Israel's 'Domicide' Tactics in Lebanon Echo Gaza's Destruction, Rights Groups Warn
Rights groups are raising alarms that Israel is employing a strategy of 'domicide' in south Lebanon, where entire villages are being rendered uninhabitable through mass remote detonations, mirroring tactics used in Gaza. This approach involves rigging civilian homes with explosives and demolishing them on a large scale, as evidenced by videos from the Israeli military and social media showing detonations in villages like Taybeh, Naqoura, and Deir Seryan along the border.
Military Justification and Legal Concerns
The Israeli military asserts that these demolitions target Hezbollah infrastructure, such as tunnels and military facilities embedded in civilian structures. Defence Minister Israel Katz has explicitly called for the destruction of "all houses" in border villages, citing a model previously applied in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, where 90% of homes were destroyed. However, rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, argue that this constitutes wanton destruction, a potential war crime under international law, which prohibits the deliberate razing of civilian homes unless absolutely necessary for military operations.
Ramzi Kaiss, the Lebanon researcher for Human Rights Watch, emphasized, "The possibility that Hezbollah may use some civilian structures in Lebanon's border villages for military purposes does not justify the wide-scale destruction of entire villages along the border."
Impact on Displaced Communities
For residents of these border villages, the detonations have erased not only physical homes but also generations of memories and livelihoods. Ahmad Abu Taam, a 56-year-old shop owner from Taybeh, described watching his town square explode, stating, "From that moment, I felt that I had become a refugee. I feel like I have no home." Similarly, Ahmad Ibrahim, a 50-year-old farmer from Deir Seryan, lamented that his children will miss springtime in their village, a place he described as "a beautiful, typical village" with kind people.
The destruction extends to economic assets, such as the Luna motel in Naqoura, built by Dr. Mohammed Hashem after 15 years of savings. Hashem noted, "In summer, occupancy would reach 100%. We received good ratings and awards. Overall, we were happy – living peacefully, with good productivity." The hotel's demolition has sparked an outpouring of support from former guests, highlighting the deep personal and communal losses.
Historical Context and Long-Term Displacement
South Lebanon has a history of Israeli invasion and occupation since the late 1970s, leading to repeated displacements. Families from border villages are often scattered globally, with diaspora members relying on these villages as anchors for cultural and familial ties. Abu Taam explained, "People would build houses worth a million dollars just to stay for a week or 10 days a year. The village becomes the centre of the family."
Israel's plan to establish a "security zone" up to the Litani River and restrict returns until safety is guaranteed raises concerns about long-term displacement, potentially severing these connections permanently. As Abu Taam poignantly added, "You feel a deep sense of frustration. Like someone has the power to erase you."
This systematic destruction not only devastates local communities but also sets a troubling precedent for conflict zones, with rights groups urging accountability under international humanitarian law.
