The Israeli occupation army has partially responded to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Almarsad in May 2025, seeking information about its activities in the occupied Syrian territories since December 8th 2024. The request demanded access to information regarding the following matters:
- Number of villages under the control of the occupation army
- Data concerning the conduct of a population census in the occupied area
- Construction of permanent buildings and military camps, and roads construction in the area
- Number of work permits issued by the army to Syrians
- Number of Syrians transferred for medical treatment in Israeli hospitals
- The amount of civilian property confiscated from Syrian residents
- The enactment of laws, regulations, or military orders applicable to the area and imposed on its residents
The Israeli occupation army failed to respond to the request within the legally prescribed time frame and continued to delay its response for several months. As a result, Almarsad filed a petition to the Tel Aviv Administrative Affairs Court, demanding that the army provide an answer to the Freedom of Information request.
Following the submission of the petition, the Freedom of Information Commissioner of the Israeli occupation army responded to the request on January 8th, 2026.
Below are the key points contained in the occupation army’s response:
- The occupation army rejected the characterization of its presence as a “military occupation,” claiming instead that it is “deployed in southern Syria in temporary camps established in remote outskirts without disturbing the local population, with the aim of creating a security buffer for the Golan settlements.”
- The occupation army claimed that no population census has been conducted in the area it occupies.
- The occupation army claimed that no work permits have been issued to Syrians and that no Syrians have entered to work in the Golan settlements or in Israel.
- The occupation army refused to answer the question regarding the number of Syrians transferred for medical treatment in Israeli hospitals, requesting time extension to respond to this issue.
- The occupation army claimed that only temporary roads have been constructed in the area for military purposes.
- The occupation army claimed that ten temporary military camps have been established in the demilitarized buffer zone since December 8th 2024.
- The occupation army claimed that no private civilian property belonging to Syrian residents has been confiscated.
- The occupation army claimed that no laws, regulations, or military rules have been enacted or applied in the demilitarized buffer zone.
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