Lebanese Say Israel Preventing Post-War Reconstruction
Despite a ceasefire in November, Israel has continued near-daily strikes on Lebanon, hindering reconstruction efforts and preventing tens of thousands from returning to their homes.
When engineer Tarek Mazraani began campaigning for the reconstruction of war-battered southern Lebanon, Israeli drones would often hover ominously overhead.
Occasionally, these drones would call out his name through loudspeakers.
Despite a ceasefire struck in November aiming to put an end to more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah, Israel has continued near-daily strikes on Lebanon.
In addition to targeting alleged militants, it has recently also targeted bulldozers, excavators, and prefabricated houses, often stating that they were part of efforts to restore Hezbollah infrastructure.
The bombing has prevented tens of thousands of people from returning to their homes and made rebuilding heavily-damaged border villages almost impossible.
For example, Tarek Mazraani established the ‘Association of the Residents of Border Villages’ with the goal of calling for the return of displaced people and the start of reconstruction.
He even began making plans to rebuild homes he had previously designed, but in October, Israeli drones flew over southern villages, broadcasting a message through loudspeakers that called out Mazraani’s name and urged residents to expel him.
The Israeli army would not comment on their accusations against Mazraani.
They are bombing prefabricated houses and not allowing anyone to get close to the border.
Amnesty International has estimated that more than 10,000 structures were heavily damaged or destroyed between October of last year and late January.
Just last month, Israeli strikes destroyed over 300 bulldozers and excavators in yards in the Msaileh area, which belonged to Ahmed Tabaja.
The destruction of these items, along with several other strikes on civilian businesses, has further hindered reconstruction efforts.
In addition to hindering reconstruction, disagreements remain between Israel and Hezbollah regarding disarmament.
Under US pressure and fearing an escalation in strikes, the Lebanese government has moved to begin disarming Hezbollah, a plan that both the movement and its allies oppose.
However, Israel accuses Beirut of acting too slowly, despite the stipulation in the ceasefire that it withdraw, it maintains troops in five areas in southern Lebanon.
Both parties remain at odds over the issue, with no clear resolution in sight.
Occasionally, these drones would call out his name through loudspeakers.
Despite a ceasefire struck in November aiming to put an end to more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah, Israel has continued near-daily strikes on Lebanon.
In addition to targeting alleged militants, it has recently also targeted bulldozers, excavators, and prefabricated houses, often stating that they were part of efforts to restore Hezbollah infrastructure.
The bombing has prevented tens of thousands of people from returning to their homes and made rebuilding heavily-damaged border villages almost impossible.
For example, Tarek Mazraani established the ‘Association of the Residents of Border Villages’ with the goal of calling for the return of displaced people and the start of reconstruction.
He even began making plans to rebuild homes he had previously designed, but in October, Israeli drones flew over southern villages, broadcasting a message through loudspeakers that called out Mazraani’s name and urged residents to expel him.
The Israeli army would not comment on their accusations against Mazraani.
They are bombing prefabricated houses and not allowing anyone to get close to the border.
Amnesty International has estimated that more than 10,000 structures were heavily damaged or destroyed between October of last year and late January.
Just last month, Israeli strikes destroyed over 300 bulldozers and excavators in yards in the Msaileh area, which belonged to Ahmed Tabaja.
The destruction of these items, along with several other strikes on civilian businesses, has further hindered reconstruction efforts.
In addition to hindering reconstruction, disagreements remain between Israel and Hezbollah regarding disarmament.
Under US pressure and fearing an escalation in strikes, the Lebanese government has moved to begin disarming Hezbollah, a plan that both the movement and its allies oppose.
However, Israel accuses Beirut of acting too slowly, despite the stipulation in the ceasefire that it withdraw, it maintains troops in five areas in southern Lebanon.
Both parties remain at odds over the issue, with no clear resolution in sight.
