French journalist reports Israel is 'brutally' detaining, interrogating individuals in occupied Syria
Sylvain Mercadier, a French journalist detained by the Israeli army in Syrian territory, reported being beaten and “brutally interrogated” by Israeli soldiers.
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Mercadier, who was arrested alongside Syrian activist and lawyer Muhammed Fayyad, shared details of the incident with Anadolu, which occurred while they were working in the village of Hamidiye.
He stated that after the Israeli army attempted to confiscate their computers, they were “brutally” detained with their hands cuffed behind their backs and their mouths gagged.
Mercadier recounted being taken to a building repurposed as a military base by the Israeli army in the occupied Golan Heights.
“For four hours, we were forced to sit on the ground cross-legged with our hands behind our backs. We were mistreated, insulted and humiliated by the soldiers,” he explained.
He mentioned that they were frequently interrogated, intimidated, and subjected to repeated humiliation.
“We were interrogated multiple times, intimidated and threatened. I was thrown to the ground and beaten because I refused to cooperate with the army by unlocking my phone,” he added.
After the interrogation, Mercadier said they were driven to another village and released. However, he noted that their SIM cards, phones, cameras, and memory cards were not returned.
“I was deprived of my equipment needed for work,” he stated.
The Israeli army detained Mercadier and Fayyad in the Quneitra region of Syria on December 8, 2024, and claimed that after questioning, the two were released along with their personal belongings.
Israel’s attacks and occupation of Syria
Following intensified clashes in Syria on November 27 and the collapse of the 61-year-old Baath regime on December 8, Israeli military attacks on the country increased.
The Israeli army expanded its occupation in the Golan Heights, advancing within 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of Damascus.
Israel has occupied Syria’s Golan Heights since 1967, and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria established the boundaries of the demilitarized zone.
