Fringe Israeli Settler Group Repeatedly Crosses Into Syria Seeking Jewish Outpost

A fringe group of Israeli settlers has been making repeated crossings into southern Syria in an effort to set up a Jewish outpost, even as the Israeli military says the actions are illegal and put security operations at risk. The latest incident came after Israeli troops preparing for a nighttime strike realized the people they had spotted were religious Jewish Israelis returning from Syria, not armed militants.

The group, called Pioneers of Bashan, was formed in early 2025 and says it wants to build Jewish communities in Syria's Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida provinces. The activists say the land has biblical ties to the Jewish people and argue that settlements would strengthen Israel's security along the Golan Heights. They also claim their presence would help protect Syria's Druze community after last year's deadly sectarian violence.

Leader Amos Azaria said the group wants to create a "humanitarian corridor" linking Israel with the Druze area of Sweida. He also said, "The entire Daraa district... must be cleared of the enemies seeking our destruction and instead be filled with Jewish settlement."

The activists have crossed into Syria several times in recent weeks. In one case they spent a full day near Mount Hermon before being detained. In another, Israeli forces stopped around 100 activists trying to cross the border. Videos shared online show soldiers removing protesters and handing them over to police. Despite repeated detentions, Israeli media say no indictments have been filed.

The Israeli military says the crossings are a criminal offense that distract troops from their missions. While some ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition have voiced support for the activists, Israel has not adopted any official policy to establish settlements inside Syria.

Israel moved into a buffer zone in southern Syria after the fall of former President Bashar al Assad in December 2024, calling it a temporary security measure. Syria has demanded a full Israeli withdrawal, while the United Nations says Israel's presence in the buffer zone violates the 1974 disengagement agreement.