Qatar Demands Israel Withdraw from UN Buffer Zone in Syria Amid New Leadership
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the demilitarized buffer zone along the Golan Heights, following Israel’s recent military deployment into the area, Al Jazeera reports.
The demand came during a joint press conference in Damascus with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto ruler of Syria, who leads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that recently overthrew long-time Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The buffer zone, established by the United Nations in 1974, separates Syria and Israel. Israel moved troops into the area last month following the change in Syrian leadership, citing concerns about weapons falling into the hands of “extremists,” a term Israel uses to describe various groups, including HTS. Alongside the troop deployment, Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes across Syria.
Sheikh Mohammed strongly criticized Israel’s actions and reiterated the importance of adhering to the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement. In a statement echoing that sentiment, Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed Syria’s willingness to welcome UN peacekeepers into the buffer zone to maintain its demilitarized status.
The Qatari Prime Minister also pledged Qatar’s support for the new Syrian administration and its commitment to rebuilding Syria’s infrastructure, which has been devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war. He called for the lifting of international sanctions on Syria, arguing that they impede crucial aid and rehabilitation efforts for the country and its people.
Sanctions, largely imposed by the United States and the European Union in response to alleged human rights abuses by the al-Assad regime during the war, are currently under consideration for possible easing. The US Treasury Department recently issued a six-month general license to allow certain transactions with the Syrian government, aiming to ensure that sanctions do not obstruct humanitarian aid and public services. Similarly, the EU is scheduled to convene at the end of January to discuss the potential lifting of sanctions on Syria.
