Amnesty International has called for the urgent release of Hamza Al-Amareen, a Syrian Civil Defense volunteer who was kidnapped in mid-July while carrying out a humanitarian mission in Sweida province. The organization holds the outlaw groups accountable for his disappearance.
“Hamza Al-Ammarin was sent on July 16 by the Syrian Civil Defense Center to the city of Sweida in response to a call from the United Nations, following the outbreak of clashes in the province,” the organization said in a statement on Thursday, adding that evening, he contacted his family to reassure them he was safe. The next morning, an unknown individual answered his phone, briefly confirmed Hamza was fine, then hung up. No further contact has been made since.
According to family testimonies, Hamza was driving a marked Civil Defense vehicle and escorting evacuated civilians when an armed group intercepted them near Al-Omran roundabout. The civilians were released, but Hamza and the vehicle were taken. His whereabouts remain unknown since July 17.
Hamza had previously taken part in numerous humanitarian operations across Syria, including rescue efforts after the 2023 earthquake and firefighting missions. His last assignment before the abduction was helping extinguish wildfires in Lattakia.
