FILE- Hezbollah's chief Naim Qassem. AP
Speaking at a Hezbollah-organized event titled “Najee‘ wa Midad”, Qassem criticized the Lebanese government’s decision to appoint a civilian representative to the ceasefire monitoring committee known as the “mechanism.” He described the decision as another “misstep” and a “free concession to Israel.”
Moreover, Qassem warned that the government must “reflect carefully on its decisions before the ship sinks with everyone on board.”
He stressed that any dealings with Israel must remain strictly within the boundaries of the ceasefire agreement. Israel, he noted, was “a hostile, expansionist entity that has not abided by the accord.”
“We cooperate with everyone to build the state and liberate the land,” he said. “Our record speaks for itself. We neither seek certificates of approval from anyone nor grant them. Others are the ones in need of exoneration for their dark history, their crimes, and their role in the civil war.”
He accused Israel and the US of seeking to “disarm us, cut off funding, block services, shut down schools and hospitals, prevent reconstruction and donations, and demolish homes.” “They want to eliminate our existence,” he added.
Qassem rejected any talk of areas “beyond the Litani River,” deeming such issues an internal Lebanese affair.
He added that the United States “has nothing to do with Lebanon’s weapons, defence strategy, or internal political disputes.”
“We will defend ourselves, our people, and our country,” he declared. “We are ready to sacrifice, we will not surrender, and our response will only become stronger.”
Hezbollah leader's remarks follow an unprecedented meeting held a day earlier between Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives in Naqoura. The meeting, held in the presence of US officials, aimed to de-escalate tensions in southern Lebanon.
On Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun chaired a cabinet session at the Baabda Palace. During the session, Aoun announced the appointment of former ambassador Simon Karam as head of the Lebanese delegation on the joint ceasefire monitoring committee, otherwise known as the “Mechanism Committee.”
According to Lebanese and Israeli officials, the talks marked the first direct and publicly acknowledged engagement between the two sides in more than 30 years. However, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam clarified that Lebanon's negotiations with Israel under the ceasefire monitoring mechanism involved no talks of a broader peace between the two sides.
Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024, Israeli occupation forces continue to carry out near-daily airstrikes on Lebanon. Israeli forces also still occupy five positions in the southern area.
The ongoing occupation of these outposts has been widely condemned as a blatant violation of the ceasefire. It has raised serious doubts about Israel’s commitment to upholding the agreement.
Hezbollah has honoured its side of the deal. It has ceased retaliatory attacks on Israel and, in coordination with the Lebanese army, has withdrawn from the area south of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border. In addition, Hezbollah dismantled all the remaining military infrastructure in the south and allowed the army to take up its former positions near the southern border.
Nevertheless, Israel's violations have continued up until November 2025, with UNIFIL reporting more than 10,000 violations and the Lebanese authorities documenting 5,350 others.
These violations, including repeated strikes, have killed over 330 people and wounded 945.
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