OTTAWA — As Israel and Lebanon settle into an uneasy truce, not everyone is breathing a sigh of relief.
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Hussein El Hajj Hassan was a Beirut-based journalist and peace advocate who, in 2022, was forced to flee Lebanon after a Hezbollah assassination attempt.
Now living in Ottawa, Hassan told The Toronto Sun that even though he’s relieved to see a ceasefire providing a modicum of safety for civilians on both sides, such agreements rarely last.
“I don’t see this ceasefire as a real solution,” he said.
“History has shown us that these temporary halts in fighting do very little to address the cause of the conflicts in Lebanon.”
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As of Wednesday evening, the ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah appeared to be holding, ending over a year of conflict in which the terror group fired some 20,000 rockets at Israeli cities.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel in support of Hamas and that terror group’s Oct. 7, 2023 campaign of terror, which resulted in the murder, kidnapping and sexual assault of innocent Israeli civilians.
Israel’s campaign in Lebanon saw over 12,500 Hezbollah positions hit, with over 360 of them in Beirut’s southern suburbs, reported the Times of Israel.
In a statement Wednesday, Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, described the ceasefire as a significant development.
“Israel will continue to combat Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, all of which pose a direct threat to the security of Israel and the region,” Moed said.
“Above all, Israel will keep fighting for the safe return of all the hostages held in Gaza for the past 418 days, including (the remains of) Judih Weinstein.”
Weinstein, originally from Toronto, was murdered by Hamas on Oct. 7, near Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Her body was taken by Hamas terrorists back into Gaza, where they remain to this day.
Hassan said ceasefires are almost never permanent solutions in the Middle East.
“Sadly, I don’t expect this ceasefire to hold for very long,” he said, adding the terrorists will take advantage of the truce to regroup and re-arm.
“I don’t think Hezbollah is going to respect this agreement, such as withdrawing beyond the Litani River.”
Hassan said Hezbollah has rarely experienced a loss as great as the one dealt out by Israel, and doesn’t expect them to simply lay down their arms and give up.
“It’s also based on the agreement itself, that Israel has the right to defend itself whenever they feel like they’re being threatened, which means (Hezbollah) is opening the door to go right back to the war again whenever they feel like,” he said.
Hassan, who arrived in Canada two years ago, said he’s saddened by the explosion of antisemitic hatred in Canada that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks.
“It breaks my heart every time to hear the news, especially now during the war, and as somebody who fled (Lebanon) to come to Canada,” he said, explaining how shocked he was to see anti-Israel activists here in Canada gleefully waving Hamas and Hezbollah flags during their marches.
“I was afraid, I was shocked, but I was cautious — they could be living next to me,” he said, concerned he would be recognized by a Canadian Hezbollah sympathizer.
“I have strong dedication and passion to wake up one day and see the Middle East in a different shape, because I truly believe that both the people of Lebanon and Israel have so much in common rather than differences.”
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