The Israeli military detained three activists from the HaBashan Pioneers settler movement on Tuesday after they breached the Syrian border in the Mount Hermon area, the IDF announced on Wednesday. The activists were returned to Israeli territory and handed over to police, according to the military, which said it "strongly condemns" such incidents as they disrupt operations and create a dangerous situation for all involved.
This incident marks the third time in recent weeks that members of the group have attempted to cross into Syria. On Friday, the IDF detained several Israeli civilians for illegally crossing into Syrian territory from the Majdal Shams area, following an overnight search operation. Earlier in July, about 100 activists crossed into the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and were detained by the military, with the activists accusing the IDF of using "severe violence" during their apprehension.
The HaBashan Pioneers movement has been trying to establish Jewish settlements in Syrian territory. The group has said it will continue its attempts despite military intervention at every effort. "Last week, our activists entered and left the area three times without anyone noticing them," the movement said. "The space is vast, and the army alone is not capable of holding at every point and at every hour. We will not stop until a magnificent Jewish settlement is established in the Bashan region."
The IDF has responded firmly to these border crossings. In a statement, the military described the actions as a "life-threatening criminal offense" and said it expects law enforcement agencies to bring those involved to justice and act decisively against the phenomenon.
The latest incident follows a report from Kan News that the IDF nearly fired on five of the group's members near the Syrian border two weeks ago, amid suspicion that they may have been a terrorist squad attempting to infiltrate Israel. According to Kan, the activists were set to be targeted by IDF Elbit Hermes 450 "Zik" drones before being identified as observant Jews due to their peyot, or side curls.
HaBashan Pioneers claimed that the "shooting was carried out" against the five men, but the group remained undeterred, reiterating its commitment to establishing a settlement in the region.