“We are afraid”: In northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, Israelis fear that the elimination of number two Hamas in Beirut will trigger a war with their neighbor.
• Also read: Israel is preparing for “any scenario” after the deadly attack on Hamas No. 2
• Also read: Hezbollah says 'assassination' of Lebanon's No. 2 Hamas 'will not go unpunished'
Since the war between Israel and Hamas began almost three months ago, the Israeli army has exchanged fire almost daily with Lebanon's Hezbollah, an ally of the Palestinian Islamist movement.
In the coastal town of Nahariya, just a few kilometers from the border, residents' morale was already at half-mast because of the violence, but fear rose even further after the death of Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut on Tuesday night in a strike attributed to Israel .
“This morning we didn't know whether to send the children to school or not, fearing Hezbollah's reaction to what happened yesterday,” said Lee Zorviv, a clothing store owner.
Hezbollah warned on Tuesday evening that the “assassination” of Arouri “will not go unpunished,” calling it “a serious aggression against Lebanon” but also “a serious development in the war between the enemy and the Axis of Resistance.” , a term Iran and its regional allies are described as hostile to Israel.
The last war between Israel and Hezbollah in the summer of 2006 killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Lebanon and 160 people, mostly soldiers, in Israel.
UN peacekeepers patrolling the Lebanese side of the border warned on Wednesday of the “devastating consequences” that an escalation between Israel and the powerful Shiite party could have.
“We continue to call on all parties to cease their firing and on all influential interlocutors to call for restraint,” deputy spokesperson for the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, Kandice Ardiel, said in a statement.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah is believed to have amassed a significant arsenal in recent decades, while its enemy Israel receives military support from the United States.
In Nahariya, schoolchildren have finished classes early and everyone is clinging to their phones to catch up on the latest news, says Ms. Zorviv, 40.
“The situation is very, very bad, people’s morale is at half mast,” she added.
“We are scared”
In addition to the fear of war with Lebanon, residents are also worried about their continuing decline in income.
“Activity has dropped by 50% in the last few weeks,” observes Lee Zorviv, adding that some stores have closed.
Shalev, an 18-year-old salesman who did not want to give his last name, says he has “no choice” but to work despite the fear because we have to “provide for our needs.”
From the waterfront, warships can be seen in the distance, fishing boats behind them and the few bathers braving the cool winter temperatures.
A soldier described the place as a “military closed zone”.
“The Israeli Armed Forces are in a very high state of readiness in all areas, both defense and offense,” their spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday evening, shortly after the shock wave that swept Lebanon from the attack in the southern suburbs attributed to Israel was triggered by Beirut, Hezbollah's stronghold.
“We are fully prepared for any scenario,” he said, without commenting on the strike in Beirut.
In Nahariya, both teenagers and elderly people who spoke to AFP without giving their full names described the fear gripping the city; Many people carried their weapons in the city, some wore uniforms.
“We are afraid, we are in a state of war,” admits Lee Zorviv.