Displaced Lebanese Return, Moved to Tears by the Devastation

Beirut, November 29 : The ceasefire that came into effect at 4 AM on Wednesday, brokered by the United States and France, has only intensified the pain of displacement in Lebanon. The truce, binding both Israeli security forces and Hezbollah militants, has silenced the sound of missiles and rockets. However, according to The New York Times, the ceasefire is being described as "unsettling." This is because Israel, unwilling to tolerate violations of the ceasefire terms, launched an airstrike to thwart Hezbollah’s plans. Subsequently, Hezbollah's artillery went silent. However, Lebanon's army accused Israel of violating the ceasefire multiple times, pouring fuel on the already simmering conflict.

Meanwhile, most parts of Lebanon welcomed the ceasefire, with people hopeful that life would soon return to normal. Amid the horrors of war, displaced people have started returning to their towns and villages, only to find their homes reduced to rubble. Some returned to find that there was no home left. Faced with piles of concrete and twisted metal, many were moved to tears.

Lebanese military officials announced on Thursday that they had deployed forces outside Beirut and in Hezbollah strongholds in the south and east of the country to facilitate the return of displaced people. However, Israel's military warned people not to return to villages near the border just yet, citing ongoing security risks. According to The New York Times, the war has forced nearly a quarter of Lebanon’s population to flee their homes. The ceasefire is set for 60 days and calls for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.

Israeli military spokesman Avichai Adraee stated that residents who fled cities in the southern part of the country should wait for further instructions before returning, as movement within these cities remains restricted. The Israeli military has also imposed a night curfew in the area.