Senegal has successfully repatriated 117 of its citizens from Lebanon, as Israeli forces intensify their offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs. The government-organized flight arrived in Dakar on Saturday, bringing emotional reunions and tragic stories that underscore the human toll of the expanding Middle East conflict.
Among the returnees was 11-year-old Mariam Hachem, who suffered a broken foot in the violence. Her father, Hussein Hachem, greeted her at Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport, sharing the heartbreaking news that his 14-year-old son had been killed when their home was bombed. “I lost everything. I lost my son. I lost my house. All my dreams,” Hachem said, describing how he had spoken to his son just ten minutes before the attack.
Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Yassine Fall, condemned the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon in an interview with Reuters. “The Senegalese government, of course, is condemning the Israeli army’s bombardment in Lebanon, the bombardment of civilians… the destruction of infrastructure,” Fall stated. She noted that about 1,000 Senegalese nationals were in Lebanon before the evacuation efforts began.
Fall also highlighted Senegal’s historical ties to both Lebanon and Palestine, emphasizing the country’s role as chair of the United Nations Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People since 1975. She expressed strong criticism of the situation in Gaza, describing it as a “genocide” and calling for international action.
Israel has vehemently rejected accusations of genocide, including in a case brought by South Africa at the World Court. The country maintains it is acting in self-defense following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and approximately 250 hostages taken.
The repatriation efforts come as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, with the war spreading from Gaza to Lebanon. Earlier on Saturday, demonstrators in Dakar marched to protest Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon, calling for a ceasefire in the widening conflict.
