CIJR | Canadian Institute for Jewish Research
L'institut Canadien de Recherches sur le Judaisme

Analysis

The Forgotten Slaughter of Syria’s Druze – and Israel’s Moral Response

Syrian rebel assault widens as Assad races to defend Homs, Damascus Source:  FMT
Syrian rebel assault widens as Assad races to defend Homs, Damascus Source: FMT

 

John Spencer@SpencerGuard

X, July 19, 2025

“The same institutions and voices that claim to champion human rights have gone quiet.”

“During the Holocaust, when you were being slaughtered, you, the Jews, cried for help and no one came. Today we, the Druze, are being slaughtered and are calling for the help of Israel.” The Prime Minister of Israel shared this message publicly and issued a clear reply. “We have taken action,” he said. “And we will continue to take action as necessary.”

This past week, a brutal campaign of violence has unfolded in southern Syria. Hundreds of Druze civilians (members of a minority community indigenous to the Levant) have been murdered, kidnapped, or forced to flee their homes. Villages have been burned. Women and children were reportedly slaughtered in sacred sites where they had sought refuge. The perpetrators include radical Islamist militants, Bedouin gangs, and regime-backed elements, all empowered by years of state collapse and lawlessness.

The carnage has been captured on video and is now spreading across social media. These are not vague reports or unverifiable claims. There is footage of Druze civilians being hunted down and executed.

Elders are dragged into the streets. Their mustaches shaved in acts of humiliation. For the Druze, this is not just an insult, it is desecration. In Druze culture, facial hair, especially the mustache, is a powerful symbol of dignity, piety, and manhood. Elder men are traditionally known for their modest appearance, religious devotion, and strict adherence to tradition, including the wearing of facial hair as a sign of spiritual discipline. Forcing a Druze elder to be shaved is meant to strip him of identity, honor, and religious status in front of his community. It is not just abuse. It is psychological warfare. It is a calculated act of degradation meant to erase who they are. ….SOURCE

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