Summary
- As violence continues to escalate along the Israeli-Lebanese border, Lebanese MP Najat Aoun Saliba has voiced the exhaustion and frustration of a nation battered by months of conflict, telling Al Jazeera that the people of Lebanon have had enough of the killing and destruction.
- “People in Lebanon are tired and have had enough of the killing and the destruction that is happening to their land, their families and also to their livelihoods,” Saliba said.
- Over 3,800 lives have been lost in Lebanon since the conflict intensified, and the destruction of infrastructure has pushed an already struggling economy to the brink.
As violence continues to escalate along the Israeli-Lebanese border, Lebanese MP Najat Aoun Saliba has voiced the exhaustion and frustration of a nation battered by months of conflict, telling Al Jazeera that the people of Lebanon have had enough of the killing and destruction.
“People in Lebanon are tired and have had enough of the killing and the destruction that is happening to their land, their families and also to their livelihoods,” Saliba said. Her remarks capture the deep weariness of a country that has endured decades of political instability, economic collapse, and repeated cycles of war.
The MP’s comments come at a critical juncture, with Israeli air strikes and Hezbollah attacks continuing to escalate despite a fragile ceasefire established under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Over 3,800 lives have been lost in Lebanon since the conflict intensified, and the destruction of infrastructure has pushed an already struggling economy to the brink.
“It’s also costing us [the government] a lot of money and a lot of pain,” Saliba added, emphasizing the enormous financial burden the war has placed on Lebanon’s already depleted state coffers.
Saliba was highly critical of both Israel and Hezbollah, arguing that both sides have used Lebanese territory to gain leverage in the broader conflict with Iran. She noted that the hostility between the two has not led to any real gain on the ground, leaving the country trapped in a cycle of violence that serves neither side’s interests.
“I don’t think this should continue, and this tit for tat and this hostility between the two is not going to lead anywhere,” Saliba stated bluntly.
Her remarks reflect growing public sentiment in Lebanon, where many citizens are demanding an end to the fighting that has devastated communities and displaced thousands. The conflict has also strained Lebanon’s already fragile political system, with the government struggling to provide basic services to affected populations.
As diplomatic efforts continue in Switzerland between U.S. and Iranian envoys, Saliba’s words serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the war. For the people of Lebanon, the hope is that the negotiators in Burgenstock can deliver what months of fighting have failed to achieve: lasting peace and the chance to rebuild their shattered lives.
