Israeli forces yesterday killed three people and wounded 31 trying to return to homes in south Lebanon where Israeli troops remained on the ground after a deadline for their withdrawal passed, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said.
Israel has said it intended to keep troops in the south beyond yesterday’s deadline stipulated in the US-brokered ceasefire that halted last year’s war with Hezbollah, and on Saturday ordered residents not to return until further notice.
The deal stipulated that Israeli forces withdraw from the south as the Iran-backed Hezbollah’s weapons and fighters were removed from the area and the Lebanese army deployed, within a 60-day period which ended yesterday morning.
Photo: AFP
However, Israel has said the terms have not been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, while Lebanon’s US-backed military on Saturday accused Israel of procrastinating in its withdrawal.
Hezbollah’s al-Manar television, broadcasting from several locations in the south, showed footage of residents moving toward villages in defiance of Israeli orders, some holding the group’s flag and images of Hezbollah fighters killed in the war.
The Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed in the village of Houla, another in Aitaroun and a third in Blida as a result of what it described as Israeli attacks on citizens while they were trying to enter their still-occupied towns.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the reported casualties.
An Israeli military spokesperson, wrote on X that Hezbollah was trying to “heat up the situation,” adding that the Israeli army would “in the near future” inform them of places to which they can return.
Hezbollah, weakened by Israel during the war, has put the onus on the Lebanese state to ensure Israel’s withdrawal, describing Israel’s failure to withdraw on time as a violation of the agreement.
“We are in our land and the enemy is the one who turned against the agreement and violated the agreement, and thus the people are the ones who are liberating their land with their own hands and blood,” Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said, speaking to the group’s al-Manar television.
“We want the state to play its role,” he added.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian man was killed and seven people were wounded by Israeli fire overnight, local health officials said yesterday, as thousands gathered in hopes of returning to the northern Gaza Strip under the fragile ceasefire.
Additional reporting by AP
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