About 80,000 residents from communities within 10 kilometres of the border with Lebanon have been evacuated and have found temporary refuge in hotels and other facilities. The few thousand hold their breaths bracing for the worst.
The border is a narrow strip of trees cutting through abandoned farmlands and rotten crops. On one side, Israel. A few meters away, on the paths that go up towards the hills, Lebanon. Those trees are the only barrier separating Israeli communities from Hezbollah, a powerful and highly trained militia that controls the south of Lebanon.
“Following the massacre carried out by Hamas, many in the area left for fear that a similar attack could occur here too. I chose to stay. The idea behind our communities is being the last bastion in defence of the country and its borders. This is what we do.” Natalie, 55, is among the few remaining in the moshav of Kfar Yuval, a few hundred meters from the border.
“Despite the constant threat of Hezbollah’s rockets, we stand firm – this is our home, and we won’t leave under any circumstances,” says Natalie, her gaze fixed on the hills in the distance.
Behind us, the Israeli artillery continues to pound Hezbollah positions at regular intervals of time. The sounds of semi-automatic weapons reverberate; residents of Kfar Yuval are engaging in target practice at an improvised range. “Since October 7th, numerous changes have occurred. The Israeli government has eased restrictions on weapons licenses, leading many to take up arms in defence of the community in the event of an attack,” she explains.
About 80,000 residents from communities within 10 kilometres of the border with Lebanon have been evacuated and have found temporary refuge in hotels and other facilities. The few thousand hold their breaths bracing for the worst.
As the conflict in Gaza resumes, military activities on both sides of the border have escalated significantly. Since hostilities began, at least 110 Hezbollah militia members and 15 Lebanese civilians have been killed. On the Israeli side, six soldiers and four civilians fell because of anti-tank missiles.
A few kilometres to the south, nestled amidst towering mountains on the opposite side of the border, lies Qiryat Shmona, the largest city in the region. Of its over 30,000 inhabitants, only a scant few hundred endure, with soldiers either barricaded in bases or patrolling among the empty streets. A precarious situation that may extend for an indefinite period of time.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which concluded the Second Lebanon War in 2006, prohibits Hezbollah from maintaining a military presence south of Litani, approximately 30 kilometers north of the Israel-Lebanon border. Despite this resolution, Hezbollah did not fully comply, leading to occasional skirmishes on the border until October 7. The recent Hamas attack has altered the previously achieved balance, prompting communities to demand definitive answers.
Officially, the Israeli government has extended the evacuation obligation for all residents of the areas under risk of attack until December 31. However, many citizens are now refusing to return in the absence of certainty about their safety and urge the Israeli government to resolve the issue once and for all.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently engaged with community representatives, offering reassurances regarding the government’s commitment to compelling Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River and at least 30 kilometers away from the border. Gallant also asserted that Israel is actively pursuing an agreement through international diplomacy to ensure the implementation of Resolution 1701. However, despite these efforts, protests persist, with mounting accusations against authorities for neglecting civilian safety and minimizing the potential risks of an attack from Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
The looming threat is that the entire northern region of the country may face depopulation, with communities at risk of being torn apart.
