‘What ceasefire?’: In northern Israel, locals doubt an agreement can end the war with Hezbollah

In Metula, Israel's northernmost town, the announcement of a new U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah has been met with doubt and sarcasm by locals. Daniel Dorfman, owner of a local pizza shop, questions the effectiveness of the agreement, stating that "until yesterday there wasn’t a single day without fire." He describes constant interceptions overhead, explosions, drones, and artillery, making it difficult to believe in a lasting peace.

Metula, typically bustling with tourists, now stands largely deserted. The town, built over 130 years ago and once known as "Europe" for its vibrant hospitality sector, has suffered significant damage. Since October 2023, when Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas, over 60% of homes have been damaged. Between a third and half of the town's 2,000 residents have not returned.

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What ceasefire? Until yesterday there wasn’t a single day without fire. All day, interceptions overhead, explosions, drones, artillery. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve been told there’s a ceasefire. It never really is.

The town's predicament underscores the challenges in establishing a stable ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. Despite diplomatic efforts, including ongoing talks in Washington between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors, Hezbollah is not involved and has dismissed the process as a "farce." An Israeli source suggested a potential limited, symbolic pullback as a gesture to the Lebanese government.

Past ceasefires have proven fragile. A previous agreement brokered by the Biden administration held for 15 months before collapsing on March 2, following Hezbollah rocket fire in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes. Israel responded with a ground incursion into southern Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in over 4,000 deaths and more than a million displaced in Lebanon, according to Lebanon's health ministry, while Israel reports 36 soldiers and four civilians killed.

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We don’t feel any ceasefires.