"It Will Remain the City of Life"... An Appeal to Protect Tyre’s Tourist Landmarks

The Lebanese Federation of Tourism Syndicates announced its condemnation "in the strongest terms of the continued targeting of our people in Tyre, the South, and all of Lebanon, while the world, which moves swiftly to protect stones and antiquities across the globe, excludes Lebanon—its stones, its people, its historical and cultural heritage, and its tourist landmarks—and remains silent in the face of the suffering of a resisting people defending their land, dignity, and right to life."

In a statement, the federation said: "At a time when the authorities stand by watching southern Lebanon as it faces Israeli aggression, the city of Tyre once again stands wrapped in dignity. Just as this city has written, and continues to write, its history through resistance and civilization, it has offered the nation its steadfast men who stand firm in the face of occupation and tyranny."

It added: "UNESCO has placed the city of Tyre on the World Heritage List because of the immense human and civilizational legacy it holds. But the true value of this city lies not only in its columns, fortresses, and archaeological and historical harbors, but also in its people, who protected both the land and history together, and confronted occupation, terrorism, and aggression with unbreakable resolve."

It stressed that "Tyre today is not merely a stricken city, but the emblem of the steadfastness of the entire South, and a living image of a people being punished because they chose dignity and resistance and refused submission. Everyone who abandoned the people of the South to their fate, or colluded through silence, is a partner in this historical and humanitarian ظلم."

It called on the Lebanese authorities to "assume their national responsibilities toward the South and its people, to act immediately to protect civilians, support their steadfastness, and secure the necessities of a dignified life for them. It also calls for the launch of a genuine emergency plan to save the tourism, heritage, and cultural sectors in the affected areas, and for serious action with the relevant international institutions, foremost among them UNESCO, to protect heritage and humanitarian sites in Tyre and southern Lebanon, and to end the policy of silence regarding the attacks and systematic targeting to which Lebanon is being subjected."

The federation saluted the people of Tyre, as well as the steadfast displaced, "who have endured the pain of aggression, uprooting, and deprivation," affirming that "the South, which defeated the occupation and liberated the land, is capable of overcoming this ordeal no matter how intense the conspiracies and pressures become."

The statement concluded by affirming that "Tyre will not become a forgotten relic on the margins of history, but will remain the city of life, resistance, and victory, as it has always been."