In a tragic incident on March 27 in Saksakieh, Lebanon, 11-year-old Jawad Younes lost his life to an Israeli strike while playing soccer with his cousins. Jawad had briefly left the game to take his four-year-old brother, Mehdi, back home when the explosion occurred at their uncle’s residence, causing devastation in the neighborhood. The strike not only claimed Jawad’s life but also resulted in the death of his cousin and injuries to several other children.
The Younes family, like many Shia households in southern Lebanon, has ties to Hezbollah, a militant group and political party established in the 1980s to combat Israel’s presence in the region. Despite being labeled as civilians by Jawad’s mother, Malak Meslmani, the family’s association with Hezbollah has raised questions about their involvement in the conflict.
The Israeli strikes have taken a heavy toll on civilians, with 168 children among the 2,100 individuals killed during the six-week-long confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. While Israel claims to target Hezbollah militants and facilities, families of the deceased children accuse Israel of war crimes due to the high number of civilian casualties, including children.
International law prohibits direct attacks on civilians, but collateral damage is permissible if deemed proportional to the military objectives. The Israeli military asserts that it adheres to legal principles, including distinction, proportionality, and precautionary measures, during its operations.
The conflict has left a lasting impact on families like that of Zeinab al-Jabali, a 10-year-old girl who was killed in an airstrike while with her family during Ramadan. The cycle of violence and loss has haunted her father, Hassan al-Jabali, who previously lost his brother to an Israeli missile in 1982. The indiscriminate nature of the strikes has raised ethical concerns, as innocent children continue to suffer the consequences of the ongoing conflict.
Despite criticism and blame directed at Hezbollah for escalating tensions, some Lebanese communities have rallied behind the group in the face of Israeli aggression. Meslmani, grieving the loss of her son Jawad, expressed unwavering support for Hezbollah, reflecting a sentiment echoed by others in the region.
