Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
October 13, 2023
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) strongly condemns the bombing operations and attacks targeting civilians and public facilities in Gaza and Syria. It underscores that targeting civilians is a war crime, and those responsible must be held accountable to ensure justice for the victims. Furthermore, the SOC emphasizes that any forced displacement of civilians in Gaza and Syria, as defined in Article 7 (1)(d) of the Rome Statute, “constitutes a crime against humanity when directed against a civilian population on a large scale or in a systematic manner.” The SOC calls upon the international community, including the United Nations and its Security Council, to fulfill their responsibilities in putting an end to such acts and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The SOC also highlights that political agreements that fail to address the root causes of regional conflicts and neglect the legitimate aspirations and rights of people have proven to be fragile and unable to achieve sustainable security, stability, and peace. These agreements have, in fact, contributed to the persistence of extremism, the primary source of terrorism, causing continued suffering among the region’s populations and ongoing destabilization of international security and stability.
The SOC expresses unwavering support for the Arab Peace Initiative, which was initially proposed at the Arab Summit in Beirut in 2002. It views this initiative as the only viable path toward achieving a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, grounded in international legitimacy among regional nations, and as a means to guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This initiative offers the prospect of conclusively ending crises perpetuated by obstructive regimes, with the added benefit of significantly countering terrorism and its underlying causes. It ultimately aims to restore sovereignty to countries and territories within the region for the well-being of their people.
Furthermore, the SOC stresses the responsibility of leaders within the United Nations Security Council to act swiftly in halting violations and crimes committed against civilians in Gaza and Syria. Their primary aim should be to restore security, stability, and peace, in alignment with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the legitimate rights and aspirations of the world’s diverse populations. It is imperative that these leaders actively work to implement UN Security Council resolutions, promoting cooperation, sustainable development, and prosperity for the Middle East and the global community.
