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Will Syria’s New President Live Up to the World’s Hope? The Signs Aren’t Good
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, US, Sept. 22, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Bing Guan/Pool
Last week, Ahmad Sharaa became the first Syrian president in 60 years to visit New York for the UN General Assembly’s annual meeting.
Bolstered by growing global recognition and newfound confidence, Sharaa deviated from his prepared remarks, offering a candid glimpse into his true perspective. If you believe he seeks peace with Israel or that Syria under his leadership will transform into an inclusive, stable democracy — as Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) optimistically suggested — think again. The reality is far less promising.
Since assuming power in December, Sharaa has carefully navigated the contentious issue of Israel. For months, he avoided joining other Arab governments in publicly denouncing the Jewish State or explicitly supporting Palestinian causes. He stated that Syria would pose no threat to any nation, implying a reluctance to engage in conflict with Israel. This restraint fueled speculation that Sharaa might pursue a form of peace, perhaps resembling the bilateral “hot peace” of the Abraham Accords, which prioritize direct normalization, rather than the multilateral “cold peace” that is contingent on resolving the Palestinian question through statehood.
However, Sharaa’s stance on Gaza began to shift this narrative. At the Organization of Islamic Countries summit, held in Doha on September 14, Sharaa condemned an Israeli strike on Hamas operatives in Qatar, drawing parallels to what he described as similar aggression faced by Syria over the past nine months.
While his remarks at the summit were brief and avoided direct attacks on Israel, they marked a departure from his earlier neutrality.
In New York, at the Concordia Summit 2025, Sharaa became even more vocal, expressing strong support for Gaza and dismissing the prospect of Syria joining the Abraham Accords.
“Abraham Accords countries have no border with Israel, whereas Israel occupies Syria’s Golan Heights,” Sharaa declared. He outlined a phased approach to dealing with Israel, beginning with Jerusalem recommitting to the 1974 ceasefire agreement, which would restrict Israel’s ability to counter hostile forces taking root in Syria. Only then would Damascus consider negotiation that should see Israel return the Golan Heights to Syria.
But even then, Sharaa emphasized that bilateral Syrian-Israeli peace talks must account for the “Arab and Islamic street,” which he claimed is enraged by the ongoing events in Gaza. “We are a revolutionary government that represents the street,” he said, contrasting his administration with the regime-driven peace treaties signed by Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. “The Abraham Accords must be revised, as should Israel’s treaties with Jordan and [Egypt].”
These unscripted remarks may have extinguished hopes that Sharaa would emerge as a moderate peacemaker. Instead, his rhetoric foreboded a return to the tense, adversarial status quo that defined relations between the former Assad regime and Israel.
Following his New York comments, protests erupted in Syria on Friday, with crowds chanting in support of Hamas while denouncing Egyptian President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi. These demonstrations, likely orchestrated by Syrians aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood — who view Sisi as a primary adversary — signal a troubling rise in Islamist sentiment within Syria.
Domestically, Sharaa is increasingly assertive in consolidating power, showing reluctance to share authority with non-Sunni communities.
Syria appears to be Islamizing at an alarming rate. In the southern town of Daraa, 2,200 burqa-clad women recently celebrated memorizing the Quran, parading through a stadium while male security forces adhered to strict Islamic modesty rules by averting their gaze. The event underscored the growing influence of conservative religious norms under Sharaa’s leadership.
At Concordia, Sharaa claimed his government had granted Kurds rights long denied under Assad, such as national identity cards and equal legal status. Yet, he appears oblivious to the Kurds’ deeper aspirations. The country’s official name, the Syrian Arab Republic, inherently excludes non-Arab groups like the Kurds. Moreover, Kurdish leaders, who fought alongside US forces to defeat ISIS, expect significant roles in Damascus or, at minimum, regional autonomy.
Sharaa’s call for Kurdish organizations to disband and place their trust in his government is not an invitation to share power, but a demand for political marginalization. Sharaa has said little about the Alawites or Druze, but his vision of a prosperous Syria governed by the rule of law lacks credibility. His administration has failed to hold accountable those responsible for massacres of Alawites in the coastal regions and Druze in the south. Instead, it has either accused these communities of treason — alleging ties to Iran or Israel — or dismissed the killings as mere tribal vendettas.
Neither explanation bodes well for a democratic, inclusive future. As Sharaa gains international legitimacy and grows more comfortable engaging with world leaders, he is likely to speak more freely, revealing his true intentions. His New York remarks offered a sobering preview: Syria under his leadership appears no less autocratic than under Assad, but it is markedly more Islamist. This trajectory poses a growing threat to Israel, the broader region, and the international community.
The hope for a democratic, pluralistic Syria fades with each unscripted word, as Sharaa’s policies appear to align with populist and ideological currents rather than moderation or reconciliation.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD).
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British Jews Say Yom Kippur Attack Was Just a Matter of Time as Israel Demands UK Crack Down on ‘Incitement’
People gather near the scene, after an attack in which a car was driven at pedestrians and stabbings were reported at a synagogue in north Manchester, Britain, on Yom Kippur, Oct. 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble
British Jewish leaders warned that Thursday’s terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester was a long-feared tragedy, accusing the government of fueling a hostile environment and rising anti-Jewish hatred through its anti-Israel rhetoric.
On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and holiest day of the year in Judaism, a man identified by police as Jihad al-Shamie, 35, drove a car onto the grounds of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, northern England, and went on a stabbing spree, leaving two Jewish men dead and at least three others critically injured.
The attack occurred as the congregation gathered to observe Yom Kippur and ended seven minutes later, when police shot the assailant dead.
The chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said the attack was a tragedy the British Jewish community had long feared — “the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come.”
“For so long we have witnessed an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, on campuses, on social media, and elsewhere — this is the tragic result,” Mirvis wrote in a post on X.
“This not only an assault on the Jewish community, but an attack on the very foundations of humanity and the values of compassion, dignity, and respect which we all share,” he continued.
Our hearts are shattered.
Emerging from the holy fast of Yom Kippur, British Jews are now grasping the full extent of today’s terror attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.
This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come.
For…
— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) October 2, 2025
Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, also condemned the deadly terrorist attack, calling on the British government to take stronger action to “stamp out murderous ideologies.”
“Jews in Manchester, England, woke up this morning to pray, and were murdered in their own synagogue. Governments from the world over should spare us the statements about fighting antisemitism and instead ensure Jews are safe,” Goldschmidt wrote in a post on X.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly denounced the attack and accused British authorities of inciting hatred, saying the local Jewish community in Britain is “currently suffering from a horrific wave of antisemitism.”
“The truth must be told: blatant and rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the streets of London, in cities across Britain, and on its campuses,” the top Israeli diplomat said in a post on X.
“The authorities in Britain have failed to take the necessary action to curb this toxic wave of antisemitism and have effectively allowed it to persist,” Saar continued.
“We expect more than words from the Starmer government,” he added, referring to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “We expect and demand a change of course, effective action, and enforcement against the rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain.”
I am appalled by the murderous attack near the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on the morning of the holiest day for the Jewish people: Yom Kippur.
My deepest condolences go to the families who have lost their loved ones,and I wish a swift and full recovery to the injured.…— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) October 2, 2025
As the investigation continues and the local Jewish community mourns the victims of the deadly attack, the British government has called for an anti-Israel protest scheduled for Saturday in London to be canceled. The demonstration is being organized by a group called Defend Our Juries to oppose the British government’s decision in July to ban the group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws.
Raucous anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupted in London on Yom Kippur on Thursday, following the attack in Manchester.
Pro-Pals took over the streets of central London last night. Set off fireworks in the busiest parts. Chanted for Israel’s destruction. And I don’t see a single police officer. So do racist thugs run our capital now? It’s like a nightmare dystopia. @metpoliceuk pic.twitter.com/AA6VqwNQ4K
— Heidi Bachram
(@HeidiBachram) October 2, 2025
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged demonstrators to “step back” from plans to hold marches this weekend.
“I do think that carrying on in this way does feel un-British, it feels wrong,” Mahmood said.
However, the anti-Israel group behind protests against the ban on Palestine Action announced it still intends to proceed with the march.
In a statement, the group called on local police to “prioritize protecting the community, rather than arresting those peacefully holding signs” in support of Palestine Action.
Mahmood also said she was “disappointed” that pro-Palestinian protests went ahead on Thursday in the aftermath of the synagogue attack.
As British Jews gathered to observe Yom Kippur, widespread anti-Israel demonstrations erupted across the UK. In Manchester, a pro-Palestinian protest unfolded in the city center, while in London, clashes broke out between police and demonstrators opposing the Israeli navy’s interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla.
Decent folk mourn the horrific terrorist murder of Jews in Manchester
Yet this bunch see fit to hoot and toot in London; perhaps they are pro Hamas? pic.twitter.com/cI5Dm1xHoN
— Richard Tice MP
(@TiceRichard) October 2, 2025
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Trump Gives Hamas Until Sunday Night to Reach Gaza Deal or ‘All HELL’ Will Break Out
US President Donald Trump in the Oval office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, Sept. 30, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
US President Donald Trump gave Palestinian Hamas terrorists until Sunday evening to accept his proposal to end the nearly two-year-old war with US ally Israel in the Gaza Strip or “all HELL” would break out.
“An agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) PM, Washington, DC time,” Trump posted on social media on Friday. “Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.”
The plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.
Trump first presented his plan to leaders and officials from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of last week’s UN General Assembly.
Mediators Qatar and Egypt then shared the 20-point plan with Hamas late on Monday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared alongside Trump at the White House and endorsed the document, saying it satisfied Israel‘s war aims.
‘INTENSIVE DISCUSSION’ UNDER WAY ON HAMAS RESPONSE
Hamas was not involved in the negotiations that led to the proposal, which calls on the Islamist group to disarm, a demand it has previously rejected.
Asked whether his group had finalized its response to Trump’s Gaza plan, a Hamas official told Reuters late on Thursday: “Not yet, intensive discussion is under way.” The official said Hamas had held talks with Arab mediators, Turkey and Palestinian factions to shape “the Palestinian response.”
On Tuesday, Trump said he would give Hamas three to four days to accept the plan. On Friday he described Hamas as a “ruthless and violent threat in the Middle East.”
In his Truth Social post on Friday, Trump made an apparent reference to Israel‘s offensive in Gaza City. He said remaining Hamas terrorists in Gaza are trapped and “will be hunted down, and killed” without a deal, and warned “innocent Palestinians” to leave for safer areas of Gaza.
Israel blocked Gaza City’s main road on Thursday and has told its million residents to flee south, warning it was their last chance to escape a major offensive.
TRUMP PLAN ‘A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY,’ UN AID CHIEF SAYS
“President Trump’s Gaza initiative opens a window of opportunity. It offers both a chance for Palestinians to receive life-saving aid at the scale urgently needed, and to bring the hostages home,” UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement on Friday. “We are ready and eager to act.”
Trump’s plan calls for aid to Gaza to be distributed without interference by neutral international groups, with the UN promising 170,000 metric tons ready to enter.
Israel began its offensive in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages back to Gaza. Israel responded with a military campaign aimed at freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and political rule in neighboring Gaza.
Trump said in his Friday post that “more than 25,000 Hamas ‘soldiers’ have already been killed.” Hamas rarely discloses fatalities among its fighters.
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Israeli Military Intercepts Final Gaza Flotilla Boat as Pro-Hamas Protests Erupt in Europe
Sailing boats, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel’s naval blockade, sail off Koufonisi islet, Greece, Sept. 26, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis
The Israeli military intercepted the last boat in a flotilla attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza on Friday, a day after stopping most of the vessels and detaining some 450 activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said the Marinette was intercepted some 42.5 nautical miles (79 km) from Gaza. Israeli army radio said the navy had taken control of the last ship in the flotilla, detained those aboard, and that the vessel was being led to Ashdod port in Israel.
In a statement, the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli naval forces had now “illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels — each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.”
For nearly two decades Gaza has been ruled by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which openly seeks Israel’s destruction and started the current war with its Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of and massacre across southern Israel.
However, in another attempt to challenge Israel‘s naval blockade, a new flotilla comprising 11 vessels was attempting to make its way to Gaza on Friday, organizers said, including a vessel carrying medics and journalists.
A live-tracker shared by the organizers showed the boats sailing southeast in the Mediterranean between the Greek island of Crete and Egypt, while live footage from one of the boats showed activists chanting for a “Free Palestine.”
MARINETTE PASSENGERS CLAIM TO SEE A WAR SHIP
A camera broadcasting from the Marinette showed someone holding up a note saying “We see a ship! It’s a war ship”, before a boat is seen approaching and soldiers boarding. A voice is heard telling the people on board not to move and to put their hands in the air.
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the boat’s status.
The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the territory where Israel has been waging an offensive to dismantle Hamas and free the hostages kidnapped by the terrorist group during its Oct. 7 attack.
Israeli officials have repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt. The foreign ministry had said the flotilla was previously warned that it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a “lawful naval blockade,” and asked organizers to change course. It had offered to transfer aid to Gaza.
The Israeli foreign ministry on Friday said that four Italians had been deported. “The rest are in the process of being deported. Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible,” it said in a statement. All the flotilla participants were “safe and in good health,” it added.
The Italian government identified the four Italians as parliamentarians who would fly back to Rome on Friday.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets in cities across Europe as well as in Karachi, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City on Thursday to protest the flotilla’s interception.
On Friday, tens of thousands of Italians demonstrated, as part of a day-long general strike called by unions in support of the flotilla.
BEN-GVIR CALLS ACTIVISTS ‘TERRORISTS’
During a visit to Ashdod on Thursday night, Israel‘s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was filmed calling the activists “terrorists” as he stood in front of them.
“These are the terrorists of the flotilla,” he said, speaking in Hebrew and pointing at dozens of people sitting on the ground. His spokesperson confirmed the video was filmed at Ashdod port on Thursday night.
Some activists are heard shouting “Free Palestine.”
Cyprus said one of the flotilla boats had docked in Cyprus with 21 foreigners aboard. Crew from the vessel, “Summer Time”, said it was an observer mission carrying doctors and journalists.
“Nobody has the right to be a pirate of the sea and enforce whatever they want to do and I think we are equal,” Palestinian crew member Osama Qashoo told journalists.
Israel faced international condemnation and protest after it intercepted all of the 40 or so boats in the flotilla and detained more than 450 activists from different countries.