Every day, Maha lights a candle to the Virgin Mary. On November 22, the 81st anniversary of Independence Day, she performed the same ritual—but this time, with a heavier heart. The Israeli army had just taken up positions in her village, Deir Mimas, located about seven kilometers from the southern border in the Marjayoun district. The village is now cut off from Nabatiyeh after the establishment of an Israeli checkpoint at the Khardali Bridge.
Out of the nearly 4,000 residents of this Christian village, only about 20 remain. “I won’t leave because this candle cannot go out—it must stay lit, for Our Lady will bring peace. We pray every day for this war to end soon,” says Maha, a woman in her seventies who remains with her son, a soldier in the Lebanese army.
Since Thursday, residents have been confined to their homes. That night, an Israeli drone flew over the village, broadcasting a chilling message urging people to “stay indoors to avoid danger.” This escalated the already intense fear and uncertainty gripping those in the border area.
“It was terrifying,” recounts a member of the Abu Jamra family. “The loudspeaker’s warning echoed through the empty streets: Stay inside, don’t go out or you’ll endanger your life. It felt dehumanizing. We don’t know if it’s a genuine threat or psychological warfare, but it’s a constant reminder that we’re being watched. We feel isolated, abandoned—living under missiles and not knowing what comes next,” he adds. Yet despite the fear, he has no intention of leaving, even though he could.
That same night, Father Pierre Raï, the priest of the neighboring village of Qlayaa, sent an urgent message to residents, advising them to stay indoors for fear of an imminent Israeli attack. His warning caused panic in both villages, though hope stubbornly endures.
“We are preparing for the worst but hoping for a quick resolution and a ceasefire. The tension is unbearable. We’re under siege, desperately searching for answers about our survival and safety,” comments Inaya, a resident of Qlayaa.
https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/articles/1301975/in-deir-mimas-fear-has-not-killed-hope