As residents in South Lebanon return to their homes following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation, Israeli media reports highlight growing fear and frustration among settlers in northern border settlements. These sentiments are fueled by what they describe as a sense of abandonment by the Israeli government, which has been echoed repeatedly throughout the war.
Israeli Channel 12 reported a "deep mistrust" between northern settlers and the Israeli occupation forces, noting that "no one has addressed the reality in the north for over a year." The network quoted a resident of Metulla, a northern border settlement, who said, "Being neighbors with Lebanon, the Israeli military must do much more to restore our sense of security."
Despite government calls for settlers to return, many express doubts, with Channel 12 adding that "there is no place to return to." The displacement has also disrupted daily life, including education, as families struggle to resume normal routines.
Strategic advisor Eyalet Frisch criticized the mass evacuation of roughly 100,000 northern settlers during the war, describing it as a "strategic mistake" driven by "hysteria over Hezbollah." Former Israeli military spokesperson Avi Benayahu echoed this view, stating that the military was in a state of panic after evacuating from the north.