Unsettling scenes unfolded in the Beirut area of Hamra on Monday, as hundreds of displaced Lebanese who had taken refuge in a building were to be evicted by Lebanese security forces.
Demonstrators gathered to show their support for the internally displaced people, who initially reported having the owner's permission to seek shelter there.
Israel's escalated attacks on Lebanon have often targeted Shia Muslim areas, where the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah has significant support.
Plagued by War
Many of the millions of Lebanese displaced from their homes are Shia Muslims – a crucial detail in a country that has been plagued by a long and bloody civil war in modern times.
The Hamra area is known for being a district where people of different religions live, which sets it apart from many other districts in Beirut.
The protests ultimately led to an agreement, allowing women and children to stay in the building. However, the scenes revived old fears, which were reinforced by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu's statements the same day.
Ceasefire Necessary
Our position is currently mainly based on a fear... of an impending civil war in Lebanon, says Lecornu in an interview with French TV channel LCI.
A ceasefire in Lebanon is necessary for collective security, according to the defense minister.
We are here to try to avoid a war between religions and a civil war in Lebanon in a very operational way, he continued, according to French media.
