The Lebanese militant movement Hezbollah rejected the terms of the agreement on the implementation of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which was created after negotiations in Washington. The AP agency drew attention to the written statement of the organization’s leader, Naím Kasim, read on Thursday on al-Manár TV.
- The Hezbollah movement rejected the terms of Washington’s ceasefire proposal between Lebanon and Israel.
- Naim Kasim described the departure of fighters from southern Lebanon as an unacceptable capitulation.
- The agreement makes the cease-fire conditional on the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and the cessation of attacks on Israel.
- Hezbollah insists on the end of the Israeli offensive and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.
- Qasim warned that without the protection of the communities, even the north of Israel will not be safe.
Qasim described the demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Lebanon under continued fire as a move that he said would mean capitulation, defeat and the fulfillment of Israel’s goals. At the same time, he called for the Israeli army to completely withdraw from the territory of Lebanon.
Rejected terms
The agreement, which Israel and Lebanon agreed to after tripartite talks in the US, envisages the observance of the already existing, very fragile cease-fire of April. Its basic condition is that the pro-Iranian Hezbollah stops attacks on Israel and withdraws its fighters from the southern part of the country.
In a statement, Qasim emphasized that Hezbollah’s priority is the end of the Israeli offensive, a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory. He claimed that the movement had not pledged to any party to end armed resistance as long as, he said, the occupation continued. According to him, the cease-fire should be “comprehensive” and must not allow Israel to freely continue killing.
Disputed negotiations of the government
Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the conflict again in March by firing rockets into Israeli territory and has long refused direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel. Qasim called on the cabinet to end what he described as a farce and humiliation, which the government describes as direct talks with the Jewish state.
A ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has been formally in effect since April 16, and was extended for another 45 days in mid-May. Nevertheless, Israel has intensified military operations in southern Lebanon on the grounds that it is targeting Hezbollah targets. The movement itself continues sporadic shelling of Israel and attacks on Israeli targets on Lebanese territory.
Threats of further escalation
Qasim warned in a statement that if, according to Hezbollah, Lebanese villages are not protected, they will continue to be bombarded and the Lebanese population will continue to be killed. Under these circumstances, according to him, even the villages in the north of Israel will not be safe.
