The demonstrators with Palestinian posters and flags during a Hezbollah-Amal rally in solidarity with Gaza in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Credit: João Sousa
Over 2,000 people gathered in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday in response to the call of Lebanon's main Shiite parties Amal and Hezbollah, to show their solidarity with the people of Gaza, in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel since October 7th.
The protesters' voices here echoed some of the tens of thousands of people who gathered on the same day, for the same reasons, from Cairo to Baghdad and Istanbul. After Wednesday's "day of rage" organized by Hassan Nasrallah's party, this new gathering aimed to show that the events of recent days in Gaza are still present in the minds of the supporters of the so-called "axis of resistance", who are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
"I couldn't sleep after hearing the news about the hospital in Gaza. I am angry," says Mohammad Ali, standing under the afternoon sun with a large Amal flag draped over his shoulders.
Mohammad Ali, with a large flag of Amal draped on his shoulders, during a Hezbollah-Amal gathering in solidarity with Gaza in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Credit: João Sousa
He disputes the claim that the explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital, which reportedly killed hundreds of people on Tuesday night, was the result of a failed Hamas rocket. Hamas, the militant Palestinian group who controls Gaza, has blamed Israel and stated that it was a deliberate airstrike. Israel denies this, with the support of the US administration.
Reference to Qana
"America says that Israel did not bomb the hospital, but we all know that Israel did. In 1996, in Cana, Israel did the same thing," says Bilal, a passionate Amal supporter attending the gathering.
Here he refers to a bombing near the village of Qana in southern Lebanon on April 18, 1996, which resulted in the deaths of 106 civilians taking refuge in a UN camp. Israel said it was the result of a 'technical error'. An enquiry led by the UN came to the conclusion in May 1996 that: "We cannot completely rule out this hypothesis, but it is very unlikely that the bombing of the UN post (in Qana) was the result of a gross technical and/or procedural error." A second Israeli bombing occurred in the same area on July 30, 2006, killing 28 people during the 33-day war between Israel and Hezbollah that year.
A woman with a photo of Hezbollah chief, Hassan Nasrallah, during a Hezbollah-Amal rally in solidarity with Gaza in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Credit: João Sousa)
"We do not want war... but we want to tell the world that they [Israel] must stop bombing the people of Gaza," emphasizes Mohammad Ali. As he speaks, the crowd, composed of schoolchildren, men wearing black hoods, and women holding pictures of Hassan Nasrallah, begins to chant "death to America, death to Israel".
The children in Gaza
"I am here for all the little children who have been killed in Gaza. I want the children to have time to play. This is the first protest that I have participated in. We must support the Palestinians until the end. We are a little scared, but I am not afraid of what will happen," says Ghada, a young woman with a small Palestinian flag painted on her cheeks.
Since October 7th, over 1,000 minors have lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes in the enclave, according to the NGO Defence for Children International.
Ghada, with a Palestinian flag during a demonstration in the southern suburbs of Beirut on October 20. Credit: João Sousa
Tensions on the southern border of Lebanon
Since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel on October 7th, at least 22 people have been killed in Lebanon. All eyes are now on how Hezbollah and its ally Iran will react to a proposed Israeli ground campaign in the Gaza Strip. There are fears that this could drag Lebanon and certain parts of the Middle East into a regional war.
In recent days, tensions on the southern border of Lebanon have intensified. This Friday, southern Lebanon experienced another day of terror marked by several exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at the border, with each side actively reporting on the ongoing attacks and counterattacks. Although seemingly contained, the situation is still tense. In the past two weeks, "nearly 13,000 people have already fled their homes in southern Lebanon and the number is increasing rapidly," according to Jacob Boswall, head of the Lebanon Crisis Analytics Team (LCAT) at Mercy Corp.
A protester with a large Hezbollah flag during a Hezbollah-Amal rally in solidarity with Gaza in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Credit: João Sousa)
But for the protesters gathered in Moucharrafié, fear is not an option. "We are not worried about the war in Lebanon. We will all participate in the fight," adds Bilal, looking unphased when asked about the prospect of war. "We are stronger than we were in 2006," he asserts.
On Thursday, during a meeting with accredited ambassadors in Lebanon, Lebanese interim Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the sending of aid. He also stressed "the need to end the Israeli occupation" and added that "the solution is to create a Palestinian state."
This latter point remains one of Hezbollah's main motivations. "We are not neutral, but at the heart of the battle. As we gather here to show our support and solidarity with our Palestinian brothers, men are preparing to carry out their duty," said MP Ali Ammar during the rally. "We are asked at this time to be ready to receive orders" and he concluded by saying, "To Hassan Nasrallah, we say: 'We are at your service'" he added.