by Fady Noun

In a note, Christian leaders condemn the "licence to kill" given by the West to Netanyahu and the "atrocities" committed by Hamas against civilians. The fear of the country's involvement in the war, with dramatic outcomes for Christians and fears of a new exodus. The role of the pro-Iranian movement pushing for an escalation with Israel, the clashes penetrating into Lebanese territory.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The Eastern Churches united in the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon (Apecl) are witnessing, indignant and horrified, the fruits of the "license to kill" given by the West to Benjamin Netanyahu, in the name of the "right to Israel to defend itself” after the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Equal dismay is expressed at the atrocities committed by the fighters of the al-Qassam Brigades against innocent people who had gathered for a music festival.

While supporting the Palestinian cause and the right of Palestinians to benefit from their own state, Christian leaders do not hide the fear that the Land of Cedars will be dragged, against its will, into a war adventure with potentially disastrous outcomes.

However, the current political balance prevents the government from officially claiming Lebanon's neutrality in the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas.

Thus, while preparing for the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of a possible conflict, the Churches and the Lebanese population are counting on international contacts and US deterrence to avert it. In particular, they know that a war would have catastrophic consequences for the Christian presence in the East, already threatened by the human hemorrhages that have hit Iraq and Syria.

'Peaceful solidarity' with the Palestinian people

The appeal launched yesterday by Pope Francis at the Angelus touched the hearts of the Eastern Churches, as evidenced by the words of the Maronite Patriarch Card. Beshara Raï - president of Apecl - who is in Rome for the Synod which has entered its final week.

In the mass celebrated yesterday in the chapel of the Maronite College, in the Italian capital, the cardinal condemned the "war of extermination and destruction underway" in Gaza, as well as the manifest desire to "expel the Palestinians from their territory and get rid of a cause that has continued [unresolved] for 75 years.”

The Maronite primate warned that "the only practicable solution is that of two states, with the maintenance of a special status for Jerusalem" aligning himself with the Vatican's position.

In the homily of the mass, which was attended by the ambassadors of France, Jordan, Palestine and the Arab League to the Holy See, as well as the commander of the Unifil Force, General Stefano Del Col, Card. Raï then elaborated on the position and the implications for Lebanon.

For the Land of Cedars, and on behalf of all the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches and a large part of the political forces, the Maronite primate reiterated the position of "neutrality" in the ongoing conflict.

Finally, he urged political leaders to "act so that [Lebanon] does not go to war with Israel", while confirming "peaceful solidarity with the Palestinian people and their cause".

The role of Hezbollah

Yesterday the outgoing Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, announced that his government is preparing to draw up a humanitarian emergency plan for the country, specifying however that these are currently "preventive" measures.

He then added, echoing the words of the Eastern Churches, that "the friends of Lebanon continue to make every effort to prevent the situation from worsening".

In this regard, it is significant that the Lebanese army has not received any official mobilization order so far, despite the missiles rained on the territory and Hezbollah's role in the conflict in Gaza.

On the ground, the fighting between the Shiite movement supported and armed by Iran and radical Palestinian groups opposed to the Israeli army have already caused around twenty deaths along the southern border of the country, although so far limited to a specific geographical area according to tacit rules of engagement.

The 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah caused 1,200 deaths on the Lebanese side alone and its memory is still fresh and vivid in the minds of citizens of all factions, Muslims or Christians, Shiites or Sunnis.

However, Israeli bombing in the southern sector is increasing in intensity as the days pass and there is a strong fear of escalation.

In this first phase, in fact, hostilities were limited to the front line but since yesterday, with a sudden but not unexpected evolution, they have extended deeper into Lebanese territory, from two to five kilometres.

Most border villages have been subject to intense, albeit sporadic, attacks, causing civilian casualties, extensive damage and significant population displacement. Also for this reason, the large settlement of Kiryat Shmona was affected by an evacuation order.

• Gaza
• Israel
• war