Russia

‘I’ve forgotten how a normal person sees’: Survivor of Israel’s pager attack talks to RT (VIDEO)

RT English · 2026-09-19

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: A Lebanese woman, Zeinab Mistrah, shared her experience of life-altering injuries from the September 2024 pager attack in Lebanon, which resulted from an Israeli military operation targeting Hezbollah, killing dozens and injuring thousands. • Why it matters: Mistrah's story underscores the severe impact of military actions on civilians and highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, reflecting broader humanitarian concerns in the region. • What to watch next: The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, with continued Israeli military operations and the potential for further escalations, particularly in light of the recent resurgence of conflict involving Hezbollah.

**Title: Survivor of Israel’s 2024 Pager Attack Shares Her Story of Resilience**

A Lebanese woman, Zeinab Mistrah, has opened up about her life-altering injuries sustained during a series of explosions in Lebanon in September 2024, which were linked to an Israeli military operation targeting Hezbollah. In an interview with RT, Mistrah discussed her ongoing struggle to adapt to her new reality two years after the attacks.

On September 17, 2024, thousands of pagers, primarily used by Hezbollah members, exploded across Lebanon. This was followed by additional detonations of walkie-talkies the next day. The attacks resulted in dozens of fatalities and left thousands injured. The Israeli government later acknowledged its responsibility for the operation.

Mistrah, who was not carrying a pager at the time of the explosion, was severely affected when a nearby device detonated. As a result of the blast, she lost her left eye, has only 10% vision remaining in her right eye, and suffered the loss of the tips of three fingers on her right hand. Reflecting on her condition, she remarked, “I’ve actually forgotten how a normal person sees things. I simply view the world this way now.”

Prior to the explosion, Mistrah was pursuing a career in interior design and was preparing for her upcoming marriage. However, her injuries have drastically altered her daily life, making even simple tasks a challenge.

In a tragic turn of events, Mistrah endured another injury more than a year later when an Israeli missile struck her building while she was sleeping. This attack, which targeted an individual in the apartment below hers, resulted in a significant back injury that left her bedridden for an extended period.

Mistrah expressed her frustration and anger at Israel's actions, accusing the government of failing to consider the potential risks to civilians during the pager operation. “That is when you realize just how hostile Israel is towards humanity,” she stated during the interview. She also criticized the United States for its support of Israel, emphasizing that the military operation did not take into account the presence of vulnerable individuals, including children and women.

The pager explosions were part of a broader context of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, following nearly a year of cross-border skirmishes. The situation intensified further when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut later that month, which was followed by Israeli ground incursions into southern Lebanon.

The conflict saw a resurgence in March 2026, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel amid the outbreak of a US-Israeli war on Iran. A ceasefire brokered by the US in June helped to reduce hostilities, but Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon have persisted. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, more than 4,000 people have died and over 12,000 have been injured due to Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2026.

Mistrah’s story highlights the profound impact of conflict on civilians and the long-lasting effects of violence. As she continues to navigate her new reality, her resilience serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war.

For more on Mistrah’s experience and the ongoing situation in Lebanon, viewers can watch the full report by RT correspondent Steve Sweeney from Beirut.

Source: RT English
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