The Current Reality
Lebanon today is going through an extremely dangerous phase, in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression and the accompanying escalating humanitarian, economic, and social repercussions. This aggression has resulted in grave violations of international humanitarian law, including the targeting of unarmed civilians and vital infrastructure, widespread forced displacement, and the use of internationally prohibited weapons such as white phosphorus. Israeli shelling has also targeted residential neighborhoods, mosques, churches, schools, and hospitals, in addition to ambulance teams, civil defense personnel, and journalists, as well as the deliberate burning and poisoning of agricultural lands, leading up to the destruction of entire villages.
The situation has become more complex with the targeting of bridges and main roads, which has led to the fragmentation of Lebanese regions and threatened people’s ability to move and access basic services. All of this comes within the context of a deep-rooted and severe economic crisis, which has significantly weakened the ability of people in Lebanon to withstand, depleted what remains of their limited resources, and constrained their ability to meet their basic needs. With rising costs and the erosion of livelihoods, and with limited funding available for the humanitarian response, gaps in the provision of support are widening, which further increases the vulnerability of affected communities and intensifies the pressure on them.
Despite the harshness of this reality, a remarkable scene of widespread social solidarity emerges in parallel, manifested through individual and collective initiatives, and various forms of mutual support among Lebanese women and men across different regions. Despite exhaustion, destruction, and political division, the humanitarian response is advancing as a unifying space, where the values of solidarity and national unity are present, and humanitarian principles take precedence over political and sectarian considerations.
However, this critical moment carries within it two parallel paths: genuine popular solidarity on the one hand, and increasing risks of tension and social division on the other. A concerning rise in hate speech and incitement is being recorded, sometimes fueled by media and political practices based on investing in fear, strife, and the exchange of accusations, which threatens the social fabric, creates an environment prone to tension, and allows the aggression to exploit internal divisions and ignite the spark of internal strife.
A Call
- Rejecting a drift toward civil war: With the escalation of tensions, fears are increasing of a return to manifestations of civil war, including the growing of sectarian extremism and the emergence of extremist groups. However, the public mood in Lebanon shows a firm rejection of any internal fighting, and a deep concern over an internal confrontation or the rise of extremist thought.
- Lebanon Only – Lebanon’s Interest as an Absolute Priority: In light of the sharp divisions in political and media discourse regarding the causes of the war and how to deal with it, it clearly emerges that concern for Lebanon’s entity is the common denominator among all Lebanese women and men. Lebanon’s interest remains the priority above which no political, sectarian, or externally driven considerations may prevail, and Lebanon belongs to all its components, with all that constitutes its identity and history.
- The unity of Lebanese women and men is a source of strength: Despite the escalation of disagreements and the intensity of debates, a unifying human scene emerges that reflects the solidarity of Lebanese women and men. Lebanon’s strength lies in its diversity and cohesion, and in its ability to transform scarcity of resources into cooperation and mutual support that constitute the foundation of resilience in this sensitive phase. Individual and collective initiatives spread across the country affirm that diversity, despite divisions, remains the real guarantee for the protection of Lebanon. The role of the state in embracing its citizens, women and men, also stands out, in a way that strengthens the relationship between them. Lebanon draws its strength from its pluralism, and this strength can only be preserved through shared spaces for dialogue and understanding. The protection of Lebanon lies in the people rallying around their state, when the two are integrated; the people are the state and the state is the people, first and foremost… The media and public discourse bear the responsibility of highlighting common ground and models of solidarity, in a way that reduces tension and strengthens cohesion.
- All of Lebanon matters, and every region concerns us: Lebanon is a complete and integrated entity, not subject to division. Every inch of its land, its resources, its history, and its social fabric concerns every Lebanese man and woman, and any strike on any region is a strike at the heart of the country, which must not be dealt with selectively or with disparity in attention or response. Sovereignty over its natural resources and its land, along with its history and collective memory, constitutes an integral part of its sovereignty and its inalienable rights. Accordingly, preserving these resources is a fundamental national matter that does not accept compromise or division.
- Stopping incitement and confronting hate speech and accusations of treason: In light of the spread of incitement and hate speech across media and social media, the rejection by the majority of any slide toward internal conflict is reaffirmed. Political disagreement does not justify accusations of treason or the exclusion of the other, and the discourse of treason constitutes a direct threat to civil peace due to the polarization and social hostility it creates. Dialogue remains the only path capable of accommodating diversity.
- Individual responsibility in safeguarding the internal front: With the widespread dissemination of circulating content and public discourse, the responsibility of each individual for what they publish or express is multiplied. Between fueling emotions or calming them, between accusations of treason and spreading strife or building bridges, each of us contributes either to deepening tension or to protecting and strengthening civil peace.
- We stand for one another and with one another: In the face of the scale of suffering and destruction, the values of solidarity, fraternity, mutual support, and citizenship are manifested daily across all political and sectarian alignments. These values constitute a fundamental pillar of resilience, as Lebanon remains a legacy preserved through its diversity and through the ability of its sons and daughters to come together despite all divisions. The restoration of human dignity and needs to the core of the discourse also stands out.