Lebanon: With Guarded Optimism, People Head Back Home
Beirut, Lebanon: After reaching a ceasefire, people started to make their way back to home, defying Israel’s warning. Streams of car carrying people who were displaced from southern Lebanon by the Israeli Occupation Force’s (IOF) intense bombing campaign, have begun to travel back. Reuters news agency reported that dozens of cars started to leave the port city of Sidon, located south of Beirut, at around 4:00 am local time. They started to head deeper into southern Lebanon.
#WATCH | Lebanese displaced from South #Lebanon have started returning to their homes as the ceasefire agreement comes into effect. pic.twitter.com/NJckRbHywL
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 27, 2024
Though ceasefire has been declared, people are still cautious. They perceive the agreement with “guarded optimism”, said media reports from the region. Hours and minutes leading to the starting of ceasefire, IOF dramatically intensified bombing in Beirut, and other parts across the country.
Also Read: Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Begins; Here Is What To Know
People started to return to places which the Occupation Force has warned not to, until all the Israeli soldiers retreated. In a post on X, Avichay Adraee, Israeli army spokesperson, said that people are “prohibited from heading towards the villages that the [Israel’s military] has ordered to be evacuated”, or moving towards areas where Israeli soldiers are deployed.
He added that the Lebanese people will be told when it is safe for them to return home. “For your safety and the safety of your family members, refrain from moving to the area”, he added.
However, local medias report that thousands of people started to move back in “disregarding the empty threats of the Israeli army”.
People started to celebrate the ceasefire with fireworks. Roads are blocked as thousands rushes to their homes.
Also Read: Hezbollah Launches 340 Missiles On Israel; Severe Damage In Tel Aviv
Lebanese ministry of infrastructure started to open roads in Beirut’s Dahyeh, removing heavy piles of rubbles from Israel’s intense bombing.
Hezbollah and Israel agreed upon a ceasefire. It came into affect hours after the US President Joe Biden said that a proposal to end the “devastating” conflict had been reached. The ceasefire started at 4:00 am local time on Wednesday. From Lebanon’s side, the ceasefire agreement was mediated by Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri. Hezbollah, who did not directly participated in the talk, is yet to make a formal comment.
