Hula, Lebanon


Hula is a small Muslim village in southern Lebanon on the southern side of the Litani river near the Lebanese-Israeli border. The largest family known there, the family of Ktaish. It is located 750 meters above sea-level.
The village maintains its cultural traditions to the present day, such as baking bread and holding village festivals. The inhabitants of the village speak the Southern Lebanese dialect of Arabic.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war two officers from the IDF carried out the Hula massacre in the village, killing over 80 civilians of ages 15–60.

History

The Survey of Western Palestine mentions several ancient lintels and one olive-press having been found at Hula.

Ottoman period

In 1875 Victor Guérin explores the geographical location of Houla and other Southern villages of Lebanon bordering Palestine.
In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine described it as: "A village, built of stone, containing about 500 Shia, one of the most prominent objects in which is a Sheikh's tomb. It is situated on the hill-top, and is surrounded by olives, vines, and arable land. There are several cisterns, two birkets, and a spring." It also mentions that a small central mosque is situated on top of one of the hills in the village.

Modern era

In October 24 1948, the city fell in Israeli's occupation without resistance, children and women were expelled, and men aging from 15 to 60 were gathered in a house.
Between October 30, and November 1 these men were shot dead by lieutenant Shmuel Lahis and his friend, and then they blow the house on their dead bodies. an incident which is known as the Hula massacre.
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, on July 15, Israel killed 2 young women in an air-strike against a home in Hula. On August 7, 2006, an Israeli airstrike on Houla killed another civilian.

Notable people