Locals in northern Israel are skeptical of a new US-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah, citing years of broken agreements and continued violence. The town of Metula, which has been heavily damaged in the conflict, is a prime example of the distrust.
Years of Conflict
Metula, a small town in northern Israel, has been living with cross-border fire for decades. However, the situation escalated in October 2023 when Iran-backed Hezbollah began launching rockets toward northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas. The town has been one of the hardest-hit communities, with over 60% of homes damaged and between a third and a half of the residents yet to return.
Despite the announcement of a new ceasefire, residents of Metula are not optimistic. “What ceasefire?” said Daniel Dorfman, a local business owner. “Until yesterday, there wasn’t a single day without fire. All day, interceptions overhead, explosions, drones, artillery. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve been told there’s a ceasefire. It never really is.”
Lingering Hardship
The town’s predicament highlights the limits of any ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, and the lingering hardship faced by residents whose lives have been upended by years of conflict. The Israeli military has been operating in southern Lebanon, pushing its forces roughly 10 kilometers into the area, alongside heavy aerial strikes.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 4,000 people have been killed and over a million displaced as a result of the conflict. The Israeli military says 36 Israeli soldiers and four civilians were killed, as Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets and drones into northern Israel and Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
Residents of Metula are concerned that a ceasefire will not bring an end to the violence. “We don’t feel any ceasefires,” said Moti Aharon, a 58-year-old resident. “The Americans don’t understand who they are dealing with. They think they can talk to Iran with silk gloves. It won’t work.”
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
