Beirut 1996: Israel's Grapes of Wrath and the Qana Massacre

In April 1996, Israel launched Operation Grapes of Wrath, a 17-day campaign of air and artillery strikes against Lebanese civilian infrastructure and Hezbollah strongholds. The operation culminated in the Qana massacre, where Israeli shelling killed over 100 civilians sheltering at a UN compound. This episode explores the military strategy, the diplomatic crisis that followed, and the April Understanding that reshaped the rules of engagement between Israel and Hezbollah. We follow the story through the eyes of UNIFIL peacekeepers, Lebanese civilians, and the political maneuvering in Beirut, Tel Aviv, and Washington. Lucas and Luna unpack how the Shia community's displacement to the southern suburbs of Beirut accelerated, how the ceasefire agreement set the stage for the 2000 Israeli withdrawal, and why Qana became a symbol of civilian suffering in a war without front lines. Featuring details on the F-16 strikes, the Katyusha rocket barrages, the role of US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, and the controversial use of the 1974 Geneva Conventions.

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