Syrian–Palestinian relations refers to the official relations between Syria and Palestine. Palestine has an embassy in Damascus, but Syria has no official representative office in Palestine.
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History
editThe two countries share a strong historical bond, as both were together used to be under Phoenicians,[1] and later subjected by various occupations and wars, spanned from the Persian Empire, Roman Empire, Arabs, Crusaders and the Ottoman Empire.[2] However, in 20th century, Syria and Palestine would be later carved and divided between France and the British Empire, and this would remain until the end of World War II.
Modern relations
editSyria soon announced its complete support to Palestine after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War broke out, and had sent troops to fight against newly-formed Israel Defense Forces, but it failed to change the tie, and later also failed to get a peace talk.[3] Since then, with the influx of Palestinian refugees to Syria, relationship between Syria and Palestine became very complex, while mainly brotherly, also share significant differences.
Syria also joined the Six-Day War hoping to expel the Israeli Army in order to create a Palestinian state, but failed. This war radically changed Syrian and Palestinian society. For Syrians, the failure damaged their reputation, and subsequently created further mistrust.[4]
Hafez al-Assad, a Ba'athist, was known for his hostility towards Yasser Arafat and Faisal Husseini, with attempts to divide the Palestinian leadership.[5]
After the Syrian civil war
editThe Syrian civil war created divisions among Palestinians over the Assad regime in Syria. leaders endorsed the 2011 civil uprisings in Syria and left their Syrian headquarters in Damascus in 2012.[6]
Some Palestinians have accused Assad of enabling torture and murder of Palestinians,[7] and recently, the demolition of Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, notably in Yarmouk.[8] Assad was further accused of allowing rape and torture of Palestinians.[9]
On October 19 2022, Hamas restored diplomatic relations with Syria.[10]
Palestinians in Syria
editThere were more than 500,000 Palestinians in Syria, mostly refugees, before the outbreak of Syrian Civil War.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "What was Historical Syria and Phoenicia? Is there confusion?". phoenicia.org.
- ^ "HISTORY OF SYRIA AND PALESTINE". www.historyworld.net.
- ^ "Lost Opportunities for Peace in the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Israel and Syria, 1948-2001". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
- ^ Bowen, Jeremy (5 June 2017). "1967 war: Six days that changed the Middle East". BBC News.
- ^ "Palestinians and the Assad regime: for history and generations to know". Middle East Monitor. 8 July 2014.
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (2022-10-18). "Hamas delegation to visit Syria after shunning Assad for years". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ "Monitoring Group: Over 35 Female Palestinian-Syrians Killed under Torture in Assad Prisons". Syrian National Coalition Of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces. 12 January 2019.
- ^ Sanchez, Raf (26 April 2018). "Palestinian refugee camp in Syria turns 'unimaginably brutal' as Assad regime drives Isil out of Yarmouk". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "'Assad regime tortured, electrocuted and raped Palestinian detainees'". Middle East Monitor. 14 January 2019.
- ^ "Hamas Resumes Ties With Syria in Damascus Visit". Voice of America. 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ "Palestine Refugees in Syria: A Recurring Tragedy". The Elders. 25 November 2015.
