Currently, Lebanese families continue to return to their homes in southern border towns along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Driven by a strong desire to return to their land, they are returning despite the risks, destruction, and lack of basic services caused by the Israeli occupation, all while Israeli forces refuse to abide by the terms of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement.
The agreement required the Israeli military to withdraw from all of southern Lebanon within 60 days, a deadline that expired on 26 January 2025 but has since been extended to 18 February.
Just before the violations, there were calls for the Minister of Education, Abbas Halabi, to suspend classes on Monday, 27 January (the day after the initial deadline for Israel’s withdrawal) and declare it ‘Day of the South,’ alongside calls for a general strike.
But with these plans taking a complete u-turn, families from southern Lebanon, in response to the violations, have marched towards their villages, proudly carrying the slogan ‘ard al-janub la t’aref al-khudu’ (meaning ‘the south will never submit’).
In addition to carrying slogans upon their return, social media footage under the hashtag #ReturningToTheSouth shows videos and photos of residents from the Lebanese border towns returning home.
In some videos, people are seen performing prayers of gratitude, while others raise the call to prayer upon their return. Some are filmed confronting Israeli tanks or soldiers, insisting on walking past barriers and dirt mounds erected by the Israeli forces.
Other posts show families visiting the graves of martyrs, and one particularly emotional video features an elderly woman weeping as she stands before the remnants of destroyed olive trees in her hometown.
With the Lebanese army sometimes accompanying residents on their return and deploying forces in several border areas, the people of Lebanon remain undeterred by Israeli bullets that have killed and injured returnees, and have pressed on.
‘This is our land and our homes’
In the village of Kfar Kila, Rida Shayt tells Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab’s Arabic-language sister edition, that he left Beirut on Sunday morning, heading for his brother’s house in Nabatieh (in the south) to wait for his children, so they could travel together to their village.
“I’ll head to the village soon, even though my home has been destroyed, as have the homes of my family and neighbours. We don’t care about the enemy’s fire, as this is our land and our homes, and we’ll return to them, even if they’re just piles of rubble,” he said.
The father of five added, “We’re fully aware of the destruction and devastation inflicted on most of the houses in Kfar Kila. Our return sends a message — the affirmation of our rights and a step towards reclaiming our properties from the occupying army.”
He continued, “If the Israelis don’t withdraw, the response of the people will be: ‘If you return, we return. We won’t stand idly by — no one can uproot us from this land. It belongs to us, our children, and our grandchildren. We will hold on to every inch of Lebanese soil to safeguard our roots and identity.’”
Meanwhile, Mohammed Khalil has been unable to return to his border village of Al-Aadaissah so far due to his work.
Despite the total destruction of his home, he says he intends to return within days.
“Many of the village’s residents have gone back, despite coming under gunfire from the Israeli forces,” he explained.
“As residents of the border villages, we’re used to the enemy’s behaviour, treachery, and criminality. We know it wants to establish a buffer zone, but this is our land, and we won’t relinquish it. All of us hope that people returning will lead to the occupation army’s withdrawal,” he added.
‘We don’t want to live the tragedy of Syria’s Quneitra’
Weighing in, Mohsen Deaibes, mayor of the border village of Meiss El Jabal, said: “The situation is still unclear, even though people did manage to reach the centre of the village.”
However, he adds that some were targeted by Israeli forces, “which resulted in several martyrs and wounded individuals.”
Now, the villagers remain stuck at the edges of the village, as the Israeli military has blocked the roads with barriers.
Despite this, Mohsen described the day as “a national day of pride and honour – reminiscent of the days of liberation.”
“We have tasted the joy of the people of the border villages and their determination to return, despite the huge devastation and the martyrs who are still under the ruins,” he added.
More people to follow
In saying this, Mohsen acknowledged the deep longing people felt to return to their homes, even if they had been flattened.
“They came on foot, leaping over dirt barriers and stones — young men and women, children, and the elderly. And in the coming days, even more people will follow,” he said.
Mohsen pointed out that the Israeli army continued bombing the village until Saturday evening, demolishing what remained of the houses in Meiss El Jabal — just two days before the Monday withdrawal deadline.
“It has boobytrapped, blown up, burned and bombed most of the houses. This is the arrogance of an enemy which doesn’t want people to return to the villages situated on the borders close to the Israeli settlements,” he shared.
He also shared that his own home, where he lived for 13 years with his children, was destroyed. However, he vows to return and insists that the villagers will not wait for an international decision on the issue.
“We don’t want to live the tragedy of Syria’s Quneitra, in the occupied Golan, to which its inhabitants never returned – from the seventies until today,” he noted.
Still waiting
In contrast, Subhi Abdallah, from the border town of Houla, is staying in Nabatieh with his family while waiting for a statement from the Lebanese army confirming that the area is safe.
“We are hoping to return to our villages and lands, but we won’t go back under fire, and without anyone taking responsibility – we’ve seen how a number of returnees have been killed or injured,” Subhi explained.
Ayman Hammoud, from the border town of Markaba, is also waiting for the security situation to stabilise.
“I’m still in Beirut waiting for the situation to stabilise and for the basic essentials to become available again. However, the fact that people are heading back to their towns sends a message to the occupation army that this land is our land, and we will get it back,” Ayman said.
Father of seven Ibrahim Ahmad is similarly waiting for the Lebanese army to facilitate a safe return before going back to Beit Lif, fearing his family could be targeted.
“My elderly aunt was beaten by [Israeli] soldiers after she stood in front of them and defied them. My house has been damaged badly, as have most of the houses in the town, but I hope to return swiftly after more than a year of displacement,” he shared.
Translator’s note: On the day this article was originally published in our Arabic edition, 27 January, the deadline for Israel’s full withdrawal from southern Lebanon was extended to 18 February
This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition. To read the original article click here.
Translated by Rose Chacko
This article is taken from our Arabic sister publication, Al-Araby Al Jadeed and mirrors the source’s original editorial guidelines and reporting policies. Any requests for correction or comment will be forwarded to the original authors and editors
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