The Action Group – Damascus
Today, August 21, marks the twelfth anniversary of the chemical massacre in Eastern Ghouta in the Damascus countryside in 2013, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,400 civilians, including 36 Palestinian refugees whose names were documented by the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria.
In a report issued on this occasion, the group said that this massacre is considered one of the most horrific attacks in the modern history of Syria, as the bombing with the toxic sarin gas led to the deaths of hundreds of victims, most of whom were women and children.
According to the group’s documentation, 28 Palestinian refugees were killed in the Zamalka area, including entire families, while seven others were killed in Moadamiyeh al-Sham in the Damascus countryside. It indicated that the number of Palestinian victims is likely higher than announced, due to the difficulties of documentation and the fear of some families to mention the names of their relatives at the time.
The Action Group affirmed that “the use of chemical weapons and the targeting of civilians constitute war crimes and gross violations of human rights and international conventions,” renewing its call for the international community to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable and ensure that they do not escape punishment.
It also emphasized that the victims’ families are still awaiting justice more than a decade after the massacre, while no serious steps have yet been taken to hold those involved accountable.