Syrian and Palestinian rights monitors have denied reports of a fresh wave of arrests targeting Palestinian refugees in Damascus, clarifying that the detentions being discussed took place about a week ago and that no new campaigns have been launched since.
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria said on Tuesday that "no new arrest campaign has been documented in recent days" in the Syrian capital, despite reports in some media outlets suggesting otherwise.
The NGO’s director, Faez Abu Eid, told The New Arab that the cases currently circulating "date back roughly a week" and involve displaced Palestinians from several areas in and around Damascus.
According to Abu Eid, the detainees were picked up from different parts of the capital, including Khan Al-Shih camp, Jaramana camp, as well as the Rukn al-Din neighbourhood and the town of al-Hameh in the Damascus countryside.
He said that seven Palestinians were detained in Khan al-Shih camp in the most recent wave of arrests, three of whom were released on Monday night, while four remain in custody. In Jaramana camp, he added, six people are still being held, with none released so far.
He noted that rights monitors have documented similar arrests of Palestinians from other districts of Damascus and its surroundings in recent days, although the exact numbers remain difficult to verify due to restrictions on information and families’ fear of reprisals. Vague charges, no official statement The charges cited to families and in informal communications vary widely, Abu Eid said, ranging from alleged affiliation with the Islamic State group (IS) to links to "remnants of the regime ".
Others were detained due to their alleged involvement in demonstrations or incidents connected to the UAE embassy in Damascus earlier this month, when a group of protesters gathered outside the diplomatic building during the Iran war.
"Until now, the Syrian Ministry of Interior has not issued any clarification about the reasons for these arrests or the specific charges being brought against the detainees," Abu Eid told The New Arab .
He said the lack of transparency is fuelling uncertainty in Palestinian camps that have already experienced years of displacement, poverty and security abuses.
Abu Eid also pointed out that relatives are refraining from publishing the names of detainees out of concern for their safety. "Families believe that publicly identifying their sons could expose them to further pressure or retaliation while they are in custody".
Human rights groups say this climate of fear complicates efforts to document violations, verify numbers and secure legal support for those detained.
Previous state media reports indicate that Syrian security forces have carried out multiple arrest campaigns targeting Palestinians in and around Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, often on security-related pretexts.