An olive grove uprooted by the Israeli army in Blida, April 16. (Credit: Matthieu Karam)
Nasser Khalaf's children climbed a steep road to a pile of rubble on the outskirts of Khiam, hoping to find scraps of metal. Since the escalation of war between Israel and Hezbollah last September, the Syrian farmer's family, settled for more than 20 years in the agricultural plain of Wata al-Khiam, could no longer live off their land.These agricultural workers from Deir ez-Zor returned after the Israeli withdrawal in mid-February to fields at the edge of the Blue Line. Too late for the wheat season, they barely planted a few tomatoes and watermelons, due to a lack of an irrigation system."Before, we used to export to all of Lebanon," Khalaf said. Around them, the workers' tents and destroyed homes serve as a reminder that before the fighting raged, this plain was teeming with life. "An Israeli strike killed 20...
Nasser Khalaf's children climbed a steep road to a pile of rubble on the outskirts of Khiam, hoping to find scraps of metal. Since the escalation of war between Israel and Hezbollah last September, the Syrian farmer's family, settled for more than 20 years in the agricultural plain of Wata al-Khiam, could no longer live off their land.These agricultural workers from Deir ez-Zor returned after the Israeli withdrawal in mid-February to fields at the edge of the Blue Line. Too late for the wheat season, they barely planted a few tomatoes and watermelons, due to a lack of an irrigation system."Before, we used to export to all of Lebanon," Khalaf said. Around them, the workers' tents and destroyed homes serve as a reminder that before the fighting raged, this plain was teeming with life. "An Israeli strike killed...