Syrian armed forces allowed Palestinian demonstrators to cross the Israel-Syrian border in the Golan Heights during Nakba and Naksa Day protests, a United Nations reported released on Wednesday said, AFP reported.
The report on the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF), which monitors the ceasefire between Syria and Israel, did not accuse Syrians of organizing the demonstrations, but said that Syrian armed forces were near the locations of the protests on May 15 and June 5.
On May 15 Nakba Day protests at the border, the report, written by UN Secretary-General Ban ki moon, said 4,000 demonstrators, mainly Palestinians, gathered at Israel's northern border.
About 300 demonstrators made their way towards the Israeli side of the border "and despite the presence of the Syrian police, crossed the ceasefire line, through an unmarked minefield" and breached the border, AFP quoted the report as saying.
IDF forces initially fired tear gas canisters, then fired warning shots and ultimately resorted to "direct fire," the UN said. The world body said four had died and 41 were wounded.
On June 5 Naksa Day demonstrations, predominantly unarmed Palestinian youth gathered at two locations along the border. "Despite the presence of Syrian security forces, protesters attempted to breach the ceasefire line in both locations," the report was quoted as saying.
IDF forces again utilized tear gas then resorted to live fire to stop the protesters. Twenty-three people were reported killed and many more injured, according to the report.