IDF retrieves settlement activists who spent a full day in Syria after crossing border

A group of Israeli settlement activists illegally crossed the border into Syria and spent a full day there before being apprehended by Israeli troops.

According to the IDF, the civilians crossed the border near Majdal Shams on Thursday.

Troops in the area searched for them, but only located them today. The forces detained the civilians and handed them over to the Israel Police for further questioning, the IDF says.

Additionally, in several incidents today, settlement activists tried to cross into Syria in the southern Golan Heights. The IDF says troops prevented the civilians from crossing the border and handed them over to the police.

The military says there has been an increase in attempts by activists to cross the border into Syria in recent weeks.

The activists, who called themselves the Bashan Pioneers, call to establish settlements in the area. They have received support from some coalition lawmakers.

“Such actions divert IDF soldiers’ attention from their ongoing operational activities and compromise security,” the military says, adding that it “emphasizes that such actions constitute a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF soldiers.”

“The IDF expects law enforcement authorities to bring those involved to justice and to act decisively to prevent such incidents,” the army adds.