Knock LA

Although Israel has consistently attacked Southern Lebanon since the genocide in Gaza escalated in October 2023, the most intense phase of Israeli bombardment began in March 2026 when Hezbollah joined forces in defending Iran from American and Israeli bombardments. As Hezbollah protected its front and its ally, Israel responded with increased attacks on the southern territories of Lebanon. Reports from the Lebanese Health Ministry stated that Israel’s more than four month bombardment has led to the slaughter of at least 4,000 Lebanese men, women, and children.

Across the pond, Los Angeles is infamous for staunch Zionism infiltrating its politics and governing infrastructure. Los Angeles county is also home to one of the largest Israeli communities in the country, primarily situated in cities like Encino, Tarzana, and Beverly Hills. For Lebanese people and Palestinians living in Los Angeles, the support and amplification of ardent Zionism in public spaces is alarming. 

“It’s really difficult being here [in Los Angeles], I am surrounded by my enemies,” Zeinab Oumais, a Lebanese-American from Los Angeles, told Knock LA. “I do not know who is safe to be around. I see proud Zionists around me at my workplace, at the grocery store, and I see them behaving in awful ways within regular society. I can’t say anything about it because I am then called anti-semitic.” 

As of June 21, a supposed ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect but is under constant threat due to the Israeli military constantly violating the terms with full impunity, a pattern that the international community has witnessed ad nauseum. Constant air strikes on Southern Lebanon have continued, and Israeli occupation forces still remain in southern Lebanese villages, refusing to withdraw. 

“My people, my homeland are still under attack,” Oumais said. “There are news sources coming out saying Netanyahu is refusing to get out of Lebanon no matter what happens.”

Since Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Israeli forces have now advanced 608km’ into Lebanon. This has resulted in illegal evacuation orders that have forced at least 1.2 million Lebanese to flee their homes. On June 18, The Jerusalem Post stated that prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized the IDF’s presence in Southern Lebanon and stated that Israel will not withdraw and instead continue establishing a “security zone” in the region. These occupied Lebanese villages include Tallousa, Bani Hayyan, Rabb Thalathin, Houla, Markaba, Mais al-Jabal, where Israeli forces have enforced a heavy military presence and stationed themselves around local parameters. Many human rights activists and organizations have decried Israel’s constant violations of the ceasefire terms, as this poses further instability for the future of Lebanon and its people. 

For many Lebanese in the diaspora like Oumais, there lies a deep frustration in having to passively exist in the face of horrors they witness in their homeland.

“Our taxes are funding the dollars that are blowing up my neighborhood in Beirut and in Southern Lebanon, in the village where I am from,” Oumais said to Knock LA. “On Whatsapp we are checking in on my mom’s and dad’s side of my family. They keep leaving the South, heading toward Beirut but then even when they get to Beirut, they try to get ahead further and further away from the concentrated attacks.” 

Oumais expanded on the conflicting feelings that come with only being able to reach family in Lebanon through WhatsApp while she watches the news of Israeli bombardments hitting her home.

“I sit here and I disassociate and hang out with my friends and find joy and joy is resistance. But my cousins, my aunts, and my uncles might get blown up,” she said. “My uncle lost his entire store, that’s his livelihood gone. My other uncle refuses to leave his village.” 

The devastation that has plagued Southern Lebanon goes beyond the destruction, death, and displacement. For the Lebanese diaspora living in cities like Los Angeles, there is a deep-rooted racism that is ingrained into their American experience, due to the United States long history of Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment. 

Oumais reflected on how deep the demonization of the Arab individual has been instilled in western society and viewpoints. She argued that her country is witnessing some of the most grave and monstrous war crimes committed by Israel yet many outside of the Lebanese community seem to be unphased. 

“Rape is so pervasive right now, dog rape is so pervasive right now. The absolute monstrosity of soldiers saying confidently that yeah, they’ve killed babies and they’ve killed children,” she told Knock LA. “Can we pay attention to the fact that we are hearing and seeing this and no one cares because of this propaganda of Arabs being associated with terrorism?” 

The escalated genocide in Gaza has continued for close to three years now, and Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, Syria, and Iran have only proven what Palestinians and Lebanese folks have said for decades. Although ceasefire negotiations take place, these terms rarely fully apply to Israel, as the international community continues to witness full-fledged war crimes against Palestine and other Arab nations with no repercussions. 

When asked what her fears were for the future of southern Lebanon, Oumais said, “The fact that Israel has its claws deep into the Lebanese government itself, using propaganda, and paid double agents to cause and spread discord within the Lebanese community, is a fear.” 

Oumais then elaborated on how dubious it is that the Lebanese president came out to criticize any defense against Israel, stating how rigorous Israel is when it comes to their propaganda and buying people out. There lies a great concern and fear over the state of the unity of the people, as Israel continues infiltrating Lebanese society. 

In an interview with CNN, president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun allegedly made an “appeal to the Israeli government” by stating that the Lebanese people are “fed up” with the war between Israel and Hezbollah, denouncing Lebanese resistance and wholly ignoring Israeli occupation in the South. 

“I was living in Lebanon in the year 2000, when we liberated the south from the previous Israeli occupation,” Oumais said. “I know we’re going to kick them out. I am just further concerned about the further loss and the further destruction. My entire village is almost entirely demolished.”

When asked about community support and ways people in the Lebanese diaspora can protect their mental health, Oumais mentioned how crucial the SWANA community here in Los Angeles is for her and how much it has been a saving grace. 

“It was a battle to maintain my hope and I am grateful for the SWANA and queer Arab community here in Los Angeles,” she said to Knock LA. “It has given me comfort, there are events that we go to to express joy and sorrow, reading and writing poetry, art is revolution, and I think to maintain our passion, our love, our ability to find joy, is a revolution.”

Ceasefire negotiations have resumed, but the future of Southern Lebanon has not been settled. This past week, negotiations were finalized between Israel and Lebanon, as the US brokered a “framework agreement,” which would slowly withdraw Israeli forces from certain parts of the south. This agreement asks for the total disarmament of Hezbollah, and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed forces in their place, at the Lebanon and Israel border. Many Lebanese have expressed outrage at Lebanon’s compliance to the agreement. 

Just a day after the signing of the framework agreement, Israel bombed Southern Lebanon, killing one Lebanese and injuring two others. As of June 25, Israel has slaughtered 3 Lebanese in an attack on a car in the city of Nabatieh and is adamant in staying in Southern Lebanon. Israeli operations in Southern Lebanon continue amidst fragile ceasefire negotiations underway in Washington between Lebanon and Israel. in an effort to solidify a more durable ceasefire agreement.