22.10.2026 17:44
Israeli soldiers shot and killed Muaz Selame el-Baeer, a man with Down syndrome who had hearing and speech impairments, during a raid on the village of Cemele in Syria’s southern Dera province. According to his relatives, Muaz could not hear the soldiers’ “Stop” warning and was targeted when he continued walking. His family reacted to the killing of an unarmed civilian with special needs and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
The relatives of Muaz Selame el-Baeer, who had Down syndrome and was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during a raid on the village of Cemele in Syria's southern Dera province, said that Muaz, who had hearing and speech impairments, was killed because he did not hear the soldiers' warning to stop, and demanded that those responsible for the incident be held accountable.
A PERSON WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WAS TARGETED
Muaz's relatives stressed that Israeli forces infiltrated the village and searched houses, targeting an unarmed civilian with special needs, and demanded that the Israeli army be stopped. Ahmet Musa Subeyhi, a UN Liaison Officer who ensures communication between United Nations (UN) forces and the local population and is also a relative of Muaz, told an AA correspondent that the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning.
BECAUSE HE COULD NOT HEAR, HE DID NOT STOP
Subeyhi recounted that a unit of about 12 vehicles belonging to Israeli soldiers came to the village and, after searching houses, set up a checkpoint in Cemle Square. Subeyhi, who said that Muaz passed by the soldiers while the checkpoint was being set up, said, "Muaz was disabled; he could not hear or speak. They shouted 'Stop, stop' at him, but he could not stop because he did not hear. When he did not stop, they opened fire on him and killed him. Everyone knew he was deaf and mute." Subeyhi reported that Israeli soldiers left Muaz's body at point No. 86 in Tel Abu al-Ghaysar, belonging to the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNDOF), and that after UN officials notified them, Civil Defense teams took the body and transported it to Dera Hospital.
"THEY TRAMPLE OVER EVERYTHING"
Subeyhi stressed that violations in the area continue not only from the ground but also from the air, noting that reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters constantly fly over the region. Subeyhi said that Israeli soldiers set up checkpoints during the day and searched houses at night, and that this situation causes great fear and anxiety among the local population. Subeyhi said, "I don't know whether the United Nations or anything else is of any use. I mean, they trample over everything." Subeyhi stressed that although it is the olive harvest season, villagers cannot reach their gardens, and said, "They asked everyone who has olive trees on nearby land for a photocopy of their ID and a passport-style photo; they said they would issue a permit."
HE WAS TAKEN AWAY IN HANDCUFFS
Another relative of Muaz, Suleiman Mohammed, also said that Israeli soldiers entered the village at around 02:00 by advancing from the Abu al-Ghaysar gate toward Wadi al-Raqqad. Mohammed, who said that Muaz entered the neighborhood unaware of the situation while Israeli soldiers were searching houses in the Eastern Neighborhood, used the following words: "Muaz was a 50-55-year-old individual with special needs. When he entered the neighborhood unaware of the soldiers' presence, they opened fire. Later, they took this man, who had been shot, away with his hands handcuffed. Most likely, he was still alive when they took him, but he died on the way."