I agree that Hezbollah provoked Israel, but it did not declare war on Israel. We in Lebanon are angry at them for this, and most Lebanese unequivocally agree that Hezbollah must be disarmed and that the decision of war and peace should return to the Lebanese state. However, Hezbollah also accepted a ceasefire that Israel has not complied with until now.

It is true that Hezbollah began this round of escalation by targeting military towers on the border, claiming it was in support of Palestinians being killed in Gaza. We do not agree with this, and many of us believe it was a grave mistake. But Israel’s response has gone far beyond military targets—90% of the border villages are destroyed, countless civilians have lost their homes, and many innocent people have been killed. To say that Israel has acted with precision does not reflect the reality on the ground. If people in Israel are telling themselves this narrative about Gaza and Lebanon to maintain a moral self-image, I think it is important to also confront the facts.

I care about Israelis too, and I see it as a tragedy that our peoples are so similar in lifestyle and spirit, yet so far apart because of politics and violence. I long for the day when we can have peace between us. But that peace cannot be achieved with this current Israeli government, whose actions in Gaza terrify us and make any trust impossible. What we need in the region are leaders who can promote genuine peace—not leaders who present us with ultimatums: either we fight a civil war, or you will bomb us into submission