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"Jihad" Appeals to Damascus for Their Release... Arrest of Palestinian Officials Raises Questions About Timing
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The arrest of Palestinian leaders in Damascus marks an unprecedented event in Syrian-Palestinian relations, especially following President Abbas’s recent visit to the Syrian capital
The Islamic Jihad movement in Syria has appealed to the Syrian interim government for the immediate release of two Palestinian leaders detained in Damascus last Sunday, demanding an explanation for the reasons behind their arrest.
This incident highlights a rift in relations between the Syrian government and certain Palestinian factions, particularly amid the current regional circumstances.
Palestinian sources in the Syrian capital reported that Syrian security forces arrested Palestinian official Khaled Khaled, the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Syria, late Sunday night into Monday. Analysts are questioning the potential impact of this move on the future of Syria’s relations with various Palestinian factions.
The sources told the German Press Agency (DPA) that "Syrian security forces arrested Khaled Khaled, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad official in Syria, and Abu Ali Yasser, the head of the organizational committee for the Syrian arena, in the capital Damascus." This comes at a time when the region is experiencing escalating tensions, especially after more than a year and a half of ongoing confrontations in the Gaza Strip.
The sources emphasized that Khaled’s arrest occurred less than 48 hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s visit to Damascus and his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara. This timing suggests possible shifts in political stances or new behind-the-scenes arrangements.
The sources also revealed active efforts by Palestinian and Arab leaders inside and outside Syria to pressure for the release of the detained Palestinian officials. Syria’s relations with Palestinian factions hold strategic importance for both sides, despite recent transformations.
The Islamic Jihad is among the Palestinian factions that have maintained a presence in Syria after the change in the former regime, as it did not engage in fighting alongside the regime like some other factions that left Syrian territory.
It is worth noting that Palestinian movements in Syria face multiple challenges, including internal pressures and external targeting. Several Islamic Jihad offices in Damascus have been repeatedly targeted by Israel, most recently on March 13 when the home of Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhala was hit by an Israeli missile strike in the Dummar neighborhood, north of Damascus.
These repeated attacks underscore the precarious security situation for Palestinian factions in Syria and the complexities of their relationship with the Syrian government. This arrest sets a precedent, as Palestinian leaders in Syria have rarely been detained. Over 13 Palestinian factions operate in Syria, some of which have left Damascus, such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command. Some factions maintain military wings, in addition to the Palestinian Liberation Army, which has military bases in Damascus and its countryside.
In a related context, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad in Palestine, issued an urgent appeal to the Syrian government to release two of its detained leaders, held for five days. The Brigades identified the detained officials as Commander Khaled Khaled, responsible for the Syrian arena, and Commander Yasser al-Zafri, head of the organizational committee, stating that the arrests were made without clear justification.
In its statement, the group recalled "Syria’s historical struggle in supporting the Palestinian cause," saying: "Syria has always been a haven for the loyal and free who defended the nation against occupiers and tyrants." Al-Quds Brigades expressed hope that the Syrian government would prove "worthy of Arab honor" by releasing the officials, stressing their humanitarian role in supporting the Palestinian people during Syria’s crises.
The statement read: "While Al-Quds Brigades continue to fight Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip for over a year and a half, their rifles have only been aimed at the Zionist enemy. Our martyrs from the Syrian arena fell on the borders of occupied Palestine."
