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Join on Telegram Rabat – In the wake of mass displacement in southern Lebanon due to Israeli bombardment, the occupation forces have firmly rejected proposals for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, dismissing calls for a halt in hostilities that claimed the lives of hundreds in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that claims of an impending ceasefire are unfounded, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz affirming on social media that “there will be no ceasefire in the north.” He emphasized Israel’s intent to “fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory.”
The situation in Lebanon has become dire. Since the onset of intensified Israeli bombardment earlier this week, at least 600 Lebanese, including 50 children, have been killed, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The relentless Israeli attacks have also injured thousands and forced tens of thousands to flee southern Lebanon, seeking refuge in safer areas, though many find themselves with nowhere to go.
As the crisis unfolds, Beirut is overwhelmed with an influx of displaced individuals and families. Many are taking shelter in schools and makeshift accommodations, while others are sleeping on the streets or sharing homes with relatives.
The continuous Israeli airstrikes have created a humanitarian crisis and severely strained Lebanon’s already fragile health system. Health facilities are operating under critical conditions due to shortages of fuel, supplies, and medical staff.
The health system was already in a precarious state due to the ongoing economic crisis that began in 2019, which has severely limited access to essential health services.
Fleeing with nowhere to go
Witness accounts from residents in southern Lebanon and the rest of the country portray the urgency of the crisis and the fear of Israeli attacks. Morocco World News spoke to Yara Assaad from Lebanon, who recounted the ongoing chaos in the south.
“Those in the south have been receiving messages on their phones telling them to leave their houses as Israeli forces are preparing to attack, justifying their actions by claiming Hezbollah operates from these homes,” she said. This rationale is similar to the justifications used throughout Israel’s almost year-long genocide on Gaza, where civilian areas were targeted under similar claims of Hamas presence, Yara noted.
Yara, who is currently in Beirut, also described how her village in the south has been targeted, claiming the lives of several locals. Her grandfather’s house also sustained some damage after their neighbor’s house was attacked.
Since the bombardment began, highways have been packed with families fleeing northward in search of safety. Yara is currently in Beirut, actively volunteering to support those displaced by the violence. “The only thing that keeps us going is volunteering in our communities,” she remarked.
While Israeli attacks are primarily concentrated in the southern regions, the threat of violence extends throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, where even the suburbs are not immune to bombings. “Even Beirut is relatively unsafe due to the ongoing bombings in the suburbs,” Assaad noted.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) said today they were carrying out raids in Beirut, shortly after a strong blast was heard in the southern suburb of the city.
This latest round of attacks follows nearly a year of cross-border skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah, which was intensified after the IOF’s genocide on Gaza began. Tensions further intensified after Israel assassinated several Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, with the tipping point being the explosions involving over 5,000 pages across Lebanon.
The blasts, which killed at least 37 people and injured thousands, were largely attributed to Israel, though the latter has not claimed responsibility for it. In response, Hezbollah leadership blamed the attack on Israel and vowed retaliation.
