Israeli media revealed today that Israeli settlers are finding it hard to return to the northern settlements in occupied Palestine, and Israeli occupation forces are struggling to "protect" them.

In a report published on "Israel Hayom" under the title "Israeli army behind me- Hezbollah in front of me: 24 hours in the empty Metulla," an Israeli reporter in northern occupied Palestine, Idan Avni, describes his visit to his evacuated house in the "Metulla" settlement described by settlers in "Kiryat Shmona", among others, as located in "the far north behind the mountains of darkness."

The Israeli reporter stated that an hour after he announced to the operations team that he wished to stay in the house, he immediately faced lots of pressure from them as they exclaimed that the "journalist wants to sleep in the house." 

IOF and settlers fear Hezbollah

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He added that the concerned parties have tried to convince him to give up and leave, stressing that the presence of settlers in the area subjects the IOF to danger as Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, will track the movement in the house, hence exposing their location.

The Israeli reporter further added that his house is on the frontline, which he labeled as a wasteland, as Israeli occupation forces are behind him and Hezbollah is in front of him. 

He shared part of his conversation with the forces of the emergency department as he focused on the "security issue" with repetitive questions arising: "How can we return to our homes? Will Hezbollah be stopped by an agreement? Who will force this agreement? We are scared. As long as resolution 1701 is not imposed, it will be hard to gain back our security."

Two years ago, the former head of the occupation's Northern Command, Major General Amir Baram, met with the settlers and informed them about building an eight-meter-high wall with security cameras near the "Metulla" settlement, the Israeli reporter stated. He added that these times have proved that the anger expressed by settlers back then was rightful as this wall will not "stop Hezbollah fighters", and will only "deprive the settlers of their security." 

A ghost settlement 

Throughout his report, the Israeli reporter focused on how the "Metulla" settlement has turned into a war zone. He stressed that there was clear neglect as garbage was left by the IOF on the streets, the grass had not been cut for five months, and dozens of sandbags and empty ammunition boxes had been left. He expressed that the temporary state of calm was making him more nervous as he wandered around the house. 

Sirens were set off every few minutes, asking settlers to hide in shelters as "Hezbollah has launched an anti-tank missile or one of its drones has intercepted the Metulla airspace," he added. 

The Israeli reporter concluded by emphasizing that "defending Metulla" is a real struggle for the IOF, and the settlers are well aware of that. He added that he left the settlement, labeling his visit there as a "goodbye tour" and describing his house as an "abandoned building that was once his house" where slept "this one night for the last time."