Rubble in Houla, South Lebanon, Feb. 16, 2025. Screenshot of a video sent by our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah.
The six residents of Houla in southern Lebanon, who had been trapped in their village, still occupied by the Israeli army, since Sunday, were able to leave the area without the help of the Lebanese Army or the Red Cross, both of which had been denied entry by Israel. These six people, including two children, had been stranded in the village when families from the area returned on Sunday, believing the Israeli army had withdrawn, and without prior authorization from the Lebanese Army.
After entering the village on foot, they were confronted by Israeli soldiers who opened fire, killing 14-year-old Khadija Atwi. While most residents managed to flee, six remained detained by the Israeli army in the village, according to Houla municipal council president Chakib Koteich who said on Monday morning that contact was established with the kidnapped civilians overnight before their phones went dead. Among those trapped by the Israeli army in Houla were Hanane Atoui, Khadija's sister, her two children, her husband, as well as an unidentified man and woman, Koteich said.
Israel blocks Lebanese Army’s entry
The body of Khadija Atwi remains in the village, where the Lebanese Army and rescue teams have yet to enter. A first attempt by the army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to access the village was denied by Israel, according to Koteich.
Israeli soldiers also took three other people, including two paramedics from the al-Rissala Scouts, an organization affiliated with the Amal Movement. However, municipal police officer Hassan Hammoud and another member of the Koteich family were released Sunday evening.
Explosions and fortifications
Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out three large explosions in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun), set houses on fire in Odaisseh (Marjayoun), and conducted excavation and embankment construction on the heights of Blatt, near Ramieh, according to our correspondent. This location is one of five "strategic" points where the Israeli army seeks to maintain a presence.
In Kfar Shuba, in the Hasbaya district, where the Lebanese Army is deployed, an Israeli patrol infiltrated the center of the locality. This is the first such incident since the army’s deployment.
In Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), residents reported that the Israeli army withdrew from the western part of the village toward its center. However, the area remains closed pending a full Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army.
The Lebanese army, accompanied by the Lebanese Red Cross, was able to enter Houla during the day to remove the earth embankment blocking access to the village and recover the body of Khadija Atoui. The Lebanese Red Cross was finally able to remove the body in the afternoon and transferred it to the government hospital in Tebnine (Bint Jbeil). An initial attempt by the army and the U.N. Interim Force (UNIFIL) to enter the village was refused by Israel, according to Koteish.
Three other people were also abducted by Israeli soldiers, including two rescue workers from the al-Rissala Scouts, affiliated with the Amal movement. A municipal policeman, Hassan Hammoud, and another member of the Koteish family were released on Sunday evening.
The municipalities of Blida and Kfar Kila, villages in the Marjayoun district, published statements to their residents on the eve of the Israeli withdrawal.
"The exact time of our entry into the village has not yet been determined, and we are awaiting the effective entry of the Lebanese army and its deployment in all neighborhoods and streets," the Kfar Kila municipality said. "We assure you that we will organize a secure entry into the village on Wednesday morning, and the details will be specified tomorrow."
The municipality of Blida announced that the return of the inhabitants will take place tomorrow "as soon as the army has entered and taken up position in the village."
The municipality also provided a series of recommendations to follow. It specified that access to the village will only be possible through Aitaroun "once the Lebanese army has opened the roads, removed the explosive devices and carried out a security survey in the neighborhoods and houses."
It also asked residents not to touch any "suspicious objects and to report them immediately." In addition, the municipality specifies that "only Lebanese people will be allowed to enter the village" and that "scrap metal sellers" will not be allowed. "It is forbidden to take out or move objects from houses, except through their owners, after obtaining an authorization issued by the municipality," it said.
