Syrian Druze Rally in Support of Israel After October 7 Attacks
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Thousands of Syrian Druze in Sweida rallied in solidarity with Israel, raising Israeli flags and portraits of Prime Minister Netanyahu to honor victims of the October 7 attacks. The unprecedented demonstration drew parallels to past attacks on Druze villages, with participants expressing support for the Jewish people. Similar solidarity events were held by Middle Eastern minorities in Europe, who see Israel as a strategic partner against radical threats.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Syrian Druze in Sweida raised Israeli flags and Netanyahu portraits to honor October 7 victims.
- The rally expressed solidarity with the Jewish people in an unprecedented regional display.
- Demonstrators linked Israeli suffering to past attacks on Druze villages in Syria.
- Local leaders and militias declared spiritual and political closeness with Israel.
- Similar solidarity events by Middle Eastern minorities occurred in European cities.
- Analysts see Israel as a strategic partner for persecuted minorities against radical threats.
Thousands of Syrian Druze gathered in the central Al-Karama square in the city of Sweida, raising Israeli flags and portraits of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to commemorate the victims of the October 7 attacks. Participants expressed solidarity with the Jewish people, marking an unprecedented public display of support in the region's modern history, according to Dr. Edi Cohen.
The demonstrators drew parallels between the October 7 tragedy in Israel and attacks by extremist groups on Druze villages in southern Syria in the summer of 2025, which resulted in thousands of deaths and hundreds of captives. They carried posters with images of victims from both sides and messages condemning the militants' brutality, asserting that terror stems from the same radical forces. The rally also featured portraits of the spiritual leader of Israeli Druze, Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif, and local community head Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, with signs reading "Druze of Sweida are with you" and "We will not forget, we will not forgive."
Local community leaders and regional self-defense militia representatives joined the procession, declaring spiritual and political closeness with Israel. Similar solidarity demonstrations, organized by Middle Eastern ethnic minorities including Kurds, Alawites, and Iranian opposition activists, took place in European cities, including Germany's capital. These groups carried their own historical flags and condemned violence against Israel, with analysts noting that persecuted minorities increasingly view Jerusalem as a strategic partner against shared radical threats.
In other news, the Israeli police chief approved the resignation of district commander Amir Cohen. Separately, US Secretary of State Rubio warned of the risk of a large-scale conflict escalation. Finnish lawmakers reported intimidation by Russian agents, while Zelensky criticized the US stance on peace talks. Six Israelis received presidential medals for saving a flydubai plane, Trump commented on the October 7 tragedy, Kennedy Jr. criticized Qatar, and the Italian parliament passed electoral reform.
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