Maritime communities watch with concern as violence escalates between Hezbollah and Israel
CTV
As violence escalates between Hezbollah and Israel, members of the Maritime Lebanese and Israeli communities watch with growing fear.
As violence escalates between Hezbollah and Israel, members of the Maritime Lebanese community watch with a mix of fear and frustration. Many have family in conflict zones and are concerned about the safety of their loved ones.
“There’s a lot of politics in play here, and people are suffering. All we want is peace in the middle east,” said one Halifax local to CTV News.
Robert Huish is an associate professor of international development studies at Dalhousie University. He said if the volatility in the region continues, it’s going to have an impact on Canadians, particularly in the Maritimes, which is home to the country’s largest Lebanese community.
“Canada does have a commitment through NATO and other partners for stability in the region,” Huish said. “If the United States starts sending in more military forces or other countries get involved, there will be that pressure for Canada to join at some point.”
Huish said missiles and projectiles sent by Hezbollah into northern Israel from the Golan Heights in Syria have forced the evacuation of 600 residents since the Israel-Gaza conflict started on Oct 7. Israel has been retaliating by attacking Hezbollah-controlled parts of Lebanon.
“In recent weeks, there’s been more of a call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza,” Huish said. “Hezbollah has been putting more pressure on Israel to try to commit to a ceasefire, saying that if they commit to a ceasefire in Gaza, Hezbollah will no longer send any ordinance into Israel.”
The conflict escalated on Monday when Israeli strikes killed more that 490 people, making it the deadliest day of conflict in Lebanon since 2006.
