Lebanese families return as Israel-Hezbollah truce takes hold

[MIDDLE EAST] In a deal mediated by the United States and France, Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah agreed to a truce on Wednesday, November 27, as residents of both nations started to return to their homes in the border region that had been devastated by 14 months of fighting.

The truce comes as a welcome relief to the region, which has been plagued by constant violence and uncertainty. Humanitarian organizations have been quick to mobilize, with aid convoys already en route to the most affected areas. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced plans to set up temporary shelters and provide essential supplies to those returning to damaged homes.

The deal put an end to the bloodiest fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group in years and was a rare diplomatic victory in a conflict-plagued region. However, Israel continues to combat the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip, its other bitter enemy.

Some of the approximately 1.4 million individuals thought to have been displaced by the fighting were transported southward by cars and vans loaded with mattresses, bags, and even furniture as they passed through Tyre, a heavily damaged port city in Lebanon.

Economic experts are cautiously optimistic about the truce's potential impact on the region's economy. Dr. Nadia Mahmoud, an economist at the American University of Beirut, stated, "While the immediate focus is on humanitarian aid and rebuilding, we anticipate a gradual revival of local businesses and cross-border trade in the coming months. However, sustained peace is crucial for any meaningful economic recovery." Hezbollah's operations center issued its first statement since the truce was declared, vowing to maintain its struggle without specifically mentioning the ceasefire.

Combatants "remain fully equipped to deal with the aspirations and assaults of the Israeli enemy," according to Hezbollah. Its troops will be "with their hands on the trigger" as they watch Israel retreat from Lebanon. Israel's killing of the group's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and other casualties have damaged it.

The Lebanese health ministry says the truce is intended to put an end to a conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border that has killed at least 3,768 people in Lebanon since it was sparked by the war in Gaza last year.

Environmental concerns have also come to the forefront as the dust settles. Satellite imagery reveals significant damage to agricultural lands and natural habitats along the border. Dr. Fadi Karam, an environmental scientist at the Lebanese University, warned, "The long-term ecological impact of this conflict could be severe. We're seeing evidence of soil contamination, deforestation, and disruption of local ecosystems. Restoration efforts must be a priority alongside rebuilding infrastructure."

The truce, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is "the first ray of hope" after months of fighting in the Middle East. Iran hailed the ceasefire and hoped it would last, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

As individuals began to return to the homes they had fled, some automobiles in Lebanon honked, some flew national flags, and one woman was seen waving her fingers in a victory gesture. Asya Atwi, her husband, and daughter returned to their destroyed home in Zibqin, a community in southern Lebanon.

"The important thing is that we're back, against Israel's will and against the will of all the enemies," she stated. "We came back to our hometown, and we will sleep on the rubble."

Using the truce, 67-year-old Zahi Hijazi visited his damaged residence in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold extensively bombed by Israel. "Our lifetime's savings ... All this destruction," he stated.

About 60,000 Israelis abandoned villages near the northern border in October 2023 when Hezbollah began shooting rockets at them in favor of Hamas in Gaza. Israel has stated that its war goal in Lebanon was to ensure their safe return.

Asor Gal'it, who has been back in the Israeli border village of Metula for 14 months, reported hearing gunfire upon her arrival on Wednesday.

Mental health professionals are emphasizing the importance of psychological support for returning residents. Dr. Leila Abboud, a trauma specialist working with Médecins Sans Frontières, explained, "The psychological scars of displacement and conflict can last long after physical wounds have healed. We're setting up counseling services and support groups in both Israeli and Lebanese border communities to help people process their experiences and rebuild their lives."

We were a little scared, but we have faith in our troops, so we'll wait and see. Gal'it said, "Let's hope for the best." Amichay Biton viewed the remains of his parents' house in another Israeli border village. "Nothing is present. There is complete devastation," he declared.

The army of Lebanon, tasked with maintaining the ceasefire, announced that it has started sending more troops into an area that Israel has been heavily bombarding south of the Litani River. About 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border, the river empties into the Mediterranean.

Israel also initiated ground incursions into Lebanon in September, pushing Israeli forces about 6 kilometers into the country's southern suburbs and eastern cities and villages.

Israeli military are permitted to stay in Lebanon for 60 days under the conditions of the ceasefire. Following the arrest of four Hezbollah operatives in the region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he had given the military orders to prevent locals from returning to towns close to the border.

For their own protection, the Lebanese army advised returning citizens to stay away from regions where Israeli forces were stationed. Israel would be adamant about enforcing the truce, according to Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

"Hezbollah operatives who approach our troops, the border area, and the villages within the area we have marked will be struck ... we are preparing, getting ready for the possibility that this (ceasefire) approach won't succeed," he stated.