The town of Bsharri bid farewell to Haitham and Malik Touk amidst rising feelings of anger from its residents due to the ongoing confusion and perceived inaction regarding the events that occurred on Saturday in Qornet al-Sawda. Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, during the funeral proceedings, called for the demarcation of borders in the Qornet al-Sawda area and the cessation of discord, as well as the identification and accountability of those responsible for the murder of Haitham and Malik Touk. He emphasized, "We believe in the state, we know our limits, we know the killer, and this is not just an incident." He noted that "the youth of Bsharri always declare their readiness for resolution, and we are all under the authority of just law."
MP Strida Geagea from Bsharri reaffirmed her commitment to civil peace and the rule of law, stating, "It is important for us to know the truth and to hand over the criminals as soon as possible." Strida thanked the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Abd al-Latif Deryan for his call and condemnation of the serious incident, as well as Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the MPs who came from far regions to stand with them today, headed by Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi. She added, "I contacted Army Chief General Joseph Aoun, who informed me that there is still a need to keep the detainees from Bsharri for some time until the picture becomes clear."
On the other side, the Union of Municipalities of Al-Dinniyeh expressed sorrow for the "tragic incident that occurred in the Qornet al-Sawda area," extending condolences to the families of Bsharri and especially to the victims’ families while wishing the wounded a speedy recovery. They rejected in a statement the notion that "there is a problem between the people of Bsharri and Al-Dinniyeh," stressing that this situation can no longer tolerate such talk. They insisted on the need to identify the perpetrator and announce the truth to the people, regardless of its nature, and called on all politicians to remove this issue from the political market as Lebanon cannot endure any more.
The union confirmed that "the pain of the people of Bsharri is our pain, and their sorrow is our sorrow. We believe that the people of Bsharri share the same sentiment with us. Certainly, this incident will not pass unnoticed by anyone, as the army is the first and last guarantee for security and stability in this country, which has become afflicted on all levels. We hope this will be the conclusion of all sorrows and discord that have occurred between two interlinked regions dear to each other, sharing bread and salt, grief and joy, and they will remain committed to a shared exemplary living, no matter the provocations or attempts to ignite discord."
The union emphasized that the so-called geographical boundaries between the two regions are within the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities and the competent judiciary, and they will not engage in debates that would only lead to further discord, stating that such matters should be dealt with correctly through the appropriate authorities and according to applicable laws only.
As for the Touk family association, they issued a statement declaring, "Bsharri will not and has never been a place for oppression, and we ask the army leadership and the competent judiciary to uncover the circumstances of the case at the earliest opportunity to find out who killed the martyrs."
