Israeli settlers who left northern occupied territories will not be able to return to their colonial outposts until one year after fighting in the region ends, the Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 revealed.
According to the outlet, at least 930 buildings and settlement housing units have been damaged in 86 settlements in the occupied upper and western al-Jalil. In several settlements, heavily affected by the operations of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and the work of Israeli occupation forces, that turned the settlements into fighting posts, Israelis will not be able to return to their housing units until at least one year after the fighting concludes.
Damages to government buildings, housing units, and other infrastructure have been deemed severe in 318 cases by the Israeli Security Ministry.
Reports on the highest scope of damage have been distributed according to the following:
- 130 reports in Kibbutz Manara.
- 124 reports in Kiryat Shmona.
- 113 reports in Shlomi.
- 99 reports in Arab al-Aramshe
- 62 reports in Shtula.
These kibbutzim and settlements have been dealt the most substantial size of damage since October 8, 2023, due to their close proximity to the Israeli line of withdrawal from Lebanon and the fact that Israeli occupation forces have taken their buildings as bases to operate from them.
Other settlements, such as Metulla, have also seen significant damages and destruction, particularly as a result of the Israeli military’s operations, which include barricading roads, fortifying buildings, and excavation work on the outskirts of the settlement.
Giora Zaltz, the head of the Upper al-Jalil Regional Council, which governs the local affairs of 29 settlements in the area, confirmed that the settlers from two to four settlements would not be able to return to the kibbutzim, adding that the council is trying to provide them with alternatives in other areas.
Once again, Zaltz lambasted Israeli authorities handling of confrontations with Hezbollah, saying that the “reality here is unbearable.”
Upward of 3000 rockets, missiles shower Israeli outposts
Channel 12 also revealed that Hezbollah fighters launched over 3,000 rockets and missiles at the northern front, forcing the government to evacuate most of these areas.
Moshe Davidovich, Head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council in Western al-Jalil and leader of the Front Line Forum, said that settlements on the frontline are experiencing a “catastrophic” situation.
“Every day there are hits by anti-tank guided missiles fired by Hezbollah which destroy homes. Currently, it is not possible to reconstruct [the housing units] because they are on the frontline,” Davidovich explained.
To reiterate the severity of the damage in these sites, taking Manara as an example, 130 out of 155 building and housing units have been damaged by confrontations.
The Israeli occupation forces’ presence in the settlements has begun to spur strong opposition from local authorities, who believe that the Israeli military is outright destroying the settlements.
In Margaliot, near Kiryat Shmona, the local council announced that it has requested that the Israeli military command withdraw its forces from the settlement, hoping to protect it from rocket attacks. The settlement’s council says that the Israeli government’s decisions are “destroying the settlement.”
