Israeli military strikes have killed Father Pierre al-Raai, a priest from the Christian village of Qlayaa in southern Lebanon, as local residents continue to pledge they will remain despite calls for evacuation and escalating attacks.
The priest died on Monday after two separate Israeli strikes hit the outskirts of the village, injuring several residents, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Qlayaa, located in the Marjayoun district just north of the Israeli border and south of the Litani River, had largely been spared from previous shelling that has killed at least 486 people across Lebanon since March 2, according to the country’s health ministry. Before his death, Al-Raai reaffirmed his commitment to stay with his congregation, sending a voice message to villagers stating, “We have never fled… And we will not flee now, either. The church is open, and we welcome everyone until this crisis passes.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping mission is set to evacuate civilians from the nearby village of Alma al-Shaab, about 43 kilometers (27 miles) from Qlayaa, highlighting the growing threat to Christian communities in southern Lebanon.
NNA reported that a man was killed in an Israeli raid there on Sunday.Local leaders have reiterated their determination to remain on their land.
Last week, Mayor Chadi Sayah addressed worshippers, saying, “We’re choosing to stay on our land. We want to live in peace,” in a Facebook video posted on the official parish page.
The killing of Father Al-Raai underscores the rising humanitarian toll of Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon, even in communities that had previously avoided direct attacks.
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