Lebanese citizens are enduring extremely difficult days, as a series of Israeli crimes—at the very least considered “war crimes,” if not “crimes against humanity”—unfold. It began with the pager bombings, followed by the targeting of two residential buildings in the Al-Jamous neighborhood in an assassination attempt on a military leader, and culminated in a brutal assault on southern Lebanon and the Beqaa, which claimed hundreds of lives, left thousands injured, and displaced tens of thousands of people.
These already dark days are further compounded by Lebanon’s long-standing economic crisis, which has gripped the nation by the throat for years, limiting people’s options and sources of resilience.
The situation is exacerbated by the sharp internal division within the country over many critical issues, particularly the bitter choice between “supporting” the Palestinians or distancing themselves to avoid sharing their fate.
Lebanese citizens from all backgrounds are now confronted with existential questions that challenge their humanity.
The initial shock came when reports emerged of a series of small explosions heard in the south, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, in Beqaa, and other areas. At first, no one understood what was happening, but there was a growing suspicion that something sinister had occurred. Within minutes, images and videos began to flood social media.
Surveillance cameras in stores, building entrances, public spaces, and mobile phones captured a scene that repeated itself thousands of times: the sound of an explosion, a person collapsing to the ground, screaming and covered in blood, while those nearby panic and flee in terror. Some brave souls turned back, approaching the injured to help amidst the chaos and confusion.
Meanwhile, in homes, a sense of shock and fear took over. People switched between different news platforms, hoping to find some explanation for the horror unfolding on their screens.
My screen, like many others, was filled with heartbreaking images and news. Calls for solidarity and assistance of all kinds quickly emerged. Soon after, the analysis began—by those who understood the situation and those who didn’t. This was to be expected, as such a tragic scene is impossible to fully comprehend at once, and the anxiety it generates can’t be confronted without resorting to defense mechanisms. The first of these is rationalization, where those not directly occupied with survival engage in mental exercises to manage their stress and distract themselves from overwhelming emotions by diving into the details and trying to make sense of the situation.
And so, everyone got caught up in the technical details, speculating on how such a massive series of explosions could occur simultaneously.
As time passed and reports on the type and number of injuries came in, the state of alert began to subside. There was no longer a need to be on edge, preparing to flee or face danger—the immediate threat had passed, leaving behind only the damage.
Anticipation replaced anxiety, and the scale of the massacre became clearer. Social media posts expressing shock, grief, anger, and condemnation began to flood in.
The only thing that seemed to comfort the devastated and pained was the wave of solidarity expressed in various forms: from people rushing to donate blood, to medical teams mobilizing, to convoys of doctors and paramedics from all over Lebanon heading toward the areas hardest hit by the explosions. Social media was filled with messages offering condolences, prayers, and calls to rise above differences and extend support.
The next day, the scene repeated itself with the explosion of wireless communication devices. People were once again on edge, anxious that they might become collateral damage if they happened to be near one of the targets.
On the fourth day, these fears were realized when Israel demolished a residential building, killing all its innocent civilian inhabitants—children, women, and the elderly—just to ensure it could reach one or more military targets.
The debate that had raged in previous days over whether targeting “fighters” via exploding communication devices was part of the rules of war or a violation faded into the background. It was silenced by the sight of a young girl’s laughter, filling the world with joy—a girl whom everyone saw as their own daughter. The thought that her life could be taken in such a senseless act of violence was unbearable. She became a new Alexandra Najjar, another innocent victim.
Social media turned into a vast space of solidarity.
On the sixth day, after the massacre committed by Israeli planes against the people of southern Lebanon and Beqaa, the expressions of solidarity took on countless forms. Facebook pages were filled with announcements offering apartments and homes to displaced people from all over Lebanon—north, south, mountain, and coast. There were posts offering free transportation, schools that had turned into shelters, and churches that had opened their doors to those fleeing the violence.
The disaster was immense, and the resources were limited, but the outpouring of emotions was overwhelming. Displaced families expressed their surprise and gratitude for the support they received from people across the country, which offered them some small measure of comfort. And it’s no wonder, as empathy has a remarkable ability to alleviate pain.
Empathy, which is defined as the ability to understand others’ feelings, is a process that goes beyond simply comprehending these emotions. It involves sharing and experiencing them alongside others, deepening connections and improving the response to their needs. This, in turn, helps to strengthen social bonds and relationships. Darwin is often credited with the idea that societies with a greater number of empathetic individuals tend to thrive more successfully.
Evolutionary psychology suggests that empathy serves an adaptive function, helping ensure the survival of the species by encouraging humans to assist those in need. Traits like altruism and self-sacrifice, which enhance the ability to cope with harsh environmental conditions, are celebrated. Empathy also increases the likelihood of mutual understanding, promoting cooperation to achieve shared goals and reducing conflict.
Given the essential role that empathy plays, it has become a social phenomenon that modern sciences like neuropsychology and social neuroscience have focused on studying. Advances in brain imaging technologies have expanded and deepened our understanding of the brain’s structure, its processes, and how emotions are formed. The discovery of mirror neurons, in particular, has provided significant insight into the nature of empathy. These neurons activate when we see another person experiencing pain or joy, allowing us to feel their emotions as if we were living through the same experience.
This biological mechanism explains why we may feel sadness when we see someone crying or in pain and why we feel happiness when witnessing someone laugh or celebrate. It also explains why so many of us felt sorrow over the past days as we watched screens filled with images of injured victims and the grief of their families and loved ones, as though we or someone dear to us had been directly affected. It also clarifies why people manage to endure such traumas and eventually recover—despite the wounds and grief, they feel a sense of well-being because their humanity remains intact.
However, life is rarely that simple or straightforward. It is full of contradictions that require peeling back layers of assumptions and uncertainties to understand. Just when you feel reassured by the moral integrity of your fellow citizens—who rise above disagreements, put aside conflicts, and act driven by a shared sense of humanity in the face of such defining moments—life reminds you of its complexity. These citizens unite in solidarity and compassion for the victims of heinous crimes that violate even the laws of war, disregarding every possible rule.
But life refuses to leave you with this last bastion of peace intact, instead confronting you with posts filled with mockery, gloating, and sarcasm—while the blood of thousands continues to flow.
