Occupied Northern Palestine: 'Israel's' biggest catastrophe since 1948
7 Min Read
Northern settlements are seeing unprecedented damage and attacks due to Hezbollah fire, with some transforming into ghost towns and barren lands.
-
Sign on the entrance of Kiryat Shmona melting away amid intense fires caused by Hezbollah's drones (Social Media)
The rocket barrages and attack drones launched against Israeli military sites in occupied northern Palestine represent "the largest catastrophe Israel has known since its formation," Ronen Marelly, the mayor of Nahariya, was cited as saying by the Israeli newspaper Maariv.
In a radio interview, Marelly said "This preposterous routine continues, and I believe the country is heading toward losing the Galilee [Al-Jalil]," warning that if "Israel" does not act, it would lose al-Jalil, whether by failing to return settlers to their houses, or by a security loss. "Either way, you cannot continue to live like that", Marelly said.
He further said that as the mayor of Nahariya, he cannot complain because they [Nahariya settlers] were still alive, but "in an absurd way".
Margaliot under Nasrallah's command
In turn, the mayor of Margaliot, Eitan Davidi, said that the one responsible for running the situation was Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, "while we [Israel] adhere to the pace he sets for us."
He drew the equation on the northern front, saying when Sayyed Nasrallah and Hezbollah fire toward the occupied North, then "Israel" fires back. If Hezbollah does not launch an attack against the occupied North, then "Israel" does not act.
In an interview with Israeli Channel 14, Davidi considered that attacks on Margaliot have become routine and that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) are not directing the front, as per the War Cabinet's orders.
Kfar Giladi's fate is in Nasrallah's hands
A member of the Israeli settlements guard, a territorial formation, said the road from Metulla to Kfar Giladi was completely exposed to Lebanon, which makes any movement a viable target for Hezbollah, making the situation a reality similar to " A dangerous game of Russian roulette whenever we want to head North," adding that "At that moment, your fate lies in Nasrallah's hands."
"If the missile misses a moving car, then it would set dunams of reserve lands on fire, which is routine."
Metulla worst off
As for Metulla, it was described as an island surrounded by Lebanese lands from three different directions, making it the settlement subject to the most damage since the start of the war.
The local council estimated that out of 600 residential units, 40 were damaged by Hezbollah's anti-tank rockets, while 200 others were damaged by missile shrapnel and the bombing.
Kiryat Shmona turns into a ghost town
Coined a ghost town, Kiryat Shmona still reeks of a burning odor after it suffered from a large fire that burned through 8,000 dunams of land due to Hezbollah fire.
Traffic lights have been shut down to permit settlers to drive fast if they needed to hide from Hezbollah's rockets.
Around 700 rockets rained on Kiryat Shmona, destroying and damaging at least 1,000 housing units. Almost every complex in the settlement has been abandoned, with plants growing randomly in public spaces, and fish reaching maximum growth because no one goes fishing anymore.
Nothing was spared in Manara
A landlord in the Manara settlement estimated that 70% of residential units were damaged, including governmental buildings.
No one to the rescue in Al-Malikiya
In al-Malikiya, fire trucks have not driven to the settlement for a while, but fires are still ablaze, with settlers trying to put out the flames around them.
A settler said a rocket targets the settlement every second, with 30 houses completely damaged, and lands still on fire.
The IOF has also been attacking Lebanon from private agricultural fields, while the government rejects agricultural projects, considering this "terrible" policy a thorn in the settlement's reality for years to come.
Hezbollah flames devour Avivim
Avivim was described as a barren land eaten by flames, where forests once grew. 60 houses have been damaged so far, as the settlement overlooks the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Rass.
A visit to Avivim was impossible, except on Eid al-Adha, when Hezbollah ceased firing for the occasion.
The mayor of the settlement has stated that he feels like a burden on the government, which keeps neglecting his and his settlers' demands.
Yara'oun, a point of no return
Yara'oun has not suffered as much damage as other settlements but was still abandoned in fear of Hezbollah's rockets. Its mayor relayed that he is certain it would not return to the way it was.
Who's coming to Dovev?
A Dovev settler asked "Who is coming to Dovev? Everyone is dying, even the dead would not come to be buried here."
From this settler's house, the Meron airbase, a vital target for Hezbollah, can be seen, while the settlement overlooks the Lebanese village of Yaroun, from which hundreds of rockets have been launched since October.
Another settler said he had to risk the dangers of going to Dovev daily to feed his chicken, but sneaks into the den "like a thief", in fear of making a sound that would trigger an attack by Hezbollah.
A breakfast of Burkan rockets
In Shtula, a settler was asked for a breakfast of eggs. As he carried the freshly laid eggs from his chicken den, a Hezbollah Burkan rocket landed near the den, leaving him in the hospital for four days.
"No one wants to work here anymore, not tax assessors, contractors, they're all afraid," he said, noting that he had been looking for a place to live for months, but to no avail. However, even if a ceasefire is imposed, the settler said he would never return.
12 houses in Shtula were directly hit, whereas 30 others suffered indirect damage.
Only one woman resides in Shtula. She cooks for occupation soldiers, who allegedly avoid visiting her house to prevent it from becoming a target for Hezbollah. The woman confirmed that Hezbollah only targets soldiers, not regular settlers.
Zar'it, what once was
What once was coined the "Eden of the North" is now riddled with extensive damage as 30 houses have been targeted by Hezbollah.
As a result, one settler has demanded the occupation government launch a wide-scale operation against Lebanon, and the cutting of ties with Europe and the United States for a couple of months.
Sirens deafen Arab al-Aramshe
The sirens in the occupied Arab al-Aramshe village sound by the hour, showing the extent of danger the settlement is always under.
Around 120 houses have been either directly or indirectly hit, with "no signs of life" around the occupied village. Residents had abandoned their houses and headed to another location when Hezbollah targeted an Israeli soldier gathering, killing one soldier and injuring 13 others.
The war has already begun
The exits of all the settlements show the impact of war. The newspaper, Maariv, said the fortified shelters along the roads were signs of the war that was to come, but the forest trees that turned into bare matchsticks, and the smell of fire, show that the war has already begun.
🚨🇱🇧🇮🇱BREAKING: HEZBOLLAH BURNS ISRAEL AGAIN.
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) July 8, 2024
A report of a rocket hitting the Gosher hotel and a rocket hit Barja directly
A "Kornet" missile landed on a military target in the vicinity of the Avivim settlement in Western Galilee.
Also Hezbollah clarified that on Monday,… pic.twitter.com/LDGodCBzlF
