Hezbollah Leader Rejects Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Deal

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has declared his rejection of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, asserting that the militant group will persist in its armed resistance as long as Israeli forces occupy Lebanese land. Qassem issued a statement on June 4th, denouncing the truce as a scheme aimed at "annihilating a part of the Lebanese people and enslaving the remainder."

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As long as the occupation continues, the resistance will continue.

In his written statement, Qassem emphasized that the proposed ceasefire must encompass the Shebaa Farms and surrounding areas, which remain under Israeli occupation. He warned that just as Israeli towns in the north face bombardment, Lebanese villages cannot expect safety while under occupation and attack. "As long as our villages are not safe, bombed, destroyed, and our people killed, then the towns of northern Israel will not know safety either," he stated.

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The ceasefire is a plan to annihilate a part of the Lebanese people and enslave the remainder.

Qassem's firm stance contrasts with the position of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who had described the US-mediated ceasefire as the "last opportunity" to secure a lasting truce. Aoun indicated that the agreement could take effect within a day if all parties consented, implicitly referencing Hezbollah's potential agreement.

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As long as our villages are not safe, bombed, destroyed, and our people killed, then the towns of northern Israel will not know safety either.

The Hezbollah leader's refusal underscores the deep divisions and ongoing tensions in the region. Despite international efforts to broker peace, the conflict's core issues, particularly the Israeli occupation, remain significant obstacles to a comprehensive resolution.

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the US-brokered ceasefire agreement is the last chance to ensure a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.