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Zaineb Saab locked the door to her house and did not dare make a sound when the killing started in Sabra and Shatila, two neighbourhoods home to a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.

On September 16, 1982, members of a far-right-wing Christian militia, Phalange Party, coordinated with Israeli forces to kill between 2,000 and 3,500 Muslim Lebanese and Palestinian civilians.

Saab said during the carnage, which lasted for three days, she heard her neighbours screaming but no gunshots. Most victims were butchered with knives.

“They were going straight into people’s homes and killing them,” Saab told Al Jazeera from Sabra.

More than four decades later, Saab and other survivors say Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza is triggering their worst memories, making them relive those terrible days for Sabra and Shatila.

The massacre is considered one of the most harrowing episodes of violence against Palestinian refugees since they were expelled from their homeland during the creation of Israel in 1948.

But residents of Sabra and Shatila say that what they lived through then does not compare with the shocking violence unfolding in Gaza now.

More than 5,700 Palestinians have been killed in 18 days of bombing, including more than 2,000 children. More than half of Gaza’s population is displaced, and much of its homes and infrastructure — schools, universities and hospitals — is damaged or destroyed in Israeli bombing since October 7, when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, killing 1,400 people.

“As we watch what is happening in Gaza, we remember the massacre here. But it’s not the same. Gaza is worse,” Saab said.

Lost childhood

At Majdi Majzoub’s home in the camp, dramatic scenes of Palestinian children being rescued from the rubble after Israeli air attacks destroyed their homes in Gaza played out on television.

It transported him back to the time when, 41 years ago, he was among the survivors of an Israeli massacre.

Majzoub was 10 years old at the time. In June 1982, Israel launched a full-scale invasion to expel the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) from Lebanon, where it was based. Israel also planned to install a puppet government headed by the Phalange Party.

By September 1, the PLO relocated to Tunisia while a multinational force was deployed to protect civilians in Sabra and Shatila. The task force curiously left after just 10 days, enabling Israel to besiege the camp.

Two weeks later, Majzoub said, the Israelis deployed more tanks and vehicles around the camp. The increased military presence came two days after the mysterious assassination of the Phalange Party leader, Bashir Gemayel.

At the time, nobody knew who killed Gemayel. Yet members of his party blamed Palestinians, and they were hungry for revenge.

When the killing started in Sabra and Shatila, Majzoub said he saw an Israeli helicopter fly over the camp to guide the Phalange fighters as they murdered civilians.

He also remembers hiding in a mosque with his siblings where they kept quiet and still, so they would not be heard.

“There were about 200 people hiding with us,” Majzoub told Al Jazeera. “I remember a group of young men who left the mosque to try and explain that there were no [PLO] fighters in the camp. All those young men died.”

Later that night, Majzoub and his siblings escaped the camp and reunited with their parents, who were visiting relatives elsewhere in Beirut when the massacre unfolded.

Looking back, Majzoub considers himself lucky compared with civilians in Gaza, which rights groups describe as an “open-air prison” where 2.2 million people are restricted from leaving the territory without hard-to-get Israeli or Egyptian permission.

Israel has tightened its chokehold-like siege on Gaza further by cutting off fuel, water and food supplies since Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7. Israel’s tactic may amount to a war crime, according to experts of international humanitarian law.

“Palestinians in Sabra and Shatila were uprooted from their homes in 1948 like the Palestinians in Gaza,” Majzoub, 51, said. “The Israelis tried to finish us off in 1982. They are now trying to do the same to Palestinians in Gaza.”

Another genocide

In December 1982, the United Nations General Assembly declared the Sabra and Shatila massacre an “‘act of genocide”.

The Phalange murdered pregnant women and ripped out their foetuses, according to witnesses and journalists.

One Palestinian survivor, who goes by the name of Abou Ahmed, said he vividly remembers people’s bodies piling up on the winding and narrow streets of the camp.

He added that he risked his life to carry the injured on stretchers to Dahiya, a nearby neighbourhood in south Beirut.

“They were killing everybody and doing it randomly,” he told Al Jazeera from his home in Shatila. “I blame the Israelis. They were the ones that were supposed to protect the camp.”

Abou Ahmed added that if it was not for a few journalists, then nobody would have known what happened in Sabra and Shatila.

He always believed that if more people knew that a massacre was happening in real-time, then the world would intervene to stop it. But the ongoing violence in Gaza has changed his mind, he said.

“The whole world is protesting, but nobody is responding or doing anything,” he told Al Jazeera.

United States President Joe Biden and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen have provided full diplomatic support for Israel’s indiscriminate offensive, even as the UN has warned that Palestinians face the real risk of genocide.

Saab, Majzoub and Abou Ahmed agree with the UN’s assessment.

“This isn’t a massacre in Gaza. It’s a genocide,” said Abou Ahmed, from his home in Shatila. “It’s the worst violence we have ever seen in Palestinian history.”

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Rasha Abdel-Khalek, the co-founder of an interior design company, expressed to NOW that coworking spaces, which involve sharing offices, resources, ideas, and skills, have provided an opportunity for employees to cultivate innovative thinking and strengthen the brand’s presence online.

“The energetic and healthy work environment has been instrumental in boosting productivity, creativity, and overall growth,” Abdel-Khalek told NOW.

A reprieve for businesses 

Businesses are turning to co-working spaces in order to navigate the myriad financial and practical challenges. s. The country’s currency devaluation, banking issues, and shortage of essential resources have resulted in surging rent prices, costly and undependable power generators, and expensive transportation, complexly impacting the day-to-day operations and overall performance of most businesses. Co-working spaces are proving to be effective in encouraging businesses to think innovatively, increase their agility, and establish robust networks to enhance overall performance and achieve optimal solutions.

NOW spoke with co-working space Beirut Digital District’s Senior Community Manager, Kim Mouawad, who said that the space has remained consistently at 98 percent capacity throughout the year.

The need for dependable internet and electricity has led to an increase in demand for private offices and co-working spaces, as stated by Mouawad. These co-working spaces have proven beneficial to Lebanese businesses, startups, freelancers, and entrepreneurs as they aid in job preservation and generate income in fresh dollars, which is crucial for Lebanon’s economic growth.

Mouawad further emphasized that receiving fresh dollars will improve the purchasing power of the Lebanese people and enable them to invest in the country, thereby enhancing the economy.

Staying connected

Many businesses have also turned to co-working spaces to broaden their customer base and reach out to other countries in the region. This strategy has enabled them to cater to international clients Foreign companies have also utilized co-working spaces in Lebanon by renting private offices for their local staff members. These private offices have also served as a workspace for Lebanon-based employees of foreign enterprises.

NGOs and advocacy groups also have the option to utilize private offices for their workshops and conferences.

Working for international companies across different time zones necessitates having access to co-working spaces; therefore, having 24-hour electricity and internet is a must.

According to Ellie Msallem, Manager of Park Innovation, a co-working space in Semqanieh, Mount Lebanon, tech companies from other countries hire Lebanese workers and utilize resources from co-working spaces.

By monitoring their employees and leveraging the skills found in Lebanon, the company can reap numerous benefits. In addition to providing stable employment opportunities and financial security to members of the community, it can also help sustain thriving co-working spaces.

Mssallem mentioned that the space is utilized by a diverse range of companies including graphic design, software building, web development, and digital HR companies.

The co-working space offices are created to promote collaboration, facilitate interaction, and provide opportunities to connect with potential service providers in the community.

Workspaces also play a crucial role in promoting economic growth by offering a platform for social entrepreneurship. Individuals with expertise, knowledge, and experience can connect with valuable opportunities through these spaces.

Baddawi, a co-working space in Tripoli, brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians, who coexist in harmony. Despite the prevalent issues of unemployment, social instability, and financial hardship in the area, the space strives to assist the community.

In an interview with NOW, Hussein Zeid, the manager of Baddawi co-working space, emphasized the pressing need for additional workspaces in Tripoli due to the current resource

Zeid reports that the youth in Tripoli are utilizing the studio to create visual content and engage in collaborations with international companies. They leverage their social media platforms for promotional purposes.

A boost of inspiration

Some Lebanese companies have found that working in co-working spaces boosts their creativity, productivity, and networking opportunities.

According to Reine Hassanieh, an online pediatric nutritionist, co-working spaces provide her with an energetic and inspiring atmosphere that helps her focus. She finds them convenient, cost-effective, and beneficial for conducting workshops and collaborating with other professionals in the country.

Hassanieh has not only found support within her local community, but has also connected with experienced professionals who have assisted her on-site. For instance, a talented graphic designer has helped to create a logo and design-specific online feed, and a skilled social media professional has managed her online presence.

Some co-working spaces in the country also empower and foster employment through business support for young entrepreneurs in Lebanon.

Berytech is a Lebanese-based organization that aims to foster a dynamic environment for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and business people who are always on the move. The Berytech coworking space offers a stress-free atmosphere where individuals can effectively grow their businesses while interacting and exchanging expertise and concepts with other professionals within the larger Berytech community.

The demand for coworking spaces is increasing, leading to their replication throughout the country. These spaces offer cost-saving benefits to companies through cheaper rent and reliable access to electricity and the Internet.

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Despite the protest being called off, anti-Syrian rhetoric in Lebanon is growing.

Recent actions: In recent weeks, Lebanese authorities have taken increased actions directly targeting Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Prior to the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Lebanese security forces deported an estimated 177 Syrian refugees back to Syria after performing raids on their homes in areas like Bourj Hamoud.

This comes as part of a recent crackdown on refugees who supposedly entered Lebanon illegally or who do not possess the proper paperwork to be in the country legally.

Municipalities are also taking action against Syrians in their areas, with the Bint Jbeil Municipality saying on April 25 that any Syrians living in the area would be required to register with the municipality starting on the morning of April 26 and have until Friday, April 28, to do so.

Any Syrians found to have not registered after that deadline would have “legal measures” taken against them, which almost assuredly means deportation back to Syria.

Bint Jbeil is located deep in Southern Lebanon and is a stronghold for Hezbollah, a group that fought alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces to help keep him in power.

Mawlawi has also subtly blamed the refugees for the recent outburst of anger, stating that Syrians in Lebanon are subject to Lebanese law and need to register with the proper authorities and departments because “this chaos is harmful to Lebanon and is harmful to their interests and the security situation for which we are responsible.”

In a meeting Wednesday, April 26, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the UNHCR to provide the government and municipalities with information on Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He also requested that the Ministry of Justice look into the possibility of turning over Syrians detained in Lebanon to Syria.

Nowhere to go: One of the main arguments for Syrian refugees to return to their country is that Syria is “safe” now and that there is no longer a war keeping them from going back, especially as an increasing number of countries in the region have agreed to renew diplomatic relations with Assad.

While it is true that the civil war in Syria has largely died down and any fighting is primarily located in the north of the country, this notion fails to take into account the situation that the refugees are in and the risks that it poses to return.

Many of these refugees took part in the anti-government protests that began in 2011 in the wake of the Arab Spring or have family members who fought in the civil war against the Assad regime. Others fled the country to avoid mandatory military service because they did not want to fight against their fellow citizens or because they did not support the regime.

This makes them wanted individuals who could be quickly arrested upon their return; something that could see them either forced to take part in military service or thrown in one of the country’s notorious prisons.

Since the start of April, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights found that over 39 Syrians who were deported back to Syria from Lebanon have since been arrested.

Syrian refugees are not oblivious to the situation in Lebanon and the growing anger against them.

In previous reporting, NOW found that many Syrians want to be able to return to their home country, but they say that they cannot because it is not safe for them to do so.

Since that is not possible for them, many have spoken about wanting to leave Lebanon to seek refuge in a third country, but asylum requests can go on for years before a decision is reached, with few countries actually willing to take any Syrian refugees due to racist right-wing ideals.

Because they have nowhere to go and are instead forced to stay in Lebanon despite how they are treated and the few opportunities that they have in the country, some have taken to attempting to be smuggled by boat into Europe, which can have deadly consequences.

A political tool: For several years Syrian refugees have been an easy target for Lebanese politicians to scapegoat.

Since the start of the economic crisis in October 2019, NOW reported that Syrian refugees have been used by politicians to divert blame from themselves and cast the refugees as the main reason for the country’s collapse despite evidence to the contrary.

But most Lebanese are not going to do research and fact-check what a politician says about refugees, which has spread misinformation and helped to fuel anti-Syrian sentiment in the country, especially as the economic crisis continues to worsen amid the lack of action by the country’s politicians.

“There is a widespread perception amongst the Lebanese that Syrians are being given money by international organizations and, therefore, they’re better off,” Michael Young, senior editor at the Carnegie Middle East Centre in Beirut, told NOW. “It’s shameful, but the reaction is not unexpected; the socio-economic situation in the country is a disaster.”

While some politicians use Syrian refugees as a way to avoid taking responsibility for the collapse of Lebanon’s financial and economic institutions, others have a vested interest in having Syrians return to Syria.

Hezbollah actively supported Assad in the civil war and has reportedly worked to have Syrian refugees go back to their home country despite the risks that it could pose to them.

No end in sight: The situation for Syrian refugees in Lebanon is not likely to improve anytime soon and there is actually a higher likelihood that things will worsen for them, whether it is the anti-Syrian rhetoric or actions taken against them by Lebanese authorities.

As the economic crisis persists and Lebanon’s politicians continue to fail to take action, refugees will remain easy targets for people to cast their anger upon no matter how misplaced it might be.

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“Israel and Lebanon have reached an historic agreement settling the maritime dispute,” said a statement on Tuesday from Lapid’s office, in which the premier hailed “an historic achievement that will strengthen Israel’s security”.

Lebanon earlier said it hopes to announce maritime border demarcation deal with Israel as soon as possible, especially as the draft was “satisfying” for Beirut, President Michel Aoun has said in a tweet.

Aoun added he would hold consultations with the prime minister and the parliament speaker to issue a final position on the deal.

Lebanon has secured its “full rights” in the latest text drafted by US mediators to demarcate the maritime border with Israel, its lead negotiator said, after Israel said it met its terms too.

“Lebanon has obtained its full rights, and all of its remarks have been taken into account,” said lead negotiator Elias Bou Saab, the deputy speaker of parliament, after handing the draft to President Michel Aoun.

“Today we have come to a solution that satisfies both parties.”

Israel had said earlier Tuesday that it was close to a “historic” deal with Lebanon and the US draft met its “demands”.

Bou Saab said he hoped an agreement could be signed before Aoun’s term of office ends on October 31.

Long-standing efforts

Lebanon and Israel are officially at war and their land border is patrolled by UN peacekeepers.

They reopened negotiations on their maritime border in 2020, but the process was stalled by Lebanon’s demand that the map used by the United Nations in the talks be modified.

The negotiations resumed in early June after Israel moved a production vessel near the Karish offshore field.

The US text has not been made public but under terms leaked to the press all of the Karish field would fall under Israeli control, while another potential gas field, Qana, would be divided but its exploitation would be under Lebanon’s control.

The deal would resolve a territorial dispute in the eastern tip of the Mediterranean sea in an area where Lebanon aims to explore for natural gas, and near waters where Israel has already found commercially viable quantities of hydrocarbons.

Israel last week rejected last-minute amendments to the deal by Lebanon that briefly appeared to jeopardise long-standing efforts to reach an agreement.

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“We did it! Lebanon, this one’s for you,” the group posted on Instagram alongside a video of their winning act – an Arabesque performance embellished with feathers and glowing white orbs.

Lebanon has been hit hard by an economic meltdown since 2019 that has seen the local pound lose more than 90 percent of its value, and repeated power cuts and fuel shortages.

Mayyas dancers often had to practice in darkened studios that had no electricity and with members missing as they had no fuel to arrive to practice, the 36-member troupe’s Director, Nadim Cherfan, told local media overnight.

Given Lebanon’s situation, the win was “bittersweet,” said filmmaker-turned-software engineer, Zahi Farah, who moved to Paris from Lebanon earlier this year and had followed the Mayyas’s progress through the AGT season.

“It’s like a big middle finger to everything dragging you down in Lebanon,” Farah told Reuters.

Lebanon’s worsening financial crisis and rampant corruption in politics had slashed opportunities for other talented people to exceed in their fields, he said.

“It’s nice to see hard work pay off for once, in a country where you don’t often get things by merit. It’s like sweet revenge,” he added.

Messages of congratulations filled Twitter on Thursday morning as Lebanese learned of the win, which had taken place overnight as they were sleeping.

Lebanese singer and diva, Haifa Wehbe, tweeted: “hats off Mayyas!” with the hashtag #ProudlyLebanese.

Officials also joined in, with Parliament on Thursday breaking into applause in their honor, and President Michel Aoun awarding them the Lebanese Gold Medal of Merit.

Many Lebanese blame officials for failing to do enough to stem the crisis, turning out in massive protests against them in 2019 and sporadic rallies, since then.

“Do I think they’re trying to steal the limelight?” Farah said, following government officials’ reactions.

“I think they’ve stolen much worse than that, and we haven’t held them accountable.”

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In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Aoun said on Monday evening that his country is seeking to reconcile with Saudi Arabia, which severed diplomatic ties with Beirut last month.

The crisis erupted last month after video footage circulated online from an August interview in which Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi made critical remarks about the Saudi-led coalition’s war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Kordahi, a former game show host, said the Iran-aligned Houthis are “defending themselves … against an external aggression”. Kordahi is a member of a small Christian party allied with Hezbollah, which backs the Houthis in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has distanced itself from Lebanon in recent years, often criticizing it for Hezbollah’s growing influence in politics. Riyadh considers Hezbollah a “terrorist” organization. Hezbollah has praised Kordahi for his remarks.

In response, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain recalled their envoys from Beirut and expelled their Lebanese ambassadors. Saudi Arabia also banned all Lebanese imports into the kingdom in a big blow to Beirut’s already crippled economy.

Bahrain and the UAE called on their citizens to leave the country, while Yemen has also since recalled its envoy from Beirut.

The Lebanese authorities have called for dialogue with their Saudi counterparts.

President Aoun has dismissed Kordahi’s comments and said they do not reflect the Lebanese government’s position.

But he clarified that he has not asked Kordahi to resign from office over the remarks. He added that Kordahi will act in Lebanon’s best interest.

“When a Saudi journalist insulted me on the air, no action was taken against him,” Aoun, whose Free Patriotic Movement party is in alliance with Hezbollah movement, said.

The Lebanese president on Monday met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during which they discussed the GCC crisis, among other things.

Aoun met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and discussed the latest 
developments in his country [AP Photo]

Qatar, also a GCC member, reportedly offered to mediate talks between the two sides. However, Al Jazeera could not independently verify the report.

The two talked about developments of mutual interest regionally and internationally, as well as ways to enhance bilateral relations.

Aoun urged Qatar to invest in Lebanon amid ongoing civil unrest over the economic situations at home, saying his country desperately needed multiple investments in various fields.

Dwindling economy

Aoun also spoke about other issues, including the investigation into the 2020 Beirut port blast, and the role of the powerful armed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Speaking about the investigation into the deadly Beirut port explosion, which took place on August 4, 2020, Aoun said he did not agree with Hezbollah’s stance.

The group had repeatedly called for replacing Judge Tarek Bitar, who has been leading the investigations, over the allegations of “bias” that has been widely dismissed by rights groups and families of blast victims.

Last month, Bitar was forced to stop work for a third time over a lawsuit brought forward by a former minister who had been summoned for questioning.

Aoun also said Lebanon’s central bank is under a criminal investigation. Luxembourg judicial authorities had opened “a criminal case” in relation to Governor Riad Salameh – who Aoun said is responsible for all the money lost.

The Lebanese pound has lost almost 90 percent of its value since late 2019 – the main driving force that has crushed the country’s economy which is now in tatters.

Earlier this year, the World Bank said Lebanon’s economic and financial crisis could rank as one of the three severest the world has seen since the mid-19th century.

In the wide-ranging interview with the Doha-based network, the Lebanese president reiterated that parliamentary elections will be held as scheduled and that measures are being taken to organize the March 27 event.

Due to the ongoing political and economic crisis, as well as the controversial electoral law – which stipulates that Lebanon’s parliament is proportioned based on the state’s multiple religious and sectarian denominations – there has been speculation that the election could be postponed.

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Protesters across Beirut, Tripoli, Saida, and other cities closed highways and intersections on Monday morning with their vehicles and put tires and rubbish dumpsters on fire.

They called on the government to control the plunging Lebanese pound, which for the past week has hovered at about 25,000 to the US dollar. The pound has lost about 90 percent of its value in about two years.

Mohammad, a taxi driver with his rental car parked at an intersection on Beirut’s bustling Hamra Street, said it has become less costly to be unemployed than to work.

“I can’t afford to pay my weekly rental fees for my car, not including gasoline prices and my monthly expenses for the family,” he told Al Jazeera. “And there are barely any customers.”

The taxi driver said he has lost hope in political change, be it from the country’s governing parties, or the slew of opposition political groups.

“I don’t trust anyone anymore. They’re all liars and thieves. And I don’t want charity. I want to just have a decent living,” said Mohammad, who gave only his first name.

The Lebanese army was able to clear some closed intersections and thoroughfares. However, in Sports City just south of Beirut, protesters doused the highway with petrol so cars could not drive through, even if the army cleared the roadblock.

Anonymous calls to protest from across the country circulated on WhatsApp and other messaging apps over the weekend. Some political opposition groups said the demonstrations were organized by some of Lebanon’s sectarian parties.

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In a statement, Salameh said the audit by the firm he did not name would be shared with judicial authorities and other persons if relevant, and added that he had never hidden his personal wealth.

Salameh is being investigated in three European nations, including a Swiss inquiry opened in January over alleged “aggravated money laundering” at the central bank involving $300 million in gains by a company owned by his brother.

In his statement, Salameh said the audit had shown that “not a single penny” was used from public funds to pay fees and commissions to his brother’s company Forry Associates Ltd.

Salameh’s brother Raja has not publicly commented on the case.

Salameh said the source of his wealth was “clear and documented”, as he had been a successful private banker at Merrill Lynch for around 20 years with an annual income of around $2 million before he left that company in 1993.

“My wealth amounted in 1993, that is 28 years ago, to $23 million in addition to inherited assets,” Salameh said in the statement, adding that it was invested and has grown in value.

Salameh has faced increased scrutiny of his 28-year tenure as central bank governor following the collapse of Lebanon’s financial system.

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