Why A Religious Charity In Israel Went Into Hyperdrive To Help Syria’s Druze: ‘People Are Needlessly Dying’

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), the largest philanthropic organization operating in Israel, is stepping up to assist the Druze community in Syria, who are currently facing persecution, kidnappings, and massacres by Islamic militants.

Violence broke out in the Druze-majority region of Suwayda on July 13, after Bedouin tribes and militants claiming allegiance to Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, launched attacks against the Druze community. Videos recorded by the attackers show the execution of civilians during the assault, including one of a 35-year-old American citizen, Hosam Saraya.

IFCJ has so far sent 1,500 boxes of food to Druze in Syria and sent medical equipment for a clinic inside Syria. The organization’s president and CEO, Yael Eckstein, told The Daily Wire that more aid is on the way.

“When we see our Druze and Christian brothers and sisters right over Israel’s border being targeted and killed, we have to do something to act,” Eckstein said. “Right now they are facing the very real threat of being wiped out from Syria if the free world does not do something to stop that.”

The Druze are an ethnoreligious minority found in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and in diaspora communities in the West. Syria has the largest Druze population, accounting for about 3% of the country’s total population. Although their faith originated as an offshoot of Islam, the Druze do not consider themselves Muslims. They believe they are descendants of Jethro — Moses’s father-in-law — whom they revere as a prophet and their spiritual founder.

Humanitarian aid boxes sponsored by IFCJ and medical aid for the Syrian Druze population. (Photo: Courtesy)

Israel has been the only country to intervene on behalf of the Druze, fulfilling a promise made shortly after Sharaa took power to protect the Druze community.

The next shipment of aid is expected to go directly to the hospital in Suwayda, which is in need of basic medical equipment and medications. According to the hospital staff working at the hospital, militants massacred patients in their beds, including children, reported the BBC. Now the hospital is struggling to treat new patients as the Druze community attempts to recover from the attacks.

“What we’ve heard is that people are needlessly dying,” Eckstein said. “People are getting to the hospital and they don’t have antibiotics, they don’t have the basics. We have the responsibility to help.”

There are about 150,000 Druze people living in Israel.

To Eckstein, sending aid to the Druze is the least her organization can do to help Israeli Druze save their Syrian brothers and sisters. Eckstein pointed out the Israeli Druze community’s long history of loyalty to Israel, with many Druze serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.

International Fellowship Of Christians And Jews CEO and President Yael Eckstein. (Photo: Instagram/Yael Eckstein)

“The Druze community in Israel is part of our society that is irreplaceable,” she said. “They have the same responsibilities and they pay with their lives for the safety and security of Israel. The Druze population has the highest percentage of people who join the army for long-term army careers than any other population in Israeli society.”

Due to their religious differences, Islamic extremists have branded the Druze as heretics and persecuted them at different times in history.

“The Druze community has been targeted across the Middle East and in Syria just as the Jewish community across the Middle East was targeted after 1948 and kicked out as well except the Druze had nowhere to go,” Eckstein said.

Terrorists who have targeted Druze individuals over the past week have posted graphic videos of the killings online. In some clips, the gleeful attackers are seen confirming their victims are Druze before executing them. Other videos show militants forcibly shaving the mustaches of Druze men — including religious leaders — in a deliberate act of humiliation, as the mustache holds religious significance for the Druze.

Eckstein said the reality on the ground is frightening and that it is unacceptable that the world has not stepped up to condemn the atrocities and instead focused its attention on vilifying Israel.

“As the saying goes, no Jews, no news,” Eckstein said. “I think people are so consumed with focusing and being obsessed with Israel that it doesn’t leave room to see persecution that is happening all around the world.”

Although the IFCJ is primarily known for assisting Jews in need in Israel, Eckstein said the organization has been the largest supporter of the Druze community for over a decade. For the past 15 years, the IFCJ has helped fund a home for Druze orphans and children whose parents are unable to care for them, offered scholarships to talented Druze youth, and provided emergency funding to local Druze municipalities.

Two years ago, IFCJ donated the first three ambulances to Majdal Shams, an Israeli Druze town on the border of Syria, and trained medics to use them. The ambulances were instrumental in the aftermath of a Hezbollah missile attack on the town that killed 12 Druze children and injured 40 other people.

Ambulance donated by IFCJ. (Photo: Courtesy)

According to Eckstein, the ambulances are currently at the Syrian border preparing to assist anyone in need.

“I think people are smart and especially people who are faithful and read the scriptures and understand the difference between right and wrong and have a deep value and sanctity of life,” Eckstein said. “I think when you see what is happening, it’s pretty clear where there is light and where there is darkness and the more we can strengthen the light I think the better the world will be.”