United Nations cards have helped farmers in Quneitra (southwestern Syria) reach their fields with less interference from Israeli forces during the 2026 harvest season, according to farmers who spoke with Enab Baladi.
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, issued the cards to farmers working near the separation line following repeated concerns over Israeli violations in the area.
Naif Lafi al-Aqal, from the village of al-Zaaroura, which belongs to the town of Rafid, told Enab Baladi that he received a card from UNDOF and completed harvesting and transporting his crop within 15 days.
He said Israeli army patrols moving alongside the fields asked farmers to present the cards while they were working. After checking the UN cards, the patrols withdrew without harassing them.
Fifteen farmers who own land near the barbed-wire fence received the cards.
Some farmers have not yet completed the harvest. They work on land only 50 meters from the separation line (the blue line).
Al-Aqal said the cards are not limited to harvesting operations. Farmers also use them while grazing livestock on agricultural land in the area.
Reduced Israeli Targeting
Abdullah al-Rashid, also from al-Zaaroura, said the cards helped curb violations against farmers because most of their land lies west of the village. They also made it easier for agricultural machinery to move through the area.
He said he carries the card while working and that its introduction had previously stopped gunfire directed at the movements of civilians and farmers in the area.
Despite these benefits, residents remain concerned about possible Israeli actions, al-Rashid said. He added that avoiding dangerous areas remains the best way to protect residents.
How Farmers Obtained the Cards
Farmer Mohammad Fahd al-Hajras told Enab Baladi that farmers had worked hard to cultivate their land. Still, Israeli forces restricted their movement and prevented them from reaching their fields when the harvest season began.
The restrictions prompted farmers to contact UNDOF and agree on a system of cards authorizing them to work and harvest from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Farmers must carry the cards and present them to Israeli forces when requested.
Al-Hajras said Quneitra farmers remain committed to their land and work despite continuing Israeli violations.
Community Initiative
Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Batista, commander of the Uruguayan battalion serving with UNDOF, said the cards resulted from a community initiative after residents requested protection while harvesting their land.
Batista told the Quneitra Media Directorate on July 7 that UNDOF had prepared an official form and submitted it to the force’s command headquarters.
He said the UN force contacted the Israeli side, which approved the request and provided guarantees allowing the identified farmers to work safely.
Batista added that the Uruguayan battalion monitors those working on the land each day. Their number stands at 50 farmers, and their work area extends from Rafid to Wadi al-Ruqad in the southern part of Quneitra governorate.
The farmers continue working throughout the sector while the UN force provides protection intended to allow them to harvest their crops safely, he said.
Syrian-UN Coordination
On June 1, the Farmers’ Union in Quneitra governorate met with an UNDOF delegation to coordinate farmers’ access to their land during the harvest season.
Abdul Rahman Khalaf, head of the Farmers’ Union in Quneitra, told Enab Baladi that the meeting followed repeated requests from farmers seeking access to their land as the harvest of winter crops approached.
The crops include wheat, barley, vetch, and fava beans.
Khalaf said the meeting aimed to ensure that farmers could harvest their crops without being harmed amid continuing Israeli incursions in Quneitra.
He said the union worked to facilitate farmers’ access and protect them during the harvest. The agreed mechanism included submitting lists of farmers’ names in coordination with the heads of agricultural associations and local village leaders.
Khalaf added that the first phase would cover the area from al-Hanout to al-Malaqa in the southern Quneitra countryside.
The phase would be implemented in coordination with the General Farmers’ Union and through a request for assistance from UNDOF.
The second phase would cover the entire ceasefire line from north to south. Khalaf said the Syrian side did not trust the Israeli occupation.
He said the UN delegation responded positively to the union’s requests for continued coordination. The delegation clarified, however, that its authority was limited to submitting periodic reports on conditions on the ground and acting according to instructions.
Continued Harassment
Quneitra residents face continued pressure from Israeli army activities, including incursions, arrests, and the bulldozing of agricultural land.
Farmers and livestock breeders have also faced arrests, land leveling, and the spraying of crops with plant-killing substances.
The Israeli army advanced into areas of Quneitra after the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024.
Israel cited security concerns over the possibility of an operation similar to “Al-Aqsa Flood” being launched from the Syrian border with the occupied Golan Heights.
Although the Syrian government has said it prioritizes peace, focuses on rebuilding the country, and does not seek war with any party, including Israel, Israel continues to insist on maintaining its positions in southern Syria.
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