SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

Four French deputies who were detained by Israel after boarding a Gaza-bound flotilla have declared a hunger strike.

Member of the European Parliament and La France Insoumise member Manon Aubry told France Info today: “The detention conditions of the four deputies are harsh; they are held with more than ten people in one cell, and they have begun a hunger strike,” noting that the deputies are François Piquard and Marie Massombier in the French National Assembly, and Rima Hassan and Emma Forou in the European Parliament.

Aubry called on her country’s authorities to intervene to recover the French citizens detained by Israel because of their participation in the Resilience Flotilla, whose number amounts to 30 people.

Resilience Flotilla announced on Friday that the Israeli navy attacked all ships carrying humanitarian aid and volunteers, and a number of international activists on board were detained, and this assault was met with broad international and Arab condemnations.

Khadija/ Mazen

A Civil Defense Center was established Sunday in the city of al-Qadmus of Tartous Countryside.

Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh inaugurated the new center that amid at enhancing rapid response capabilities to emergencies and disasters nationwide.

In September, a civil defense center was established in the city of Talkalakh, western Homs, to ensure swift response to urgent incidents

Spain has renewed its demand for an immediate halt to genocide war against Gaza Strip.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told public TV in an interview that “the ongoing bombardment and blockade constitute daily violations of international law, humanitarian law, and human rights. Israel must immediately cease its military operations.”

Albares stressed that the ultimate goal for Spain and the international community should be a just and lasting peace that enables the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Regarding Spanish nationals detained by Israel alongside more than 400 participants in the international “Freedom Flotilla” aimed at breaking the siege on Gaza, Albares stated that a first group of 21 individuals out of the 49 aboard the flotilla would be able to return to Spain today.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, Nour al-Din al-Baba said on Sunday that the Ministry has coordinated with the higher committee of People’s Assemble election to provide protection and secure polling centers as well as preserve the smooth process of the elections across the country.

Speaking to SANA, al-Baba added that the Ministry plan concluded the deployment of police personnel, as well as female police, to preserve women privacy and assist them to exercise their rights in casting votes.

“Syria is witnessing a historic moment as a result of Syrian revolution’s victory, the county sets fair and transparent election through which Syrians freely cast their votes to choose their representatives in the new People’s Assembly,’ al-Baba said

Minister of Transport Yarub Badr and UNHCR Head of Mission in Syria Gonzalo Vargas Llosa discussed on Sunday ways to enhance cooperation to ensure the smooth and safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

During the meeting, Minister Badr emphasized the continued efforts to provide essential support to returnees, including transportation and financial assistance to facilitate their return.

For his part, the UNHCR Representative stressed the importance of the ongoing cooperation between the Syrian government and UNHCR, which reflects both sides’ commitment to facilitating the voluntary return process.

He reiterated UNHCR’s commitment to working in coordination with the relevant Syrian authorities to support the return process.

The UNHCR official explained that approximately 1 million refugees have returned so far, while the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has exceeded 1.8 million, with expectations that this number will rise to several millions more by 2026.

This meeting is part of the ongoing efforts by the Syrian government and UNHCR to facilitate the return of refugees.

Tartous City Council and Old Tartous Exhibition Hall hosted an artistic event to support the talents of youth and children and highlight their artistic achievements.

The event featured 25 young participants who presented a diverse array of works, including paintings, paper quilling, handmade accessories, candles, and culinary creations.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the event, seeing it as great support for their talents, and shared their love for art.

A day after Hamas’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 65 Palestinians and injured dozens within 24 hours, Palestinian health officials announced.

In its daily report, the Ministry of Health in Gaza (MoH) stated that hospitals in the Gaza Strip received 65 new bodies, two of whom were pulled from under the rubble, and 265 injuries, bringing the total toll since October 7, 2023, to 67,139 deaths and 169,583 injuries.

The ministry also reported that some victims remain trapped under rubble, as civil defense and rescue teams are unable to reach them.

Since the ceasefire agreement was broken by Israel on March 18, 2025, the death toll has surged to 13,549 deaths and 57,542 injuries, the ministry said.

The number of famine-related deaths in Gaza has risen to 460, including 154 children, the ministry added.

Arab and Muslim countries welcomed on Sunday Hamas’s response to the proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement, foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey and Pakistan, welcomed the U.S. President’s call for an immediate halt to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and release the hostages, describing it as a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive and just peace in the region.

The ministers expressed appreciation for ongoing efforts to end the aggression against the Palestinian people and alleviate their humanitarian suffering.

The statement reaffirmed the ministers’ collective commitment to supporting the implementation of the proposed framework and to working toward an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

It also emphasized the need for a comprehensive agreement that ensures unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid, prevents the displacement of Palestinians, and avoids any actions that threaten civilian safety.

The statement also called for the release of hostages, the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the establishment of a security mechanism that guarantees the safety of all parties.

Polling centers in some electoral districts have closed after electoral colleges casted their votes in the first parliamentary elections in Syria.

Spokesperson for the Higher Election Committee, Nawar Najmeh told SANA that voting has concluded at the polling centers in Daraa’s al-Sanamin, Baniyas in Tartus, and al-Qusayr in Homs. Vote counting has begun.

Also in Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs some election centers closed and began vote counting , according to SANA reporters

Members of the Electoral Colleges began on Sunday morning voting in the first Syrian Parliamentary Elections marking a significant step in developing the country’s legislative body.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s full support to the Syrian government, noting that Syria’s new People’s Assembly elections on October 5 represent a pivotal step in the country’s history.

The foreign minister added that Syria’s stability and security is key for Turkey’s national security. “Our border with Syria and everything beyond it is important to our national security, so, Syria’s unity, stability, and territorial integrity directly affect Turkey’s national security,” he stated on an interview with Turkish TV TRT.

Fidan reiterated his country’s rejection and condemnation of the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, which could create new realities that threaten to divide the country.

He called on SDF to reach an agreement with the Syrian government and preserve Syria’s territorial integrity.

Fidan considered that lifting US and European sanctions on Syria would help remove funding constraints and contribute to attracting investment and the return of refugees to their country.

Turkish authorities evacuated on Saturday activists of Global Sumud Flotilla who were intercepted by Israel in the international water, during their attempt to break the siege imposed on Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aids to the Palestinian people.

Anadolu News Agency quoted Turkish sources as saying that a Turkish airlines plane carried 36 Turkish people to Istanbul, in addition to 137 nationals of several other countries.

Israeli navy attacked late Wednesday night all the ships of Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aids and volunteers.

Polling centers opened at nine a.m. on Sunday for members of the electoral colleges to begin voting in the first Syrian parliamentary elections after the liberation.

Members of the electoral colleges will select representatives from 1578 candidates for Syria’s new People’s Assembly, in an important step in the country’s rebuilding process.

The Media Office at the Ministry of Education has denied social media reports alleging that musical instruments at the National Music Institute, in Joudat al-Hashemi High School building in Damascus, were subjected to acts of vandalism.

In a statement to SANA, the Media Office clarified that the circulated images actually depict ongoing renovation and rehabilitation work at the school, part of the ministry’s broader plan to modernize educational facilities.

The renovation of the school is part of the Ministry of Education’s ongoing efforts to enhance educational and artistic institutions across Syria, aiming to provide students with the best possible learning experience in all fields.

MHD Ibrahim

Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa announced Saturday the completion of the preliminary design for the main news studio at the General Organization of Radio and Television.

“Following the completion of technical studies, the preliminary design for the main news studio at the General Organization of Radio and Television has been finalized. A leading company has undertaken the design to make this studio the largest and most advanced in the history of Syria’s television industry.” Minister al-Mustafa stated in a post on X.

He added: “The studio is distinguished by its versatility and capacity to accommodate around 15 news bulletins and various programs throughout the day. Upon completion, the trial broadcast of the Syrian News Channel will be concluded, and the studio will also be used to film select programs for Syrian Satellite TV.”

The Minister continued: “Establishing a television media infrastructure is a complex and detailed process that faces numerous challenges. our team is committed to laying the foundations of our media on solid principles that ensure sustainability and adaptability in this fast-evolving field.”

MHD Ibrahim

Syria will hold its first parliamentary election since liberation on Sunday, with voting to be conducted by electoral bodies formed across the country’s provinces.

The first Syrian People’s Assembly to be formed since the fall of the defunct regime.

The voting process, which will mark the formation of the first Syrian People’s Assembly since the fall of the defunct regime, will take place at designated electoral district centers across most provinces, as set by the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections. A later date will be scheduled for voting in certain areas of Raqqa and Hasakah provinces (Ma’dan, Ras al-Ayn, and Tal Abyad), while seats in the remaining districts of these provinces, as well as all districts in Sweida province, will remain vacant until conditions allow.

Who is eligible to vote?

Polling stations will open at 9 a.m. tomorrow, according to Nawar Najmeh, spokesperson for the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections. Eligible voters are members of the accredited electoral bodies. They will present their identification upon arrival, receive their voting cards, and then proceed to the head of the local committee to obtain an officially stamped ballot. Voters will fill out their ballots in a private voting booth before placing them openly into the ballot box.

According to Najmeh, the initial voting period will conclude at 12 noon. If not all members of the electoral bodies have cast their votes by that time, polling may be extended until 4 p.m. at the latest.

Vote Counting and Announcement of Results

After voting concludes, the ballot boxes will be opened publicly in the presence of the media, and the counting of votes will begin. Preliminary results will be announced immediately through national media outlets.

The spokesperson for the Supreme Committee said that once the preliminary results and names are released, any objections from members of the electoral bodies regarding voting or counting procedures will be reviewed by appeals committees. The final results will then be announced during an official press conference held by the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections on the following Monday or Tuesday.

Who is running for membership in the People’s Assembly?

In the lead-up to the elections, extensive preparations took place across the provinces. The nomination period for membership in the People’s Assembly closed on September 28, covering 50 electoral districts nationwide, with a total of 1,578 candidates, of whom 14 percent were women.

The candidates’ campaign period began on September 29 and concluded Friday evening, making October 4, 2025, the official election silence day.

New Electoral Mechanism

The election is being held under a new temporary system established by Presidential Decree No. 66 of 2025, issued by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The decree created the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections, composed of ten members plus its chair, Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, to oversee the entire electoral process.

The decree stipulates that assembly seats be distributed according to population density across the provinces and according to the categories of notable figures and professionals. One-third of the seats are to be appointed by the president, while the remaining two-thirds are elected through regional electoral committees.

Under a separate decree, No. 143 of 2025, the People’s Assembly is set at 210 members. Electoral districts are organized at the administrative level, each consisting of one or more areas, with its electoral body responsible for electing two-thirds of the assembly seats. Candidacy is limited to members of these electoral bodies.

Measures Implemented by the Higher Committee for Elections

Since its formation, the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections has conducted field visits across the provinces and held meetings with all segments of Syrian society to gather citizens’ suggestions and opinions on the temporary electoral system.

The committee selected members of the subcommittees in each district in consultation with community and official representatives. These subcommittees are tasked with supervising the election process, coordinating with local communities, proposing preliminary lists of electoral body members, and overseeing polling centers and staff.

Independent judicial appeals committees, composed of judges appointed by the Minister of Justice, have also been established in each province. These committees are responsible for reviewing objections related to subcommittee members, final electoral body lists, and election results within the districts.

Electoral Body Members’ Appeals Stage

The stage of submitting appeals regarding the preliminary lists of electoral body members in the provinces was considered one of the most critical steps in last month’s electoral process. Nawar Najmeh told SANA that the appeals mechanism, along with public oversight, serves as the final safeguard against the infiltration of defunct regime supporters into the electoral bodies. He noted that the committee monitored all social media platforms, reviewing any documents or evidence suggesting the presence of such individuals, and their membership would be immediately revoked if the appeals were upheld.

Eligibility Criteria for Electoral Body Members

The final lists of electoral body members, published on September 26, adhered to specific eligibility criteria, including:

• Members must not have served in or run for the People’s Assembly after 2011 unless they can prove their defection.
• Members must not support the defunct regime, terrorist organizations, separatist movements, or foreign interference.

Additional requirements included:

• Representation of professionals at 70 percent and community leaders at 30 percent.
• Ensuring social, demographic, and professional diversity.
• Guaranteeing at least 20 percent female representation, along with representation for displaced persons, families of martyrs, revolution victims, people with disabilities, and survivors of detention.

The new Syrian People’s Assembly will serve a two-and-a-half-year term, which may be extended.

These elections are the first of their kind since the fall of the defunct regime on December 8, 2024, marking a pivotal step in establishing new legislative institutions that reflect Syria’s transitional phase.

Authorities in Homs province have discovered several mass graves containing the remains of about 16 unidentified people in the village of Abu Hakfa al-Shamali, in the al-Mukharram area of northeastern Homs countryside, a security source said Saturday.

The discovery was made after a local shepherd reported the site to authorities. Mustafa Mohammad, head of checkpoints in the al-Mukharram area, told the SANA that a patrol was immediately dispatched to the location, where six graves were found distributed inside caves. Civil defense and forensic medicine teams have begun procedures to identify the victims and determine the causes and timing of death.

Mohammad noted that the area had previously been under the control of the “National Defense Militia,” which operated under the defunct regime before the liberation of Syria.

Forensic doctor Ahmad al-Khalil said that the remains found in the first cave included three bodies — a man in his thirties, a woman in her twenties, and a child about three years old. He estimated that the deaths occurred roughly ten years ago. Specialized teams are continuing to uncover additional remains in the other caves.

In a similar incident last September, civil defense teams in Homs recovered skeletal remains of unidentified individuals in the Karm al-Zeitoun neighborhood after residents reported finding human bones in the area.

Authorities said forensic examinations are ongoing to identify the victims and determine the circumstances behind their deaths, with results expected to shed light on one of the area’s grim chapters.

Amer Dhawa

Israeli forces abducted three Syrian civilians from the village of Jamlah during a pre-dawn incursion on Saturday in the Yarmouk Basin of western Daraa province, SANA reporters said.

The reporter said that several Israeli military vehicles crossed a short distance into Syrian territory and raided homes while reconnaissance drones flew overhead, causing panic among residents. The forces withdrew shortly afterward.

“Preliminary reports indicated that the detained individuals were local residents, though their whereabouts remain unknown,” he added.

Residents told SANA that the Israeli troops set up temporary checkpoints around the village during the raid, restricting the movement of civilians and vehicles in the area.

Syria has always condemned Israel’s repeated incursions into its territory in violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement and international law, urging the global community to take firm action.

Authorities have discovered a mass grave in the Talkalakh area of western Homs countryside, a security official said Saturday.

Mohammad al-Khaled, media officer at the Homs Internal Security Directorate, told SANA that the grave was uncovered during security operations in the area. Teams from the competent authorities have begun on-site examination and investigation procedures to determine the identities of the victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Officials said the investigation remains ongoing, and further details will be released as identification and forensic processes continue.

Amer Dhawa

An Italian cargo ship carrying cars, machinery and heavy equipment docked at Latakia Port on Saturday, reopening the sea route between Syria and Italy after more than seven years of suspension due to western sanctions.

Ali Adra, head of public relations at Latakia Port, said the shipment reflects growing confidence in Syrian ports and could boost trade and maritime activity. He added that recent steps to simplify customs and unloading procedures have already led to a rise in traffic in recent months.

Fadi Marcos, local agent for Italy’s Grimaldi Group, stated that the arrival is a breakthrough in economic and diplomatic relations, hoping for continued cooperation and more vessels to follow.

Latakia Port has received more than 330 ships since the start of the year, officials say, helped by streamlined procedures and new equipment installed under an agreement with French shipping giant CMA CGM.