Impact of Israel-Hamas war and rising tensions in Lebanon

AP announces that as hostilities escalate once more, the specter of a broader regional conflict looms large, particularly as the one-year mark of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza approaches. 

A year ago, Jomana Siddiqui traveled to Lebanon, her father's birthplace, where he is now buried. She had planned to return soon, this time with her two teenage daughters. However, Siddiqui, who resides in California, now finds herself worried about relatives back home.

As she observes the violence and the recent intensification of Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon from a distance, she recalls the warmth and generosity of the people she met during her visit. She reflects on her father's grave, wondering when—if ever—she'll be able to visit it again. Her voice trembles with emotion as she shares her feelings, describing it as gut-wrenching. “It’s like the universal story of the Lebanese people,” she says. “They have to keep leaving and not know when they can return.”

Across the globe, from the United States to South Africa, Cyprus, Brazil, and beyond, many members of Lebanon's vast diaspora are grappling with the repercussions of the violence, filled with grief and anxiety for their loved ones and homeland, while seeking ways to help. Since Israel intensified its military actions in late September, around 1,400 Lebanese individuals, including both civilians and members of the militant group Hezbollah, have lost their lives, with approximately 1.2 million people displaced from their homes.

For Lina Kayat, who emigrated to South Africa nearly 36 years ago but still has a large family in Lebanon, the current violence and unrest evoke memories of previous turbulent times. “We lived through a civil war for a long time; I was about seven years old,” she recalled. “It feels like history repeating itself… It’s the uncertainty of who will be the next victim.”  

Living in Durban, Kayat communicates daily with her family, including her mother and sister, who are deeply fearful of the unfolding situation. Generations of Lebanese have faced the dilemma of whether to leave in search of better opportunities or to remain amidst the turmoil, which has included a prolonged civil war, military occupations, bombings, and political assassinations. 

Despite its many challenges, Lebanon retains an allure for many, with its rich cultural diversity encompassing Christians and Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The country takes pride in its diaspora, which includes successful entrepreneurs and prominent figures of Lebanese descent.   The current escalation in hostilities raises concerns about the potential for broader conflict in the region, coinciding with the one-year mark of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

“To have this happening alongside the situation in Gaza is almost unbearable,” remarked James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute based in Washington, D.C. “It’s almost physically sickening to consider the extent of the trauma,” he added, noting that his father was born in Lebanon.  

Lebanon was already grappling with significant challenges, including a severe economic crisis, the repercussions of a devastating port explosion in 2020, and the absence of a president for two years.

By Naila Huseynova