Massive Druze Protests: "Israel is Committed to Protecting Our Brothers"

Thousands of people from the Druze community have been protesting in recent hours at several major intersections against what they define as government inaction and slow response against President Ahmad al-Sharaa's (Abu Muhammad al-Jolani) regime in Syria. So far, at least 73 Druze have been killed in Syria.

As a result of the protests, Highway 6 at Elyakim Interchange, Highway 85 at Rama Junction, and Highway 65 at Tzalmon Interchange have been blocked. Police reported that due to Druze community protests, Highway 85 has been blocked in both directions at Rama Junction and Highway 65 in both directions at Tzalmon Interchange, where traffic is being diverted to Kadrim and Eilabun. Highway 6, they reported, is still blocked to traffic in both directions between Tel Kashish and Ein Tut interchanges.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened Syrian leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, saying that "if the attacks on Druze in Syria don't stop - we will respond with great severity."

According to Katz, "Following yesterday's attacks on Druze in Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I instructed the IDF to carry out several warning strikes against extremist elements, and a clear message was sent to the Syrian regime that it is responsible for preventing the attacks." Katz added that "We are committed to protecting the Druze and are currently monitoring the situation."

At the same time, an IDF spokesman updated that two Druze civilians from Syria were evacuated for medical treatment in Israel following clashes in the country between Druze groups and armed militants. "The wounded were evacuated to Ziv Medical Center in Safed after being injured in Syria."

The IDF spokesman added that "IDF forces are deployed and prepared to prevent hostile forces from entering Druze villages. The IDF continues to monitor developments with readiness for defense and various scenarios." Yesterday, three Druze citizens from Syria were also evacuated for medical treatment in Israel.

Additionally, according to a report on Ynet, Druze soldiers are threatening that "if Israel doesn't stop the massacre of our brothers in Syria - we will do it ourselves."

According to the report, hundreds of reserve soldiers from the Druze community worked throughout the day to organize an initial protest against the government and IDF response to the massacres, and in closed groups also expressed anger that Israel is not doing enough to stop jihadist organizations across Syria from harming their relatives.

Initial protest measures may be implemented as early as tomorrow, some unprecedented in the delicate relationship between the Druze community and Israel.

Journalist Itai Blumenthal also reported on Kan 11 that hundreds of Druze fighters, both active and reserve, are initiating an appeal to Defense Minister Katz and Prime Minister Netanyahu demanding they allow them to enter Syria to fight and protect their families there.