Nahariya Residents Feel War Threat from Hezbollah

In Nahariya, a northern Israeli city located just six miles from the Lebanese border, residents are grappling with heightened anxiety as the threat of war with Hezbollah looms closer. With a population of 77,000, Nahariya has remained populated despite the ongoing conflict, which has seen exchanges of fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters for nearly ten months. Unlike many border communities that have been evacuated, Nahariya has not been depopulated, as it lies outside the designated evacuation zone. The situation has led to significant displacement in the region, with nearly 62,000 residents from border areas forced to leave their homes since the conflict escalated in October. In Lebanon, the toll has been severe, with over 400 fatalities and more than 94,000 displaced, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The ongoing violence has created a palpable sense of fear among Nahariya's residents, who report hearing artillery fire and witnessing rockets land nearby on a daily basis. Local officials have declared a state of emergency, reflecting the community's precarious situation. Residents describe their experiences as markedly different from those in central Israel, where attacks are sporadic. “We feel it getting closer to us,” said Shira Jorno, a 23-year-old resident, highlighting the daily reality of living under the threat of conflict. As the conflict zone expands, officials indicate that evacuating residents further south is becoming increasingly challenging, leaving Nahariya in a state of uncertainty as tensions continue to rise.