Hezbollah chief rejects direct talks with Israel, citing political benefit for Netanyahu and Trump

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has once again firmly dismissed the prospect of direct negotiations with Israel, characterizing such a move as a political concession that would primarily serve the interests of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. In a detailed statement, Qassem articulated Hezbollah's position, emphasizing a preference for indirect diplomatic channels while outright rejecting direct engagement.

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We support indirect negotiation diplomacy

Qassem accused Israel of "more than ten thousand times" systematically violating the existing ceasefire, framing the situation not as a truce but as "continuing Israeli-American aggression" against Lebanon. He stressed that Lebanon is the entity being aggressed upon and insisted that any diplomatic process must prioritize the cessation of hostilities. Hezbollah's stance, as articulated by Qassem, is that a resolution will not involve surrender and that Lebanon will not accept political or military arrangements imposed under duress.

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as for direct negotiation, it is a free concession without fruits, and it serves Netanyahu […] and serves Trump before the midterm elections.

This rejection of direct talks comes amidst heightened tensions and ongoing military exchanges along the Israel-Lebanon border. The IDF reported carrying out strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon in response to repeated ceasefire violations by the group, including the firing of anti-tank missiles and the killing of Hezbollah operatives. From a Lebanese perspective, particularly within the context of Hezbollah's political and military influence, these statements reflect a deep-seated distrust of Israel and a strategic positioning aimed at asserting national sovereignty and resisting external pressure. The framing of the conflict as "Israeli-American aggression" serves to consolidate domestic support and project an image of defiance against perceived foreign interference, a narrative that resonates strongly within Lebanon's complex political landscape.

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claiming it had breached the agreement “more than ten thousand times,”