"Let's Bring Flowers to the Desert"
As news coverage details the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the days since, Israeli civilians try to make sense of their plight as conflict with Hezbollah increase in the north.
Saturday morning’s surprise attack on Israeli towns bordering Gaza and the Nova festival massacre has left the Israeli public in shock and despair. As over 300,000 Israeli reserves mobilize and prepare for a possible ground invasion of Gaza the community braces for the worst. In northern Israel military forces are preparing to fight off threats from Hezbollah, a Lebanese political faction and militant group that has been operating in Lebanon’s southern border since the early 1980s. In 2000, the group effectively expelled Israeli forces from the area. Hezbollah is backed by Iran and vehemently supports Hamas and the destruction of Israel. Experts say that Hezbollah’s involvement will make the current conflict the Second Intifada on steroids.
Hezbollah’s number of rockets and weaponry arsenal has grown significantly since Israel’s month-long war with the group in 2006. Known as the Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah initiated conflict by a cross border raid from Lebanon into Israel, attacking a group of Israeli soldiers patrolling the border, killing eight, and kidnapping two others. The two kidnapped soldiers returned in body bags two years later.
Eden Bados, a 23-year old school teacher in Beit Shean was six years old when she had minutes to run to a bomb shelter with her family
“The organization is a war crime.” Bados says as she recounts the events of 2006.
Unlike Hamas that is restricted the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah is a power house terror organization that receives patronage from Iran, holds seats in Lebanese parliament, controls several government ministries, and has strong holds across several regions in Lebanon.
During the Second Lebanon War, Israel attempted to minimize collateral damage and used precise and accurate weapons instead of larger, more powerful ones in military operations to minimize unintended damage to people or structures in the surrounding area.
“My father was a medic in Lebanon -inside- Lebanon. My dad took care of everyone. it didn't matter if it was a Jewish non Jewish person, like, it's not in our blood to be cruel. I think there are exceptions, of course. But I think as a society we don't have it in us.” Recalls Bados.
As in any military conflict, the cost of protecting domestic constituents comes with massive international humanitarian consequences. Despite Israel’s best efforts, Lebanon was hit hard.
However, the IDF has distinct procedures when dealing with suspected terrorists. Bados served as a medic in Haifa and outlines the process:
“If you see someone who is unfamiliar, first, you have to shout to identify them. You don't even aim your gun. Nothing like that. You, ask a few times, ok? And you can only, only attack, only use your means when the suspect has three of the things, a motive, a weapon or anything that could be used as a weapon.”
Bados goes on to say that once those components are successful identified, IDF soldiers proceed to shout in Arabic:
“Stop, stop, or I’ll shoot.”
IDF soldiers are trained and instructed to never shoot a suspect in fatal areas.
“It's only to the lower part like legs in order to not kill them but to, disarm them even, you know, to make sure that there is no danger that the safest this can be.” Bados describes.
As the war reaches its fourth day of conflict, the loss of Israeli life is felt by all corners of the country both domestically and abroad.
“I feel like it's my family who got murdered, like my friends, even if they are not, this is hard. We have this unity- you’ve been here. You know, we're kind of rude, kind of happy, mostly love to help each other.” explains Bados.
As for the fate of Hezbollah, Israeli shelling has already begun in southern Lebanese towns. Experts suggest that Hezbollah has the potential to play a broader role in the Islamic world rather than being primarily focused on sectarian or narrow interests. Research implies that Hezbollah can be a leading force or representative of Islamic causes or movements, emphasizing a more unified and inclusive approach.
Perhaps more frightening is the joint collusion with Iran. As its Shiite Muslim proxy, Hezbollah may be forced to escalate their involvement. However, as Israel continues its bombing of Gaza, the country is prepared to unleash whatever forces necessary to subdue its enemies.
