Lebanon's internally displaced: More than one million forced from homes by Israel

Key Concepts

• Nakba: The 1948 Palestinian exodus, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled their homes during the creation of the state of Israel.
• Dahieh: The southern suburbs of Beirut, a densely populated area that has been a primary target of Israeli military strikes.
• Burj el Barajneh: A Palestinian refugee camp located in Beirut, serving as a focal point for the displaced population.
• Ongoing Nakba: A term used by refugees to describe the cyclical nature of their displacement and the persistent state of insecurity they face across generations.

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The Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon

The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in the displacement of over one million people in Lebanon. Many of these individuals, unable to secure formal shelter, have been forced to live on the streets. The crisis is particularly acute for Palestinian refugees, many of whom are experiencing displacement for the second or third time in their lives, echoing the historical trauma of their ancestors.

Case Studies of Displacement

• Hanadi Safadi’s Family: A resident of Dahieh, Safadi’s family was rendered homeless after Israeli airstrikes destroyed their neighborhood. She highlights the persistent threat of further attacks, which prevents displaced families from returning to their homes or finding stability.
• Abu Rabia: A resident of the Burj el Barajneh camp who chose to remain despite the bombardment. His decision was driven by a lack of alternative housing options and the systemic difficulties Palestinians face in Lebanon, where they often lack legal protections and social support. He draws a parallel between his situation and the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, stating, "We aren't any better than our families in Gaza."
• Ali Hamad: A returnee who spent six weeks sleeping by the seaside before finding temporary shelter with a friend. His experience reflects a generational cycle of conflict; he recalls a similar experience during the 1982 Israeli invasion and siege of Beirut, illustrating that for many, displacement is a recurring reality rather than an isolated event.

Military Strategy and Evacuation Orders

The Israeli military implemented an unprecedented strategy during the conflict by issuing "blanket evacuation orders" for entire neighborhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut. These orders forced mass movements of civilians, creating a humanitarian vacuum. The lack of security guarantees meant that even those who stayed in areas like the Burj el Barajneh camp did so at extreme personal risk, often motivated by the lack of a viable place to go.

Historical Context and Perspectives

The report emphasizes that the current displacement is deeply rooted in the history of the region.

• The Cycle of Humiliation: Residents describe their lives as a series of "humiliations," characterized by constant targeting and confinement within refugee camps.
• The "Ongoing Nakba": The narrative presented by the interviewees suggests that the 1948 Nakba is not a historical event that concluded, but an "ongoing" process. The inability to return to their original homes, combined with the recurring destruction of their current dwellings, keeps these populations in a state of perpetual limbo and insecurity.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The situation in Lebanon represents a convergence of contemporary military conflict and historical displacement. The primary takeaway is that for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the current Israeli offensive is not merely a new conflict but a continuation of a decades-long struggle for survival. The lack of institutional support, the destruction of urban infrastructure in areas like Dahieh, and the psychological toll of repeated displacement have created a humanitarian crisis where the distinction between "refugee" and "citizen" is blurred by the shared experience of being targeted and forced into homelessness. The testimony of survivors underscores a profound sense of abandonment and the feeling that their lives are defined by a cycle of violence that has spanned nearly 80 years.