The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has given many in southern Lebanon renewed hope for a return to normal life, including local fishermen who have long set out at dawn in their single-engine wooden boats on the Mediterranean. Over the past two months of intense conflict, Israel imposed a blockade on southern Lebanon, leaving hundreds of fishers stranded at this historic Phoenician port and disrupting their way of life and the fishing industry, reports AP. While the devastation and displacement have been more severe, the blockade also hindered access to essential ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes, such as sayadiyeh—a fish and rice dish cooked with fish sauce—and grilled or fried fish served with dips like hummus, tabbouleh, or fattoush salads, it said. The absence of fish impacted a deep-rooted connection to home, but the potential for a revival of fishing off Lebanon’s southern coast is now inspiring optimism for a better future. On Friday, a few boats ventured out close to shore as fishers in the port worked on nets from small boats painted in white, blue, or red, the report said. Hussein Sukmani, 55, mentioned on Friday that he was contemplating heading out to sea in the coming days but wanted to see how things progressed. He had refrained from setting sail since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated dramatically on Sept. 23. “They were days of fear and horror,” he said. “They were the most difficult days of our lives.” A drone strike last week claimed the lives of two young fishers in the city as they prepared their nets on the coast. Some fishers reported that the Lebanese army had warned them they would be risking their safety if they ventured out, it added. Walid Darwish was among those who sailed near the coast on Friday, returning with two plastic containers filled with mullet. “Today is the first time that we sail,” Darwish said, adding that the fishers had missed the prime fishing season in October and November. “We lost it,” he lamented. In October, the Israeli army prohibited boats from entering waters within 50 kilometers (31 miles) of the border and has not clarified whether this restriction is still active. Sukmani shared that most of the 700 fishers operating the 270 boats at the port have avoided going out to sea out of concern since then, said the report The area surrounding the port is mainly Christian and has largely been spared the airstrikes that have devastated other parts of Tyre. In peaceful times, the port is a popular destination for tourists, drawing Lebanese and foreign visitors for its views, restaurants, and beaches, it also said. Mohammed Hammoud was seen walking along the Tyre coast on Friday, fishing rod in hand. “It is enough that someone is able to stand in this beautiful area,” he said, pointing to the white sands. “Fishing is everything for me,” added Hammoud, who had been fishing in areas north of Sidon that were not under siege. In Tyre’s old market, Gilbert Spiridon watched from his shop as customers bought freshly caught fish. Before the war, it would take hours to sell all of his fish to buyers from across Lebanon. “All I wish is that the war has ended and we are back on track to the old good days,” he said.

Israeli aircraft targeted Hezbollah's weapons smuggling sites near the Syria-Lebanon border, the Israeli military reported on Saturday. The strikes, which Israel claims were a response to ceasefire violations involving smuggled weapons, test the fragile truce established just days earlier. Syrian authorities and Hezbollah have yet to comment on the attacks. This latest strike, part of several since the ceasefire began on Wednesday, occurs amidst rising tensions across the Middle East. In Syria, insurgents launched a surprise offensive in Aleppo, the country’s largest city, intensifying the region’s ongoing instability. The truce, mediated by the U.S. and France, aims to halt months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. It stipulates that Hezbollah withdraw north of Lebanon’s Litani River, while Israeli forces return to their border positions within a 60-day period. Both sides, however, have accused each other of breaching the agreement. Despite these claims, the ceasefire has largely held, with no reports of major casualties. What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria's long war In southern Lebanon, displaced Lebanese civilians have started returning to their homes despite military warnings to avoid certain areas. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state news agency reported an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in Majdal Zoun, a southern village near the Mediterranean. The agency mentioned casualties but provided no specifics. Israeli forces, still operating in southern Lebanon during the withdrawal period, have reportedly been targeting "suspects" and confiscated weapons concealed in a mosque. Israel insists it has the right to strike in response to ceasefire violations and remains focused on ensuring displaced Israelis can return home. Despite ceasefire Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon continue Hezbollah initiated attacks against Israel on October 8, 2023, following Hamas’ assault on southern Israel the previous day. This triggered nearly a year of low-intensity cross-border skirmishes, culminating in Israel’s expanded military campaign. The conflict included airstrikes, a ground invasion, and the elimination of key Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah. Lebanese officials report over 3,760 fatalities, mostly civilians, due to Israeli attacks during the conflict. Meanwhile, over 70 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, were killed, with dozens of troops losing their lives in southern Lebanon.

Syria's 13-year-long civil war has resurfaced dramatically in global headlines with a surprise rebel assault on Aleppo, a city of historic and economic significance. This marks one of the most significant offensives by opposition forces in years and underscores the potential for renewed instability with repercussions beyond Syria's borders.  Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city — a key economic and cultural hub, was last attacked by rebels in 2016. That offensive ended with President Bashar Assad regaining control through a devastating campaign backed by Russian airstrikes. Since then, Assad has consolidated power over 70% of Syria, aided by Russian, Iranian, and Hezbollah forces. The rebel assault signals a potential shift in the longstanding stalemate.  The timing is particularly fraught as the Middle East grapples with multiple crises, including the conflict in Gaza and rising tensions involving Hezbollah in Lebanon. Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, attributed the rebel resurgence partly to Israeli airstrikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets, along with a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.    Why Aleppo matters Aleppo has long been central to Syria's civil war, which has claimed over half a million lives and displaced millions. Nearly 6.8 million Syrians have fled the country, creating a refugee crisis that has reshaped political landscapes in Europe.  While Assad holds most of the country, around 30% remains under the control of rebel groups and foreign forces. U.S. troops stationed in northeastern Syria focus on preventing an ISIS resurgence, far from Aleppo. Displaced Lebanese families return home faced with piles of rubble Both the U.S. and Israel occasionally strike Syrian and Iran-backed militias. Turkey, too, maintains forces in Syria and has ties to the rebel coalition leading the Aleppo assault.  Charles Lister, a Syria expert with the Middle East Institute, suggested that the battle for Aleppo could significantly alter the balance of power if Assad's forces fail to retain control. He also warned that the situation might encourage ISIS to exploit the chaos. Furthermore, direct confrontations between Russia and Turkey, each pursuing its own goals in Syria, could escalate regional tensions.    Who are the rebels? The offensive is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group previously linked to al-Qaida and designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and U.N. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani initially aligned with al-Qaida but later broke ties in 2016. The group has sought to project a more moderate image, emphasizing local governance and interfaith tolerance in its territories.  Golani has faced criticism for harboring extremist elements and engaging in past attacks on Western forces. However, he has also clamped down on radical factions and allowed some religious freedoms, such as permitting Christian Masses in Idlib.    Aleppo’s role in the conflict Aleppo, a city of immense historical and commercial value, once housed 2.3 million residents. The eastern part of the city fell to rebels in 2012, symbolizing their initial strength. However, a Russian-backed siege in 2016 devastated the city, forcing the rebels to surrender.  Netanyahu supports ceasefire proposal with Hezbollah Recent Israeli airstrikes in Aleppo targeting Hezbollah and Syrian forces add another layer of complexity, suggesting a broader regional context to the renewed fighting.     Source: With inputs from agencies  

As displaced families in southern Lebanon begin returning home following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, many are confronted with devastating scenes of destruction. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble by intense Israeli airstrikes during the 14-month conflict. For Mariam Kourani, 56, the destruction is personal. Walking through the remains of her house and restaurant in Hanouiyeh, she reflected on the $120,000 in losses her family incurred. “This was my house, my dreams, and my hard work,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion. The airstrike in late September destroyed everything, including her butcher shop and a business selling serving containers. Kourani and her family are among nearly 1.2 million displaced people now returning to assess the damage. Many, like Kourani, find their homes gone, with their livelihoods in ruins. After renting an apartment in Mount Lebanon for $1,000 a month during their displacement, her priority is now to repair their butcher shop to resume earning an income. “We are starting from below zero,” she said. Housing Crisis and Uncertain ReconstructionThe World Bank estimates that nearly 100,000 housing units were partially or fully damaged during the war, causing $3.2 billion in losses. Reconstruction funding remains uncertain. While Iran has offered assistance, its economic struggles and sanctions complicate the process. Hezbollah has pledged temporary accommodations for families who lost their homes, but the scale of the damage poses significant challenges. Read:Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah start a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fighting Ali Saleh, a 59-year-old resident of Aita al-Shaab near the Israeli border, has seen this destruction before. His home, rebuilt with Qatari aid after being destroyed in the 2006 war, was obliterated again. “All the memories are gone,” he said. Saleh is now searching for a place to stay near his hometown, which he described as “disaster-stricken.” In Baalbek, a UNESCO World Heritage site, 34-year-old Souad al-Outa returned to find her home in ruins. A recent airstrike in her neighborhood had killed several people, including her husband’s relatives. Standing in the wreckage of her children’s bedroom, she mourned the loss of her once “beautiful life.” Resilience Amid LossDespite the destruction, some families remain resolute. In Qana, Abu Ahmad Salameh retrieved two carpets from the rubble of his family’s homes. “All this damage can be rebuilt,” he said. “This is our land, and we will stay here no matter what.” The war’s toll goes beyond material losses. Kourani, who fled her home with her family on Sept. 23 as the conflict escalated, emphasized the human cost. “Israel has filled our land with blood,” she said. “Our big loss is our men.” Read more:Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 9 medics in Gaza As Lebanon grapples with the aftermath of the war, the resilience of its people is evident. Yet, the road to recovery remains fraught with uncertainty and hardship. Source: With inputs from agencies

On Thursday, Israel launched an airstrike on southern Lebanon, marking the first such attack since a ceasefire with Hezbollah was declared earlier this week. The Israeli military stated the strike targeted a rocket storage site linked to Hezbollah, accusing the group of violating the truce. Lebanese authorities reported sporadic incidents of Israeli shelling and gunfire, which injured two people attempting to return to southern Lebanon. While Lebanese media identified the injured as civilians, the Israeli military described them as suspects breaching the ceasefire. Despite these skirmishes, the truce largely held as Lebanese forces began deploying in areas long dominated by Hezbollah. Read: Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah start a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fighting Efforts are underway to facilitate the return of displaced residents. Over 1.2 million people were forced to flee their homes during Lebanon's deadliest conflict in decades. However, restrictions remain in place, with both Israeli and Lebanese authorities cautioning civilians against entering border zones still under military control. Israeli forces reported opening fire on "several suspects" entering restricted areas in southern Lebanon, though specifics were not disclosed. Lebanese state media reported two civilians wounded in the border village of Markaba amid ongoing Israeli tank fire in nearby villages, which caused no casualties. Adding to the tension, the Lebanese military accused Israel of multiple ceasefire breaches, citing airstrikes and surveillance operations. An Israeli military spokesperson announced a curfew for Lebanese residents south of the Litani River, enforcing strict movement restrictions from Thursday evening to Friday morning. Read: Displaced people return to south Lebanon as ceasefire appears to hold The fragile truce, brokered by the U.S. and France, mandates Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River and a gradual Israeli pullback, with Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers set to patrol a buffer zone. Lebanese military officials are clearing unexploded ordnance and debris to pave the way for displaced families to return. Drone footage revealed extensive destruction in towns like Qana, which has endured repeated devastation in past conflicts with Israel. Residents returning to sift through the rubble expressed a mix of grief and resilience. “They’re determined to destroy us,” said Aref AbouKhalil, a local taxi driver. “But we’ll build it again.” Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi, emphasized that any violations of the ceasefire would be met with force. He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the agreement while urging caution for displaced Israelis considering returning to their northern border communities. Though the day saw reduced violence compared to recent months, the situation remains tense. The ongoing war in Gaza, which triggered this conflict, continues unabated, with no resolution in sight. Source: With inputs from agencies

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday his support for a U.S.-mediated ceasefire proposal with Lebanon’s Hezbollah as Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon intensified, claiming at least 23 lives. The military issued widespread evacuation notices, signaling potential escalations before the agreement takes effect. For the first time during the conflict, Israeli troops reached the Litani River, a key element of the proposed deal. Netanyahu stated he would present the ceasefire proposal to his cabinet, with a vote expected later in the day. The ceasefire terms, which remain undisclosed, would not impact Israel’s ongoing operations against Hamas in Gaza. Read: Top EU diplomat says Israel has 'no excuses' to refuse a ceasefire with Hezbollah The agreement proposes a two-month halt to hostilities, requiring Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon while Israeli troops retreat to their borders. Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would oversee compliance under international monitoring. The intensified strikes in Beirut targeted residential areas, killing civilians and prompting widespread evacuations. Hezbollah continued its rocket attacks, prompting sirens in northern Israel. Israeli officials emphasized their right to respond if Hezbollah violates the deal, underscoring challenges in implementation. European Union diplomats urged all parties to adhere to the agreement, warning of potential collapse in Lebanon if fighting persists. Source: agency

The Israeli ambassador to Washington says that a cease-fire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached “within days.” Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday that there remained “points to finalize” and that any deal required agreement from the government. But he said “we are close to a deal” and that “it can happen within days.” Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. Israel accuses Hezbollah of not adhering to a U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 war between the sides that made similar provisions, and Israel has concerns that Hezbollah could stage a Hamas-style cross-border attack from southern Lebanon if it maintains a heavy presence there. Lebanon says Israel also violated the 2006 resolution. Lebanon complains about military jets and naval ships entering Lebanese territory even when there is no active conflict. It is not clear whether Lebanon would agree to the demand. The optimism surrounding a deal comes after a top U.S. envoy held talks between the sides last week in a bid to clinch a deal. Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’ raid on southern Israel, setting off more than a year of fighting. That escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and later an Israeli ground incursion into the country’s south. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli cities and towns, including some 250 on Sunday.

Israel said Sunday that the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found after he was killed in what it described as a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” The UAE's Interior Ministry later said authorities arrested three suspects involved in the killing of Zvi Kogan. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel “will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death.” Israeli authorities did not say how they determined the killing of Kogan was a terror attack and offered no additional details. Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who went missing on Thursday, ran a kosher grocery store in the futuristic city of Dubai, where Israelis have flocked for commerce and tourism since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 2020 Abraham Accords. The agreement has held through more than a year of soaring regional tensions unleashed by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack into southern Israel. But Israel's devastating retaliatory offensive in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon, after months of fighting with the Hezbollah militant group, have stoked anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals and others living in the the UAE. Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has also been threatening to retaliate against Israel after a wave of airstrikes Israel carried out in October in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack. Iran’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi denied Tehran was involved in the rabbi’s slaying. The Emirati government did not respond to a request for comment. However, senior Emirati diplomat Anwer Gargash wrote on the social platform X in Arabic on Sunday that “the UAE will remain a home of safety, an oasis of stability, a society of tolerance and coexistence and a beacon of development, pride and advancement.” Early on Sunday, the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency acknowledged Kogan’s disappearance but pointedly did not acknowledge he held Israeli citizenship, referring to him only as being Moldovan. The Emirati Interior Ministry described Kogan as being “missing and out of contact.” “Specialized authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the Interior Ministry said. The ministry later said that three “perpetrators” had been arrested “in record time” without giving additional details. Netanyahu told a regular Cabinet meeting later Sunday that he was “deeply shocked” by Kogan's disappearance and death. He said he appreciated the cooperation of the UAE in the investigation and that ties between the two countries would continue to be strengthened. Israel's largely ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, condemned the killing and thanked Emirati authorities for "their swift action." He said he trusts they “will work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.” Israel also again warned against all nonessential travel to the Emirates after Kogan's killing. “There is concern that there is still a threat against Israelis and Jews in the area,” a government warning issued Sunday said. Kogan was an emissary of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of ultra-Orthodox Judaism based in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood in New York City. It said he would be buried in Israel. “The targeting of Rabbi Kogan was an attempt to destroy the sacred Jewish values that he represented: light, goodness and kindness,” the movement said. “No country, no community, no society can afford the loss of these sustaining values.” The UAE has a burgeoning Jewish community, with synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners. The Rimon Market, a kosher grocery store that Kogan managed on Dubai’s busy Al Wasl Road, was shut Sunday. As the wars have roiled the region, the store has been the target of online protests by supporters of the Palestinians. Mezuzahs on the front and back doors of the market appeared to have been ripped off when an Associated Press journalist stopped by on Sunday. Kogan’s wife, Rivky, is a U.S. citizen who lived with him in the UAE. She is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In a statement, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett called Kogan's killing “a horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence.” “We condemn in the strongest terms the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE and our prayers are with his family, the Chabad-Lubavitch community, the broader Jewish community, and all who are mourning his loss,” Savett said. The UAE is an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and is also home to Abu Dhabi. Local Jewish officials in the UAE declined to comment. While the Israeli statement did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have carried out past kidnappings in the UAE. Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in the UAE and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living across the country. Iran is suspected of kidnapping and later killing British Iranian national Abbas Yazdi in Dubai in 2013, though Tehran has denied involvement. Iran also kidnapped Iranian German national Jamshid Sharmahd in 2020 from Dubai, taking him back to Tehran, where he was executed in October.

Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel on Sunday, wounding seven people in one of the militant group's heaviest barrages in months, in response to deadly Israeli strikes in Beirut while negotiators pressed on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. Some of the rockets reached the Tel Aviv area in the heart of Israel. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on an army center killed a Lebanese soldier and wounded 18 others in the southwest between Tyre and Naqoura, Lebanon's military said. The Israeli military expressed regret, saying that the strike occurred in an area of combat against Hezbollah and that the military's operations are directed solely against the militants. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the latest strike as an assault on U.S.-led cease-fire efforts, calling it a “direct, bloody message rejecting all efforts and ongoing contacts” to end the war. Hezbollah fires rockets after strikes on Beirut Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip ignited the war there. Hezbollah has portrayed the attacks as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes at Hezbollah, and in September the low-level conflict erupted into all-out war as Israel launched airstrikes across large parts of Lebanon and killed Hezbollah's top leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said it treated seven people, including a 60-year old man in severe condition from rocket fire on northern Israel, a 23-year-old man who was lightly wounded by a blast in the central city of Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, and a 70-year-old woman who suffered smoke inhalation from a car that caught fire there. In Haifa, a rocket hit a residential building that police said was in danger of collapsing. The Palestine Red Crescent reported 13 injuries it said were caused by an interceptor missile that struck several homes in Tulkarem in the West Bank. It was unclear whether injuries and damage were caused by rockets or interceptors. Read: UN reports heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in south Lebanon Sirens wailed again in central and northern Israel hours later. Israeli airstrikes without warning on Saturday pounded central Beirut, killing at least 29 people and wounding 67, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Smoke billowed above Beirut again Sunday with new strikes. Israel's military said it targeted command centers for Hezbollah and its intelligence unit in the southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, where the militants have a strong presence. Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,700 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanon’s population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel and in battle following Israel's ground invasion in early October. Around 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from the country's north. EU envoy calls for pressure to reach a truce The European Union’s top diplomat called Sunday for more pressure on Israel and Hezbollah to reach a deal, saying one was "pending with a final agreement from the Israeli government.” U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein was in the region last week. Josep Borrell spoke after meeting with Mikati and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who has been mediating with the group. Borrell said the EU is ready to allocate 200 million euros ($208 million) to assist the Lebanese military. But Borrell later said that he did not “see the Israeli government interested clearly in reaching an agreement for a cease-fire" and that it seemed Israel was seeking new conditions. He pointed to Israel’s refusal to accept France as a member of the international committee that would oversee the cease-fire's implementation. The emerging agreement would pave the way for the withdrawal of Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops from southern Lebanon below the Litani River in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the monthlong 2006 war. Lebanese troops would patrol with the presence of U.N. peacekeepers. One year since the only hostage-release deal With talks for a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza stalled, freed hostages and families of those held marked a year since the war's only hostage-release deal. Read more: US envoy says Israel-Hezbollah truce is 'within our grasp' as Gaza food crisis worsens after looting “It’s hard to hold on to hope, certainly after so long and as another winter is about to begin," said Yifat Zailer, cousin of Shiri Bibas, who is held along with her husband and two young sons. Around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Most of the rest of the 250 who were abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack were released in last year's cease-fire. Talks for another deal recently had several setbacks, including the firing of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who pushed for a deal, and Qatar’s decision to suspend its mediation. Hamas wants Israel to end the war and withdraw all troops from Gaza. Israel has offered only to pause its offensive. The Palestinian death toll from the war surpassed 44,000 this week, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. On Sunday, six people were killed in strikes in central Gaza, according to AP journalists at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

Israel’s yearlong crackdown against Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza is prompting many to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society, while some still find ways to dissent — carefully. Ahmed Khalefa's life turned upside down after he was charged with inciting terrorism for chanting in solidarity with Gaza at an anti-war protest in October 2023. The lawyer and city counselor from central Israel says he spent three difficult months in jail followed by six months detained in an apartment. It's unclear when he'll get a final verdict on his guilt or innocence. Until then, he's forbidden from leaving his home from dusk to dawn. Khalefa is one of more than 400 Palestinian citizens of Israel who, since the start of the war in Gaza, have been investigated by police for “incitement to terrorism” or “incitement to violence,” according to Adalah, a legal rights group for minorities. More than half of those investigated were also criminally charged or detained, Adalah said. “Israel made it clear they see us more as enemies than as citizens,” Khalefa said in an interview at a cafe in his hometown of Umm al-Fahm, Israel's second-largest Palestinian city. Israel has roughly 2 million Palestinian citizens, whose families remained within the borders of what became Israel in 1948. Among them are Muslims and Christians, and they maintain family and cultural ties to Gaza and the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967. Israel says its Palestinian citizens enjoy equal rights, including the right to vote, and they are well-represented in many professions. However, Palestinians are widely discriminated against in areas like housing and the job market. Israeli authorities have opened more incitement cases against Palestinian citizens during the war in Gaza than in the previous five years combined, Adalah's records show. Israeli authorities have not said how many cases ended in convictions and imprisonment. The Justice Ministry said it did not have statistics on those convictions. UN reports heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in south Lebanon Just being charged with incitement to terrorism or identifying with a terrorist group can land a suspect in detention until they're sentenced, under the terms of a 2016 law. In addition to being charged as criminals, Palestinians citizens of Israel — who make up around 20% of the country’s population — have lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations posting online or demonstrating, activists and rights watchdogs say. It’s had a chilling effect. “Anyone who tries to speak out about the war will be imprisoned and harassed in his work and education,” said Oumaya Jabareen, whose son was jailed for eight months after an anti-war protest. “People here are all afraid, afraid to say no to this war.” Jabareen was among hundreds of Palestinians who filled the streets of Umm al-Fahm earlier this month carrying signs and chanting political slogans. It appeared to be the largest anti-war demonstration in Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. But turnout was low, and Palestinian flags and other national symbols were conspicuously absent. In the years before the war, some protests could draw tens of thousands of Palestinians in Israel. Authorities tolerated the recent protest march, keeping it under heavily armed supervision. Helicopters flew overhead as police with rifles and tear gas jogged alongside the crowd, which dispersed without incident after two hours. Khalefa said he chose not to attend. Shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, Israel’s far-right government moved quickly to invigorate a task force that has charged Palestinian citizens of Israel with “supporting terrorism” for posts online or protesting against the war. At around the same time, lawmakers amended a security bill to increase surveillance of online activity by Palestinians in Israel, said Nadim Nashif, director of the digital rights group 7amleh. These moves gave authorities more power to restrict freedom of expression and intensify their arrest campaigns, Nashif said. The task force is led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, a hard-line national security minister who oversees the police. His office said the task force has monitored thousands of posts allegedly expressing support for terror organizations and that police arrested “hundreds of terror supporters,” including public opinion leaders, social media influencers, religious figures, teachers and others. “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite ... which harms public safety and our security,” his office said in a statement. But activists and rights groups say the government has expanded its definition of incitement much too far, targeting legitimate opinions that are at the core of freedom of expression. US envoy says Israel-Hezbollah truce is 'within our grasp' as Gaza food crisis worsens after looting Myssana Morany, a human rights attorney at Adalah, said Palestinian citizens have been charged for seemingly innocuous things like sending a meme of a captured Israeli tank in Gaza in a private WhatsApp group chat. Another person was charged for posting a collage of children’s photos, captioned in Arabic and English: “Where were the people calling for humanity when we were killed?” The feminist activist group Kayan said over 600 women called its hotline because of blowback in the workplace for speaking out against the war or just mentioning it unfavorably. Over the summer, around two dozen anti-war protesters in the port city of Haifa were only allowed to finish three chants before police forcefully scattered the gathering into the night. Yet Jewish Israelis demanding a hostage release deal protest regularly — and the largest drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Tel Aviv. Khalefa, the city counselor, is not convinced the crackdown on speech will end, even if the war eventually does. He said Israeli prosecutors took issue with slogans that broadly praised resistance and urged Gaza to be strong, but which didn’t mention violence or any militant groups. For that, he said, the government is trying to disbar him, and he faces up to eight years in prison. “They wanted to show us the price of speaking out,” Khalefa said.