Hopes for a lasting ceasefire between Israel and its neighbors Lebanon and Gaza were dealt a blow on Sunday, as Israeli troops opened fire on civilians trying to return to their homes under the terms of the truce agreements. At least 11 Lebanese citizens and one Palestinian were killed, according to the Lebanese health ministry, as Israel accused Hamas and the Lebanese army of violating key commitments.
The separate deals to halt fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza had included provisions for displaced residents to begin going back starting Sunday. But Israel said it would not allow returns to either area, citing alleged breaches by the other sides.
Standoffs and Protests Erupt Along Tense Borders
In Lebanon, defiant crowds joined convoys headed towards villages along the southern border, despite stern warnings from the Israeli military. As protesters tried to reach their hometowns, Israeli forces opened fire, killing at least 11 and injuring over 80 according to Lebanese officials. Tense face-offs unfolded between civilians and Israeli tanks and troops.
Lebanese soldiers joined the civilian protesters in some areas in an effort to protect them, at times trying to block them from proceeding for their own safety. But several were still shot, including one soldier killed, underscoring the risks of the combustible situation.
“Go back to your country! Go back to your family!”
– Lebanese woman shouting at Israeli troops firing warning shots
In Gaza, thousands of Palestinians amassed near the main checkpoint into the Israeli-controlled corridor now splitting the territory. Anxious to see if their homes survived the fighting or to escape overcrowded shelters, they found themselves still barred from returning as Israel withheld permission.
Prisoner Dispute Threatens Gaza Truce
Israel said Hamas had failed to free an Israeli citizen, Arbel Yehoud, by Saturday as required under the ceasefire. Hamas countered that it had proven she was alive and accused Israel of inventing a “pretext” to violate the deal. “The fate of more than a million people is linked to one person,” lamented a displaced Gazan waiting at the crossing.
UN Agency Faces Shutdown at Critical Time
Further imperiling the shaky truces, Israel has ordered the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to close its Jerusalem offices this week, ahead of a full ban on its work in Israel. UNRWA is Gaza’s largest aid provider and runs vital services across the occupied territories, with no clear backup plan if halted.
The agency said shutting down violates UN privileges and immunities, stating: “Claims from the Israeli authorities that UNRWA has no right to occupy the premises are without foundation.” It warned the move “places the agency’s facilities and personnel at risk.”
Calls to Respect Sovereignty and Rights
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that “Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable” and vowed to defend citizens’ rights and dignity. A Hezbollah legislator warned that Israel’s failure to fully withdraw would mean the “collapse of the ceasefire deal.”
Israel has already conducted over 350 airstrikes in Lebanon since the truce began, which it claimed were aimed at deterring Hezbollah activity. But critics accuse it of pursuing a “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon by rendering border areas uninhabitable, as seen in flattened ghost towns there.
Cycle of Conflict Takes Toll on Civilians
The weekend’s events show how unresolved disputes and deep mistrust can rapidly reignite the decadeslong Israeli-Arab conflict, even amid ceasefire agreements. With homes reduced to rubble, aid services at risk of suspension, and civilians paying the heaviest price, the prospects for a durable peace remain remote without a more comprehensive diplomatic breakthrough.
For now, hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese and Palestinians continue to bear the scars of war, yearning to return and rebuild their shattered lives. But they find themselves once more in the crossfire of a seemingly intractable conflict, still waiting for a true resolution.
