Ziad Abu Rish, associate professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Bard College, said most observers believe Netanyahu wants to escalate the attacks on Lebanon to "demonstrate his unstoppable resolve," aiming to occupy southern Lebanon while simultaneously dealing a heavy blow to Hezbollah and Lebanese civilians. Saturday's attack, which killed 11 people, continues the pattern established since the so-called ceasefire, where Israel attacks Hezbollah and Lebanese civilians with the tacit approval of the United States, facing no consequences. This ceasefire agreement is "in name only," having only lasted briefly between June 19 and 23, when Iran pressured Israel to halt its attacks on Lebanon in order to secure a memorandum of understanding with the United States.
In separate negotiations with Israel and the Lebanese government, the United States proposed to Lebanon that Israel limit its attacks and occupation to the south and the Bekaa Valley in exchange for not attacking the capital, Beirut. As a result, the people of southern Lebanon continue to live under Israeli occupation and airstrikes. It should be noted that most of the civilian infrastructure destroyed in southern Lebanon occurred in areas under Israeli control during the ceasefire, including houses, hospitals, schools, fortresses, and farmland.
