Full Breakdown
Ceasefire Brings Calm but Leaves Displaced Lebanese in Limbo
6/26/2026, 1:51:52 AM
War, Ceasefire and Scale of Displacement
Israel began an air-ground campaign in Lebanon on 2 March 2026 after Hezbollah fire supporting Iran. The offensive forced residents from southern districts, the east and parts of Beirut. By the time a ceasefire took effect on 20 June, more than 1.2 million people—about one-fifth of Lebanon’s population—had been displaced. The National Council for Scientific Research recorded over 90 000 housing units damaged or destroyed, and 103 000 people were in government shelters before the truce; roughly 14 000 had left those shelters by 25 June.
On-the-Ground Reports
Former farmer Hussein Merhi, 39, told Reuters from a university shelter in Sidon that he cannot return because his village remains occupied and his house and livelihood were destroyed. His mother, Zahra Chehadeh, 64, said there is no house or village left for them. Alaa Kobeissy, 40, who fled Iraq after the 2024 war, said he lacks any place to stay.
Official Statements & Responses
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said troops would destroy all houses in border villages and that residents could not return until northern Israel was secure. The Israeli military framed the displacement orders as civilian protection. Lebanese officials confirmed the displacement figures and said a U.S.–backed proposal is under discussion to hand occupied territory to the Lebanese army, though the scope and timetable remain unclear.
Criticism & Opposition
Amnesty International warned that Israel’s mass displacement and the no-return orders breach international humanitarian law. Lebanese civil-society groups have highlighted the risk of a prolonged displacement crisis and note that pre-fabricated housing or cash-for-rent programs face funding and land-availability constraints.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Local officials report some families returning to southern towns, but precise numbers are unavailable because many homes are in ruins. The extent of Israeli troop withdrawal and the speed of any land handover to Lebanese forces have not been specified in public statements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I still can't go back to my village. It's still occupied. My house is gone, and my livelihood is gone,” — Hussein Merhi, former farmer, displaced resident
- “Like everyone else, I felt like I wanted to go back to my village, go back to my home. There's no house, no village, nothing at all. What am I supposed to feel?” — Zahra Chehadeh, 64, mother of Merhi
- “The main problem is that I don't have a place,” — Alaa Kobeissy, 40, displaced from Zebdine
- “all houses” — Israel Katz, Israeli Defence Minister
What’s Next
Negotiations on the U.S.–backed land-transfer proposal are expected to continue in the coming weeks. Lebanese ministries plan limited pre-fabricated housing projects and seek international aid for cash-for-rent assistance. Monitoring of Israeli troop movements and ceasefire enforcement will shape the timeline for any large-scale return of displaced populations.
