Israel’s demolitions of civilian homes and infrastructure continues in southern Lebanon, despite the ongoing ceasefire. On Wednesday, the focus appeared centered on the town of Yaroun, in Bint Jbeil District, where Israeli bombings were reported.
The bombings were part of what is being called the “systematic demolitions” of homes in the residential part of town. Israel has been burning and bombing civilian homes across southern Lebanon throughout the ceasefire.
Though the incidents have been widely reported, Israel has largely not commented on this process. What villages they’ve withdrawn from so far have been virtually destroyed, with the vast majority of homes gone and infrastructure ruined by occupying troops.
In towns like Yaroun, there are signs warning civilians to stay away, and Israeli snipers positioned on the outskirts to ensure they don’t approach while this occupation/demolition is ongoing. Some 70 days into the 60-day ceasefire, the impatience is growing among displaced civilians, many of whom would very much like to return home while there’s still a home there.
There are growing numbers of displaced trying to return despite Israeli threats, and despite the fact that Israel has killed dozens and wounded over 100 of them in recent weeks. Many anticipated January 27, the day Israel was supposed to have finished the withdrawal, to be a “Day of the South,” a celebration and return to the area after the occupation.
That was derailed, as Israel shot a lot of the people trying to return on January 26-27, and they never actually withdrew from the country. The “ceasefire,” despite all the firing, was extended by the US and Israel to February 18, and there are substantial concerns that even that will be kicked further down the road.
With little international effort made to help the displaced southern Lebanese, many feel they don’t have a choice but to try to go home. That’s risky, because Israel will likely shoot at them and declare their attempt to get to their own homes a “provocation.”
A 7-year old child was reportedly one of the victims of Israeli drone strikes during the ceasefire. He was injured in a strike on January 29 in Majdal Selm, and succumbed to those injuries today.
Citing more than 800 Israeli ceasefire violations, Lebanon has taken the matter to the UN Security Council in an official complaint. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has also met with the French ambassador to urge the French government to pressure Israel to both stop violating the ceasefire and actually withdraw from Lebanon by the February 18 deadline.
Earlier during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, France was very critical of Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in the country. Ultimately though, Israel reacted with anger to that criticism, and dismissed France as a factor in their policy, so it’s not clear increased French pressure would ultimately have any impact on the occupation.
