In Kfarchouba, life is 'a big prison' under Israeli occupation of south Lebanon

Kfarchouba's Isolation Under Israeli Occupation

Kfarchouba, a village in southern Lebanon, is one of the few villages spared Israel's ethnic cleansing. However, residents live in isolation, under curfews and severe restrictions on their movement, with the constant fear of being targeted for violating Israel's strict conditions.

The Israeli military has set up temporary outposts in evicted houses, located in strategic positions, in the southeastern outskirts of Kfarchouba. Abductions by Israeli troops have also become a frequent occurrence in the area. During a pre-dawn raid on 24 March, Israeli soldiers entered Halta, on the outskirts of Kfarchouba, and abducted 35-year-old Shadi Karama Abdel Aal, accusing him of links to Saraya al-Muqawama, a Hezbollah-linked group.

The village's isolation has forced the local community to drastically change its consumption habits, while limiting access to food, medical supplies, and the transport of goods. Local shop owner Hasan Amro said Kfarchouba has seen a sharp decrease in the availability of basic necessities, compounded by severe damage to its infrastructure, particularly its electricity and water supplies.

Qassem, the mayor of Kfarchouba, said that, as a local political authority, he had assured the Israeli military that there were no armed individuals in the village. However, this has not made life easy for residents, as constant surveillance and the threat of raids, detention, and interrogation add to a pervasive sense of insecurity.

The Israeli military has also been setting fires across southern Lebanon, particularly in forests, olive groves, and agricultural land. Residents say the fires have left the scorched land unusable. On 5 August, Israeli military activity caused fire in a wooded area of Kfarchouba that spread towards Halta. The fires burned for hours, while the Israeli military prevented Lebanese firefighters from reaching the area, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

Kfarchouba relies primarily on agriculture, with olive groves and tobacco plantations providing much of its income. Despite not being considered an active target, the village has faced shortages of basic necessities, compounded by severe damage to its infrastructure, particularly its electricity and water supplies.