A portrait of Hussein Karaki and his mother, Tamara, hangs on a wall in their apartment in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Dec. 23, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient Today)
A pencil drawing hangs on the living room wall of the Karaki family home in Haret Hreik, a southern suburb of Beirut. Fatmeh, 28, sketched the moment her family’s life “stopped” a year ago in Markaba, Marjayoun district.The drawing shows an embankment. Fatmeh lies on the ground, caressing her mother Tamara’s face. A bullet pierced Tamara’s shoulder; the woman in her 50s died instantly.Beside her lies Hussein, 36, Fatmeh’s brother. He had only been married for two years. Shot in the lower back, he can no longer feel his legs. Four Israeli soldiers stand over them, guns raised.“In reality, there were more of them, about 20,” Fatmeh said.Written on the drawing: “With blood, we remain true to the pledge, O Nasrallah. Markaba. Jan. 26, 2025.”That day — the date set for Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied border villages — chaos gripped...
A pencil drawing hangs on the living room wall of the Karaki family home in Haret Hreik, a southern suburb of Beirut. Fatmeh, 28, sketched the moment her family’s life “stopped” a year ago in Markaba, Marjayoun district.The drawing shows an embankment. Fatmeh lies on the ground, caressing her mother Tamara’s face. A bullet pierced Tamara’s shoulder; the woman in her 50s died instantly.Beside her lies Hussein, 36, Fatmeh’s brother. He had only been married for two years. Shot in the lower back, he can no longer feel his legs. Four Israeli soldiers stand over them, guns raised.“In reality, there were more of them, about 20,” Fatmeh said.Written on the drawing: “With blood, we remain true to the pledge, O Nasrallah. Markaba. Jan. 26, 2025.”That day — the date set for Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied border...