by Druze in Syria, asserting, "We face the same phenomenon: extremism and religious and political violence exercised by Islamist movements." They emphasized that condemning massacres should not involve double standards, regardless of the victim's identity.
This is not the first pro-Israel demonstration in Soueïda; similar gatherings have occurred since July 2025. These displays of support are linked to ongoing tensions between Syrian authorities and some local Druze leaders. Hikmat al-Hijri has recently made statements favorable to Israel, calling it "a state of institutions, knowledge, and civilization." However, these views are controversial within the Druze community, with some figures rejecting any challenge to their Syrian and Arab identity and asserting that al-Hijri does not speak for all Druze or Soueïda residents, as noted by Syrian presidential advisor Ahmad Muaffaq Zaidan.
The October 7 rally highlights a segment within the Druze region of southern Syria that openly supports Israel and equates Islamist extremist violence against Israeli civilians with violence against Druze. The article also mentions Eden Yerushalmi, who was abducted and killed by Hamas in 2024.
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