A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding, with the US/France-brokered deal that came into effect Nov. 27 prompting thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians to head for their homes in the south. While there were celebrations on the road, so many homes, businesses and lives have been destroyed that the return is also marred by sorrowâwith bodies still under the rubble of buildings flattened by Israel’s bombs. The days before the deal were particularly devastating, with Israel levelling an apartment block in central Beirut, reportedly killing at least 29 people. Both sides have traded accusations of violating the truce, which is based on the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war. The next 60 days, during which both Hezbollah and Israel are set to withdraw from south Lebanon, will be crucial. While US President Joe Biden hopes to use this momentum to push for a deal in Gaza, no clear progress has been made on that frontâmeaning there is still no respite for civilians there. Israel is intensifying its bombardment in central Gaza, where medics say its military killed at least 26 people on the day after the Lebanon deal began, and aidâalready mostly blockaded by Israelâis reportedly now being looted on a large scale with impunity.
From The New Humanitarian, Nov. 29
Image via Flickr
IDF fires on Lebanese civilians, 22 dead
At least 22 people were killed and 124 others injured by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Jan. 26, as residents of villages near the border defied orders by Israelâs military not to return to their homes.
The deaths came as a 60-day deadline expired for Israel to withdraw forces from the area, as part of a ceasefire agreement that ended months of conflict with Hezbollah. Israel’s government said that the military would not withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon by the deadline, blaming Lebanon for failing to uphold its end of the agreement. The Lebanese army in turn accused Israel of “procrastination.”
Lebanon’s new President Joseph Aoun said that “Lebanon’s sovereignty and the unity of its territory are not subject to compromise,” promising residents of the south he would “ensure your rights and dignity.” (CNN)