Lebanese in Khiam gather hold a communal Ramadan iftar amid the destruction [Getty]
Residents of the Lebanese border town of Khiam held a communal Ramadan Iftar on Sunday under the theme “Resilience and Defiance”, gathering among the rubble left behind by recent Israeli strikes, local media reported.
The open-air Iftar, described as the largest of its kind in the town, was organised by local youth and brought together nearly 1,000 residents, including displaced families and relatives of those killed in the attacks.
The event began around 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT), coinciding with sunset, which marks the end of the daily fast for Muslims observing Ramadan.
Tables were set up amid the debris of destroyed buildings and shops, with photographs of the town’s martyrs displayed on the ruins as a tribute to the victims.
Attendees included families of those killed in the violence, community members, and local leaders.
Iftar in Khiam, south Lebanon pic.twitter.com/PxZ1wAjfQv
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Amal Movement MP Ali Hassan Khalil and independent MP Elias Jaradeh were among those present, along with several religious figures.
Many families contributed to preparing traditional dishes, sweets, and beverages for the meal, reinforcing a sense of solidarity and unity among the community.
Taking to social media, journalist and political commentator Marwa Osman said: “A steadfast and resilient Iftar last night in my hometown of Khiam. Iftar took place in the town square surrounded by the rubble of their homes and shops brought down by the Zionist war machine with US-made weapons.”
Khiam, a town in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, has faced repeated devastation at the hands of Israeli military operations, particularly during periods of heightened conflict such as the Israeli invasions of 1978 and 1982, and the prolonged occupation that followed.
The town’s significance is tied to its history of armed resistance, as it was known for being a stronghold of opposition against Israeli occupation, leaving scars that continue to shape its community and landscape.
During the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, the town was home to a notorious Israeli-run detention centre, where many Lebanese detainees were tortured.
Most recently, during the latest conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Khiam once again found itself under Israeli attacks, resulting in further destruction and displacement.
