Full Breakdown
Beirut’s Rafic Hariri School Becomes Wartime Shelter, Sparking Sectarian Tensions
5/5/2026, 11:59:56 PM
School Converted to Shelter Amid Israel-Hezbollah War
The Rafic Hariri School in Beirut has been closed to students and turned into a collective shelter for over 1,500 displaced families. The conversion followed Israel’s invasion of Lebanon on 2 March 2026 targeting Hezbollah fighters. Parents of enrolled pupils, attending classes online, protested in early May for the school’s reopening.
Conflict Background and Displacement Scale
The war between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced over one million Lebanese since March. Most stay with relatives or rent apartments; at least 124,000 occupy government-run collective shelters. The majority of those fleeing are from the Shi’ite Muslim community that largely supports Hezbollah.
Timeline
Key dates: 2 March 2026 – Israel invades Lebanon; 16 April 2026 – ceasefire; early May 2026 – parents protest school closure; 5 May 2026 – Reuters reports the shelter as a societal flashpoint.
Displacement Data and Casualties
Displacement exceeds 1 million; government shelters house at least 124,000; the Rafic Hariri School shelters over 1,500; Israeli strikes have killed about 2,700 Lebanese since 2 March.
Sectarian Impact and Risk of Renewed Conflict
The arrival of Shi’ite families in a mixed district has heightened sectarian sensitivities, echoing the 1975-1990 civil war. School officials warned that shelter use could reignite communal tensions.
Official Statements and Government Responses
The school administration said it sympathises with displaced families while stressing students’ right to access the premises. Minister Haneen Sayed told Reuters the government is planning long-term displacement solutions. Israeli officials claim their troops in southern Lebanon aim to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks in civilian areas.
Criticism and Opposition
Parents protested the closure, arguing the school’s educational role is compromised. The administration warned that history could repeat if the shelter remains.
On-the-Ground Accounts
Mohammed Hammoud, a 40-year-old supervisor displaced from southern Lebanon, said families received keys and entered without force. Um Mahmoud described her damaged apartment and fear of returning home, noting “Something might fall on me while I am in the house.” Volunteers run a kitchen serving thousands of meals daily for shelter residents and nearby neighborhoods.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
No official count of families remains at the Rafic Hariri School beyond the approximate 1,500 figure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “But just as we are sympathising with them, there are also rights for our students to be at their premises,” — School administration representative
- “Something might fall on me while I am in the house,” — Um Mahmoud, displaced resident
- “We can’t fix it because the war is still on. We want to fix it and go back, but we can’t.” — Um Mahmoud
- “They would leave if the school administration formally asked them to, but the government should find them a new shelter, he added.” — Mohammed Hammoud, shelter supervisor
Outlook and Next Steps
The Lebanese government is expected to find alternative accommodation for families at the school. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon and sporadic clashes continue, suggesting displacement pressures may persist.
