Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) welcomes the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 12 February 2026, regarding the situation in northeast Syria, violence against civilians, and the need to maintain a sustainable ceasefire. The organization sees this as an important step that shows growing awareness within the international community, and especially the European community, of the severity of recent events in the region and the urgent need to protect civilians while respecting international humanitarian law (IHL) and the rights of all Syrian groups.
Building on this stance, STJ praises the European Parliament’s explicit condemnation of all acts of violence against civilians, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, forced displacement, and the targeting of civilian infrastructure. This firm position underscores the critical need to bring an end to the severe human rights violations that have characterized the Syrian conflict over the past years.
In tandem with the condemnation of violence, the resolution emphasizes the imperative of investigating serious violations. Specifically, the European Parliament called for a swift inquiry into reported crimes against civilians committed by both government forces and militias. This further highlights the importance of granting relevant United Nations agencies full and transparent access, echoing the repeated demands of STJ and other human rights organizations for independent investigations into all allegations of misconduct.
Furthermore, STJ welcomes the resolution’s focus on the scale of the escalating humanitarian catastrophe. The European Parliament expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in northeast Syria, particularly in cities experiencing repeated disruptions to basic services, widespread infrastructure damage, mass displacement, and severe food and water insecurity. This honest assessment of the crisis illuminates the urgent need for practical international action to ensure unobstructed aid access, especially in areas facing security tensions or de facto sieges, such as the city of Ayn al-Arab/Kobanî.
To address these needs, STJ emphasizes the importance of the resolution’s call to grant international humanitarian civil society organizations unconditional access. Such access is crucial for saving lives and easing the suffering of hundreds of thousands of civilians, including women, children, and the most vulnerable groups.
Consequently, the organization praises the resolution’s support for efforts to strengthen the ceasefire, welcoming the recent agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian transitional government. By reaffirming support for this ceasefire and recognizing the civil and educational rights of the Kurds, the resolution urges all parties to refrain from actions that could lead to renewed escalation. STJ maintains that upholding this ceasefire is essential to creating a safe environment that enables the gradual return of displaced people, the restoration of basic services, and the initiation of a genuine and comprehensive political solution.
In this regard, the organization also appreciates the resolution’s focus on protecting Syria’s ethnic and religious diversity. The European Parliament emphasized that the full recognition of the Kurdish community, including its political participation and equal rights, is essential to preserving civil peace and ensuring an inclusive and stable Syria. This statement aligns with the core principles of any sustainable political transition grounded in equality for all citizens and the safeguarding of cultural and political rights for all communities.
To support these goals, the organization welcomes the European Union’s commitment to providing continued humanitarian and development aid, specifically the financial support package presented by the European Commission, amounting to approximately €620 million for 2026 and 2027. In this context, STJ urges allocating a larger share of this support to strengthening the capacities of independent Syrian civil society organizations, local human rights groups, and community-based peacebuilding initiatives, which are vital to enhancing social resilience and rebuilding trust.
In conclusion, STJ urges the European Union and its member states to maintain active diplomatic engagement with all parties to ensure de-escalation, protect civilians, and improve the prospects for a comprehensive political settlement based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, one that prioritizes the rights of victims and affirms the right of every Syrian to build a modern, democratic country.