BEIRUT — On Monday, Israeli gunfire resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left 17 others injured amid ongoing protests in southern Lebanon, according to health officials. This incident marked the second consecutive day of fatal unrest, as those displaced by the prolonged conflict between Israel and Hezbollah sought to return to their homes in areas still occupied by Israeli forces.
The gunfire followed a day that saw 24 fatalities and over 130 injuries when Israeli troops opened fire on demonstrators who attempted to break through border barricades.
Under a ceasefire arrangement facilitated by the United States, which was set to take effect on November 27, Israeli forces were to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26, while Hezbollah was required to reposition its forces north of the Litani River. Although the Lebanese military and U.N. peacekeepers had already deployed to several villages ahead of the deadline, Israeli presence remains in multiple locations.
On Sunday, both the United States and Lebanon announced that the timeline for complying with the ceasefire stipulations had been postponed to February 18. In response to this extension, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem, speaking in a pre-recorded message on Monday, rejected the idea of an extended ceasefire, despite the Lebanese government’s acknowledgment of the new deadline.
Kassem asserted, “Israel must withdraw as the 60 days have elapsed. We will not accept any justifications for a delay of even a moment.” Additionally, he placed responsibility for any withdrawal setbacks on the United Nations, United States, France, and Israel. He emphasized that Hezbollah had adhered to the terms of the ceasefire and noted that while the group considered retaliating against Israeli airstrikes, they were dissuaded by Lebanese authorities.
Protests reignited on Monday, especially in eastern peripheral villages where residents made further attempts to return to their homes. Reports indicated that Israeli soldiers fired upon protesters, resulting in another death in Odaisseh and injuries to seven individuals across four southern villages, as per the Health Ministry.
The Israeli military has accused Hezbollah of instigating the protests, claiming that soldiers fired warning shots at demonstrators nearing military positions. In the village of Aitaroun, unarmed locals, many brandishing Hezbollah flags, marched together or rode motorcycles alongside ambulances, bulldozers, and Lebanese army tanks. They reached the outskirts of the town but halted before Israeli defenses, unable to proceed.
Saleem Mrad, the municipal head of Aitaroun, proclaimed, “We are coming back with pride and victory to Aitaroun. This village belongs to us, and we will restore it to be even more beautiful than before. We will not give up.” Hassan al-Ahmad, a resident of Aitaroun, expressed, “We must sacrifice everything. If there had not been bloodshed, liberation would not have been possible.”
According to Lebanon’s national news agency, Israel dropped a bomb near the entrance to the southern village of Yaroun to deter residents from progressing further into the area. In Bint Jbeil, Hezbollah supporters distributed leaflets featuring the image of the group’s deceased leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with the text declaring, “Victory has arrived,” while some residents waved Hezbollah flags.
The Israeli military criticized the Lebanese army for delays in deploying to the region, while the Lebanese military retaliated by accusing Israel of hampering its withdrawal efforts.
Families that ventured into border villages over the previous weekend uncovered the bodies of relatives. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in over 4,000 casualties; however, Lebanese officials do not differentiate between combatants and civilians in their reports. Since the commencement of the ceasefire, Israel has carried out frequent operations, including house demolitions and airstrikes in southern Lebanon, alleging that Hezbollah has been violating ceasefire conditions by attempting to move weaponry. Conversely, Lebanon has accused Israel of committing hundreds of violations against the ceasefire.
