By: Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam
Secretary General
Palestine Foundation Pakistan
(Palestine Foundation Information Center), Lebanon is a West Asian country whose situation has remained unstable since 1948, when the usurping Zionist state of Israel was established in Palestine. In fact, in order to implement the plan of “Greater Israel,” the occupying Israeli regime formally invaded Lebanon for the first time in 1978. However, due to the long and determined resistance of the Lebanese youth and people, the occupation finally came to an end in the year 2000. Despite this, Israel’s conspiracies and hostile tactics have continued unabated.
To further advance this agenda, the United States in 2001 gave the concept of “Greater Israel” a new name and called it the “New Middle East.” In order to implement this plan, the United States first blamed Afghanistan for the false-flag operation of 9/11 and deployed its military there. At the same time, by spreading false propaganda about weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. also deployed its military in Iraq. Later, in 2006, a full-scale war was imposed on Lebanon, and it was openly declared that Hezbollah would be eliminated and that a “New Middle East” would emerge from this war. However, once again these plans failed.
Nevertheless, the series of wars and the use of terrorist groups continued. One of the last attempts was made through ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and Lebanon was also among its targets.
After failing in all these efforts, the United States and Israel have now openly launched direct attacks on Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran. In order to establish “Greater Israel” or the so-called “New Middle East,” every possible aggressive step is being taken.
Lebanon has been actively engaged in confrontation with Israel since the Al-Aqsa Flood operation in October 2023. Over the past year and a half, the Lebanese people and the fighters of Hezbollah and Hamas have made tremendous sacrifices. During this war, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was martyred along with many of his companions and commanders.
Although a ceasefire agreement had remained in place for the past fifteen months, Israel did not respect it and continued its bombardment of Lebanon during this entire period. Targeted killings of important Hezbollah figures also continued. However, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei was martyred, Hezbollah once again returned to the battlefield. Since then, intense fighting has continued.
At present, Lebanon under U.S. backing for Israel is once again engulfed in war, destruction, and humanitarian catastrophe. The brutal bombardment by the Zionist regime, particularly in southern Lebanon, has created a severe humanitarian crisis. Homes, villages, and infrastructure are being deliberately targeted, forcing thousands of families to leave their homes and seek refuge in other parts of Lebanon. Many areas of southern Lebanon have effectively been emptied as people flee with their children and elderly relatives amid uncertainty and fear.
The savage attacks of the occupying Zionist army have turned homes into rubble while schools, hospitals, and essential facilities have also been destroyed. Innocent civilians’ lives are at constant risk, and an atmosphere of fear and terror has spread across the entire region.
It is important to remember that since 1978 the Lebanese people have continuously resisted the aggressive ambitions of the Zionist regime and the United States. Even today, as war has once again been imposed upon them, the Lebanese people have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Despite immense oppression and suffering, their morale has not weakened. People displaced from southern Lebanon remain at the forefront of supporting Palestine despite their hardships.
This reality demonstrates that the Palestinian issue is not merely a geographical dispute but a moral and ideological cause with which the people of the region share deep emotional and ethical ties. Indeed, there is no doubt that the sacrifices made by the Lebanese people throughout history have largely been in support of the Palestinian cause. Similarly, the war currently imposed on Iran is also centered on Iran’s unwavering support for Palestine. Despite all difficulties and the pressures of war, this support has not diminished; rather, the spirit of solidarity with Palestine continues to grow stronger.
The land of Lebanon has always produced stories of resistance, sacrifice, and perseverance. History bears witness that whenever Zionist aggression targeted Lebanon, its people responded with extraordinary courage and determination. The same spirit can be seen today. Despite bombardment, destruction, and displacement, the Lebanese people remain steadfast in their principled stance and continue to support the Palestinian people.
In recent days, I have received messages from my brothers and sisters in Lebanon. They wrote that Lebanon has now been turned into another Gaza. In other words, Lebanon has been reduced to ruins. There is food scarcity, schools and hospitals have been destroyed, and large numbers of people have been displaced, more than one million according to some reports. What happened in Gaza is now happening in Lebanon as well.
However, along with describing these tragic circumstances, these messages also convey a firm resolve: despite everything, the people of Lebanon will never abandon their support for the Palestinian cause. These messages clearly reflect that the shared resistance of the Lebanese and Palestinian people has become an example for the world, demonstrating how those considered weak can stand firmly against powerful forces.
Unfortunately, the role of the international community in this situation has been extremely disappointing. Major world powers and international institutions appear silent in the face of this open aggression. Organizations that claim to defend human rights, along with global powers, seem practically indifferent and ineffective. If similar events had occurred in another part of the world, the reaction of international media and global politics would likely have been very different.
This double standard exposes the moral weakness of the current international system. When the world chooses silence instead of raising its voice against injustice, that silence itself becomes a cause for the continuation of oppression. Today, the people of Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran are all facing this global indifference.
In conclusion, the sacrifices of the Lebanese people, their resilience, and their unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause prove that no matter how long the night of oppression may last, the flame of resistance ultimately has the power to turn darkness into light. History always remembers those who stand for truth and justice, and today the people of Lebanon are writing that very history.
The brave and dignified people of Lebanon, along with Hezbollah, are shaping a new chapter that will remain a guiding light for generations to come.
