Residents of Israel's northern town doubt US-brokered ceasefire will end Hezbollah conflict
In Metula, a border town of about 2,000 people, locals say repeated ceasefire announcements have done little to stop cross-border attacks, while diplomatic talks in Washington exclude Hezbollah.
In the Israeli border town of Metula, a pizza shop owner said his restaurant has been largely empty for weeks as daily fire, drone interceptions and artillery continue despite a new US-brokered ceasefire announcement. The town, which once attracted tourists and was once nicknamed “Europe,” has seen more than 60% of its homes damaged since Hezbollah began rocket attacks in October 2023, and many residents have not yet returned.
Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors are scheduled to meet in Washington for a fifth round of talks aimed at ending the war, but Hezbollah is not part of the negotiations and has called the talks a “farce.” An Israeli source indicated a possible limited pullback as a symbolic gesture to Lebanon’s government.
The ceasefire framework, first brokered by the Biden administration nearly two years ago, held for about 15 months before collapsing in early March after Hezbollah fired rockets in retaliation for strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Subsequent Israeli ground incursions created a security buffer zone extending roughly 10 kilometres into southern Lebanon, accompanied by heavy aerial strikes. Lebanon’s health ministry reports over 4,000 deaths and more than a million displaced, while Israeli officials cite 36 soldiers and four civilians killed.
Local residents expressed deep skepticism. One longtime resident said, "> We don’t feel any ceasefires. The Americans don’t understand who they are dealing with. They think they can talk to Iran with silk gloves. It won’t work."
Mayor David Azulai criticized national leaders on social media, saying decisions are made without regard for the border communities. Residents also voiced fear that a ceasefire that includes Israeli troop withdrawal could leave the area vulnerable to future attacks.
Despite Israeli claims of dismantling Hezbollah tunnels and weapons caches in recent months, the sentiment in Metula remains that diplomatic efforts are distant from the daily reality of those living on the front line.