UN Demands Israel Respect 1974 Disengagement Accord And Safeguard Syrian Sovereignty

ISTANBUL, Oct 13 – The United Nations Security Council has called on Israel to immediately end violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement and fully respect Syria’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Addressing the Security Council in New York on Monday, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone reiterated UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ firm stance, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only viable mechanism for establishing lasting regional security arrangements.

Cordone detailed ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Syria, including extensive construction projects, security checkpoints, unlawful searches, detentions, and a fatal civilian shooting near an Israeli post on October 5, 2026.

Israel expanded its military footprint into the demilitarized Golan Heights buffer zone following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, citing security justifications, while Damascus continues to demand a total military withdrawal and full adherence to the 1974 treaty.

Border Incidents, Humanitarian Displacement, and Education Deficits

UN officials and civil society representatives highlighted critical security breaches, displacement challenges, and economic recovery programs across Syria:

• Buffer Zone Incursions & Custody Numbers: Cordone reported that 49 individuals currently remain in Israeli custody, while citing a September 23 incident where 14 Israeli settlers illegally crossed the ceasefire line into Syrian territory before being returned by Israeli security forces.
• Economic Assistance & Recovery Plans: Currency depreciation and rising fuel costs continue to erode basic purchasing power. However, preliminary financial stabilization has been aided by €620 million ($692 million) in European Union support and a $175 million World Bank agricultural initiative, alongside UN discussions to organize an international reconstruction conference.
• Displacement Statistics & Explosive Hazards: UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mohammed Yahya noted that despite 3.8 million displaced persons returning home, over 5.5 million Syrians remain displaced, with 770,000 living in camps. Additionally, unexploded ordnance has caused 2,500 casualties since December 2024, while the 2026 humanitarian response plan remains only 32 per cent funded.
• Education Crisis Warning: Civil society leader George Batah reported that 2.7 million children remain out of school with 8,000 educational facilities non-functional, while Plan International’s Regional Director Hajir Maalim warned that only 16.5 per cent of the required $337 million education funding target has been secured.
• Diplomatic Positions: The United States representative welcomed ongoing progress made by Syria regarding political, humanitarian, and internal security priorities.

The UN reiterated that international financial assistance must transition into sustained recovery mechanisms to ensure displaced families can rebuild their communities permanently.

–NMT