Israel opened its border crossing on Shabbos to permit tens of Pilipino members of the UN peacekeeping force in Syria to enter the country to flee the rebel forces that took them hostage earlier.

The border near the Quneitra Crossing is the location of ongoing fighting between rebels and Syrian government troops. The UN force was taken into custody on Thursday. They were not harmed as senior UN officials released statement demanding their immediate release. Those demands were ignored.

A number of additional mortar rockets fell in the Golan Heights on Shabbos as well. The rockets were viewed as spill over from the fighting and Israel opted not to retaliate. B’chasdei Hashem there were no fatalities or injuries in the rocket attacks.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)