RENEWED CONFLICT LIKELY IN LEBANON AND WEST BANK

By Jake

27 February 2025

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon last month.

As the world focuses on the newest potential conflict between Iran and the United States, the existing conflict risks fading into the background. American media has completely failed to keep the public updated, assuming that the imperfect deals where Hezbollah and Hamas agreed to disarm would be the end of the story. It is naive to think so, and the hardliners in the Islamic militias as well as the war hawks in the Israeli leadership are continually harming innocent people during the supposed peace. If the US and Israel strike Iran, there may be the usual exchange and defense against missiles, declarations of victory, and focus on the next story - all while people suffer.

Let’s start with Lebanon. In January, Naim Qassem, secretary-general of Hezbollah, stated that any US attack on Iran would be considered an attack on Hezbollah. In response, Israel reportedly warned Beirut that it would strike the country hard and target civilian infrastructure if Hezbollah were to wade into a potential US-Iran war. Iran would likely also expect Hezbollah to contribute during a US–Iran conflict by shooting their own missiles or forcing the IDF to send more troops to guard its northern border. But even before these hypothetical strikes, the IDF is operating with impunity in southern Lebanon, killing a Syrian child and a woman in an airstrike just today, wounding another eight women and nine children. The situation causes more tension and death, leading more to aid Hezbollah, which in turn incentivizes the IDF to maintain its seized territory in Lebanon. Joseph Aoun's government in Beirut seems just as powerless to protect people as when nobody was leading the nation.

The war in Gaza already emboldened Israeli actions in the West Bank, and another brief conflict with Iran would continue to do the same. Tens of thousands of refugees have been displaced from camps as the IDF establishes more security posts, more checkpoints, and protects illegal settlements approved by the Israeli government. On January 12th, Israeli security forces launched a campaign in East Jerusalem. In the Shu’fat refugee camp, they raided dozens of homes and shops, detained Palestinians, confiscated goods, and seized 10 private vehicles. In another large-scale operation, targeting the Kafr Aqab neighbourhood and the boundaries of Qalandiya refugee camp, Israeli security forces reportedly demolished 70 Palestinian structures. This appears to be in preparation for major settlement projects in the area.

It is because of the journalists still covering these areas after decades of injustice and conflict that ONE can report to you, our reader. Remember to look deeper than the deadlines, and that stories wrapped up with a bow never end so neatly. Nobody deserves to be victim to malicious airstrikes shot by those uncaring for life, regardless of where they are.

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