Israeli bombing has forced thousands of people to flee the capital

Lebanon: Tens of thousands of Hezbollah members have fled to the capital due to Israel’s assault of their stronghold in south Beirut, but many in the split country of Lebanon are wary of the new arrivals, fearing they may also be targets.

Israeli bombings against Hezbollah members have been expanding for weeks, making individuals affiliated with the Iran-backed organization avoidable out of concern for potential retaliation.
Christina, 30, said, requesting to go by one name, “Our neighbors panicked and started asking questions when they found out we were housing people from Dahiyeh (the southern suburb of Beirut).”

After receiving a barrage of messages from neighbors fearing the newcomers were Hezbollah members, she took in displaced persons but quickly ordered them to leave.

In Lebanon’s Shiite Muslim population, Hezbollah has tremendous support as the only party to survive the civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990 while maintaining its weapons.

However, opinions in Lebanon are still divided over the group’s choice to declare war on Israel and create a front in support of Gaza.

Eighteen religious groups share influence in Lebanon’s power-sharing arrangement, with Christians, Sunnis, and Shiites maintaining a precarious equilibrium.

The civil war, which resulted in the displacement of families and the seizure of houses, still haunts many.

“There are growing tensions and suspicions towards displaced people because they are from the same religious group as Hezbollah,” Christina said.

“Some people are scared that one of their family members might be a target and they don’t want to risk” that, she told AFP.

“BEARDED MEN”

On September 23, Israel escalated its bombing campaign after over a year of cross-border violence; an AFP analysis of official numbers shows that more than 1,110 Palestinians were killed.

Sixth of Lebanon’s population, or more than a million people, have been forced to flee their homes, with many of them converging on overcrowded Beirut.

In the crisis-ridden nation, the migration has put a burden on services, causing traffic jams, interruptions to daily routines, and an accumulation of trash on the streets.

Souheir, a 58-year-old housewife, was overcome with panic when a displaced Shiite family moved into her building.

In the heart of Beirut, the ladies were dressed in chadors, a full-body garment that is unusual to see.

“We’ve been seeing more women in chadors, bearded men, and young men in black—a sight we’re not used to seeing,” she said.

Souheir said that she was susceptible to the prevailing paranoia.

She observed bearded guys on a friend’s balcony who seemed to be displaced relatives taking sanctuary there when she went for coffee.

Fearing they may be Hezbollah members, she ended her visit early.

“People are looking at each other with suspicion on the streets,” she said. “They’re scared of each other.”

Outside of Beirut, where Israeli attacks have affected displaced residents outside of Hezbollah’s heartland, especially in the Druze hamlet of Baadaran, tensions are also high.

“In the past, people would rent out houses to anyone, but these days, they’re being very picky,” said Emad, 68, who lives in a Druze community around one hour’s drive from Baadaran.

Elie, 30, who requested to only be addressed by his first name, said that no one in his Christian community has leased to the displaced, the majority of whom reside in neighboring shelters.

“People are scared because we can’t know if there are Hezbollah members among” them, he said.

“They also fear that the displaced could stay in the apartments permanently or semi-permanently since many of their houses were destroyed.”

MEMORIES OF THE CIVIL WAR

Memories of the American Civil War, in which militias took control of houses and more than 150,000 people perished, were evoked by reports of displaced individuals breaking into abandoned buildings in quest of a place to sleep.

“A very small number” of displaced persons broke into private residences last week, according to police, who claimed they were “working to remove them”.

After making many inquiries regarding rentals, businessman Riad, 60, revealed that his sister-in-law had been watching their residence in the heart of Beirut.

It was something we dealt with throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Armed organizations would take the flat nevertheless and offer it to displaced families from their own neighborhood, he said, even if you requested an acquaintance to reside in your home.

“For some folks, it took ten years to get their home back… People are terrified because of this,” he said.
“It happened once and it will happen again.”