Ali Daher describes the chilling moment of an Israeli airstrike on a safety shelter, questioning why they targeted the previously peaceful location. In his words, 'We wanted to go somewhere safe, where there is no bombing, war or [militias], so we came here. Why did they strike here? We don't know.' His struggle emphasizes the randomness of violence impacting already vulnerable civilians.
The strike on the Dar al-Salaam hotel was a stark reminder of how communities warily heed unsteady peace. Having become a displacement center, it was supposed to be a sanctuary, yet it faced destruction. Daher reflects on the irony: 'Originally a German-Lebanese centre set up to promote cultural understanding... had been pushed to the side to make room for mattresses and boxes of aid.'
The societal repercussions of the strikes extend beyond physical destruction; fear now permeates relationships within the community. Local officials have voiced concerns about tensions rising between various sects and displaced populations, as Ali Daher observes: 'The effects are also being felt in Lebanese society... the fear of strikes has inflamed tensions between members of the country's many sects and the largely Shia Muslim displaced.'
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