Israel turns away dozens of fleeing Syrian refugees
Israeli soldiers stopped dozens of fleeing Syrian refugees from approaching the border fence
Approximately 200 civil Syrians who fled from Assad regime's strikes over Daraa and Quneitra districts, are close to occupied Golan Heights near Israeli Border in Daraa, Syria on July 17, 2018. ( Ammar Al Ali - Anadolu Agency )
Israel
By Abdel Raouf Arnaut
JERUSALEM
Israeli border guards on Tuesday sent back dozens of Syrian refugees who approached the border fence with Israel, according to the Israeli military.
“Around 200 Syrians approached the border fence, but were dispersed,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee told Anadolu Agency.
Local media said the refugees, some of whom carried white clothes, walked toward the border fence and were stopped some 200 meters away from the fence.
According to Israeli daily Haaretz, an Israeli soldier shouted at the refugees to “go back”.
Thousands of Syrian refugees have fled toward Israel-occupied Golan Heights over a wide-scale offensive launched by regime forces to recapture the southwestern Daraa province from opposition groups.
Last month, a senior Israeli official said Israel would not allow “a single refugee” to enter Israeli territory but was prepared to offer humanitarian assistance.
Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
