After Israel’s bombs devastated Nabatieh, the Monday Market is slowly coming back to life. The war on Lebanon in 2023 left Nabatieh in ruins, including its historic market. Sanaa and Youssef, vendors at the market, are among those returning to revive the once vibrant alleys.
Sanaa, with her meticulous arrangement of lingerie pieces, sets up her stall with care, adding color to the quiet market. The vendors, battling wind and rain-soaked canopies, persist in bringing back the Monday Market’s essence.
The roots of Nabatieh’s Monday Market stretch back to the late Mamluk era, flourishing under Ottoman rule. The market served as a crucial trade hub, connecting merchants from Palestine and Lebanon. Over time, it evolved into a social and economic ritual, integral to southern Lebanon’s fabric.
Before the war, the market bustled with traders selling everything from shoes to spices. However, Israeli airstrikes in 2024 left the market in shambles, reducing historic stone arches to rubble and burning shopfronts.
Despite the devastation, vendors like Sanaa, Youssef, Jihad, and Abbas are determined to rebuild. They return to the market, setting up stalls amidst debris and memories of a bygone era.
Jihad, from Bint Jbeil, navigates slow business in the wake of the conflict, while Abbas recalls a generational connection to the market. The vendors, resilient in the face of adversity, strive to revive the market’s spirit.
As merchants like Rachid and Abir return to the market, the sense of resistance against Israeli attacks is palpable. The Monday Market becomes a symbol of defiance, a testament to the community’s determination to reclaim their livelihoods.
Mayor Kodeih, injured in an Israeli strike, vows to rebuild the market despite the challenges ahead. The city of Nabatieh, scarred by war, remains resilient, with its people seeking solace in the market’s revival.
Despite the destruction, the city’s kindness and humor endure. The market traders hold onto hope, believing that Nabatieh will rise again, embracing a future where the echoes of the past mingle with the promise of new beginnings.
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