Hezbollah's Role in Palestinian Suffering

Hezbollah's Role in Palestinian Suffering
September 21, 2024, 11:37 am

Michael Arizanti

In the tumultuous landscape of Middle Eastern politics, Hezbollah often positions itself as a champion of Palestinian rights, clashing with Israel under the guise of resistance against oppression. However, beneath this façade lies a stark reality that shatters the group's claim to any moral high ground in the Palestinian cause.

The plight of Palestinians in Lebanon, where Hezbollah holds significant influence, exposes a grim truth often overlooked by international commentators and activists. Approximately 270,000 Palestinians live in Lebanon under conditions that can only be described as systemic marginalization—a far cry from the freedoms and rights enjoyed by Lebanese citizens. Denied basic civil, political, and economic rights, these Palestinians face restrictions on property ownership, access to public services, and are barred from over 30 professions, pushing them to the margins of society. This is a form of modern-day apartheid that Hezbollah, while touting its anti-Israel stance, conveniently ignores.

Hezbollah’s repeated engagement with Israel, often framed as solidarity with Palestine, is nothing more than a strategic play to maintain its power in Lebanon. Its involvement in the conflict distracts from the realities on the ground—where Palestinians within Lebanon remain trapped in legal limbo, their basic rights trampled. Hezbollah's so-called defense of Palestinian freedom does not extend to advocating for their welfare within Lebanon’s borders, revealing the hypocrisy of its rhetoric.

If we truly wish to see a free Palestine, it is essential to confront the uncomfortable truth: groups like Hezbollah, the IRGC, and their proxies are not liberators. They are part of the machinery that keeps Palestinians oppressed, using their suffering as a tool for their own regional power games. Their elimination is crucial for any real progress toward Palestinian freedom. True solidarity requires addressing not only external aggressors but also internal oppressors who exploit the Palestinian cause for their own political gain.

Activists and the international community must demand more. The fight for Palestine cannot be complete until the Palestinians are freed from all forms of oppression—whether by Israel or by forces within the region like Hezbollah and its backers.

Michael Arizanti
Middle East Expert & Levant News Columnist

Dimensions of the September 2022 Uprising Tahrir al-Sham accuses Hezbollah of escalation in Idlib and threatens to respond