The Municipality of Haret Hreik issued the following statement: “In light of the dangerous and ongoing Israeli military escalation, and the public threats issued by the Israeli enemy to expand the scope of its attacks to include the capital, Beirut, and its environs, and based on our national and moral responsibility to preserve the safety of our sons and daughters, the municipality of Haret Hreik calls on all administrations of public and private schools located within the scope of the town to be patient and not to proceed with opening their doors or resuming in-person classes at this sensitive stage. The safety of students, educational and administrative bodies remains an absolute priority that cannot be neglected under any circumstances, especially in light of the unstable security conditions and rapid field developments that may endanger the lives of civilians. Accordingly, the municipality requests all schools to postpone the in-person return and suspend the decision to open their doors until further notice, until the security picture becomes clear and appropriate conditions are available that guarantee the safety of everyone. The municipality also confirms that any educational institution that takes a unilateral decision to open its doors and receive students under these exceptional circumstances bears full responsibility for any risks or repercussions that may result from this decision, given that protecting students must take precedence over any other considerations. May God protect our children and families, and protect Lebanon from all evil.”