'The ceasefire has a strong impact on my life': Lebanese woman reflects on 1 year of peace

LONDON A year ago, Gia Hajo returned to her home to find it in ruins: shattered windows, a collapsed living room wall, and broken furniture scattered across the floor. The destruction was a stark reminder of 13 months of conflict in Lebanon, which forced her to leave Tyre and endure repeated evacuations and displacement.

One year after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah ended the November 2024 warwhich claimed the lives of 4,000 Lebanese and 118 Israelis, according to official sourcesHajo says the fragility of peace continues to overshadow her life and the daily existence of many Lebanese civilians.

"It doesn't just touch my lifeit governs it entirely," she told ABC News. "We keep our essentials packed at all times. We cannot live fully or normally. It affects my movements, my mental well-being, and our overall sense of security. Even planning something like a party, wedding, or surgery requires praying nothing will go wrong."

Although reconstruction is underway in many parts of Lebanon, sporadic Israeli attacks continue to impede efforts to return to normal life, according to humanitarian organizations. An Israeli drone strike on Nov. 18 targeted Ein el-Hilweh, a Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, killing at least 14 people, including 12 children. This marked the deadliest single attack since the ceasefire.

UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, reports that over 300 Lebanese have died in more than 10,000 ceasefire violations during the first year, both on land and in the air. The ongoing uncertainty makes coping with trauma extremely difficult for civilians like Hajo, who struggles with anxiety about the present while processing past experiences.

"I cannot envision a future here, in my own country, near my family, especially for our youth. At any moment, everything could be destroyed again," Hajo said.

Still, the day the war officially ended, Nov. 27, 2024, remains unforgettable for her. She recalls a sense of renewal as traffic returned and people began to reclaim their lives. Videos from that day show Lebanese families cleaning their homes and children returning to the beaches.

"Stepping into my home for the first time after fleeing was overwhelming. It was standing, but it didnt feel like home," Hajo said. Her family repaired their house while staying with relatives. "The most positive part is the resilience and strength we all demonstrated."

Even as aspects of life returned to normalHajo married, traveled, and planned her futurethe shadow of conflict continues to influence daily life. She recalls celebrating her engagement in southern Lebanon, in a place previously hit by bombings. "Despite the risks, we did it. We wanted to show hopethat love persists. Love can overcome anything, especially in southern Lebanon."

Author: Lucas Grant