Displaced in a Land of Denial: Who is an IDP in Lebanon’s Reluctant War? Jasmin Lilian Diab 1 Abstract This study examines the Lebanese government’s strategic indifference towards internally displaced persons (IDPs) from South Lebanon, especially after the October 2023 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Using in-depth interviews and participant observations, the research highlights how displaced individuals navigate their precarious situations without formal recognition and support. By not acknowledging IDP status, the government evades legal and moral respon- sibilities, forcing reliance on informal networks and humanitarian aid. This per- petuates IDPs’ invisibility and marginalisation, hindering their ability to meet basic needs and rebuild lives. The study underscores the power dynamics and state-to- citizen relations shaping IDPs’ treatment in Lebanon. Keywords Internal displacement, protection, humanitarianism, forced migration, Arab-Israeli Conflict Introduction “[...] but it’s almost as though we’re only ‘displaced’ if they acknowledge the war. Only then can we require some sort of ‘formal’ status or protection. How do I self-designate myself an IDP if “Lebanon does not want a war”? In all honesty, maybe I don’t even feel like one. It’s not an option to feel like one.” –Anonymous 1, South Lebanon, January 21, 2024 Following Hamas’ attack on 7 October 2023, Israel’s disproportionate bombard- ment and mass destruction of Gaza led to renewed clashes the following day Original Article Migration and Development 1–15 © 2025 The Author(s) Article reuse guidelines: in.sagepub.com/journals-permissions-india DOI: 10.1177/21632324241309429 journals.sagepub.com/home/mad 1 Institute for Migration Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon Corresponding author: Jasmin Lilian Diab, Institute for Migration Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut 03797751, Lebanon. E-mail: jasminlilian.diab@lau.edu.lb