The United Nations has warned Israel against violating Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity following its activities in the country.
The Israeli army had advanced into the buffer zone which is between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Although there have been huge criticisms of the move, Netanyahu described it as a temporary measure pending “a suitable arrangement.”
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, insisted that only UN Peacekeepers are permitted to occupy any area in Syria.
Guterres therefore asked Israel to disengage its military forces in Syria.
He said, “they are violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and they must stop.
“In the occupied Syrian Golan, the UN peacekeeping mission – UNDOF – continues to observe Israel Defense Forces personnel and equipment in multiple locations in the area of separation and in one location in the area of limitation.
“Let me be clear; There should be no military forces in the area of separation other than UN peacekeepers – period. And those peacekeepers must have freedom of movement to undertake their important work.
“Israel and Syria must uphold the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, which remains fully in force.
“Syria’s sovereignty, territorial unity, and integrity must be fully restored, and all acts of aggression must come to an immediate end,” he said.
Guterres called for a political transition that is inclusive, recognizing the diverse groups in the country and ensuring that the process is “credible and peaceful.”
He said, “(this moment) holds great promise for a country so rich in its diversity, history and culture – and its enormous and deeply-rooted traditions of generosity that I witnessed first-hand as High Commissioner for Refugees when the Syrian people welcomed millions of Iraqis displaced from their homes.
“If the ongoing situation is not managed carefully—by the Syrians themselves, with the support of the international community—there is a real risk that progress could unravel.
“The political transition ahead must be by Syrians, and for Syrians – all Syrians. It must be inclusive, credible and peaceful. All communities must be fully integrated into the new Syria.
“The rights of women and girls must be fully respected. And the process must be guided by the underlying principles of Security Council resolution 2254,” the Secretary-General said.
Listing various efforts the UN has made to help the people of Syria affected by the conflicts, Guterres called on the International community for more humanitarian support.
“Adequate funding for humanitarian and recovery responses is critical, and that funding is not yet available.
“I make a strong appeal to the international community to show the generosity the Syrian people deserve in this moment and to massively support the humanitarian response in Syria,” he said.