More than 240,000 Lebanese Australians woke up to news of intensive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon — there since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.
But Ghadir Khalife, like many others in the diaspora with family in Lebanon, said she never went to sleep.
“I was waking up all night and checking my phone all the time. I was worried all the time,” she told SBS News.
Khalife’s family, including her mother, is currently in Lebanon. Some family members live in the southern areas of Ghaziyeh, Nabatieh and Dahiyeh and in the eastern Bekaa Valley.
They could not flee because the rent elsewhere was too high.
“Many of them cannot leave because they have nowhere to go,” Khalife said.
“If you don’t have outside help, the situation is hopeless.”
‘Lebanon cannot afford further destruction’
At least 492 people, including 35 children, were killed and 1,645 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon on Monday, as the country reels from .
Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, said the airstrikes were part of a “proactive offensive operation,” adding: “In essence, we are targeting the combat infrastructure that Hezbollah has built over the past 20 years.”
The operation that detonated thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies was largely attributed to Israel. However, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
Israel has a history of war with Hezbollah and the increase in attacks came nearly a year after Hamas militants swept into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people.
More than 41,300 people have been killed in the Israeli army’s retaliatory attack on Gaza, according to the enclave’s Ministry of Health.
“It is very, very disturbing,” said Raymond Najar, acting president of the Australian Lebanese Association.
“The Palestinian population in Gaza and the West Bank and now the population of Lebanon are being attacked.
“It is utterly unfair that Israel thinks it has carte blanche to cause the death and destruction it itself causes.”
Thousands of Lebanese fled the south, choking the main road from the southern port city of Sidon with cars heading to Beirut in the largest exodus since 2006. Source: MONKEY / STR/EPA
One of the targets is Bekaa, a fertile valley in the east known as the breadbasket of Lebanon.
According to Najar, the devastation will severely limit food supplies needed during the coming winter.
“The Lebanese people have been through so much in the past 10 years, with a massive economic collapse, the devaluation of the lira, the three-year COVID pandemic and numerous wars.
“Lebanon cannot afford further destruction.”
Penny Wong calls for de-escalation
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is in New York for high-level talks at the United Nations, said the Australian government was “deeply concerned” about the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We have consistently said that we want to see de-escalation. We believe that a broader regional conflict is not in the interest of any of the peoples in the region,” she said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is urging Australians in the region to leave while commercial flights are still available. Source: MONKEY / Richard pulled
Khalife said she feels her community is only recognised during celebratory occasions, when migrant stories reinforce the Australian narrative of togetherness and acceptance.
“People say they respect the Lebanese community during Ramadan or other religious holidays,” she said.
“But we don’t feel that support when we’re suffering. We’re upset and tired.”
As relatives of Ghadir Khalife tried to flee southern Lebanon, a large boulder crushed their vehicle, she said. Source: Delivered
Still, Khalife said the Lebanese spirit keeps the diaspora united.
“The Lebanese people will always stand together and be resilient.”
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