Hezbollah Rejects Israel Deal, Vows Not to 'Surrender'

Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naïm Qassem, has firmly rejected a U.S.-brokered framework agreement with Israel, declaring it "illegitimate, illegal, and humiliating" and a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. In a televised speech, Qassem vowed that the powerful Shiite movement would not surrender its arms or accept the terms of the deal.

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We are opposed to the framework agreement and we call for its downfall.

The agreement, reached in June, proposes that the Lebanese army reassert control over southern Lebanon. This would be contingent upon the disarmament of Hezbollah, beginning in designated "pilot zones" from which the Israeli army would withdraw. However, Hezbollah has explicitly refused to accept these "pilot zones" or the verification commission tasked with overseeing the agreement's implementation.

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The framework agreement is illegitimate, illegal, and humiliating. It undermines Lebanese sovereignty and does not allow for the recovery of rights.

Qassem's strong stance comes amid ongoing regional tensions and sporadic Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, which have intensified recently. The conflict, which began on March 2nd when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of Tehran, has resulted in over 4,300 deaths according to Lebanese authorities. Despite a decrease in violence since the June agreement, the situation remains volatile.

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We accept neither the pilot zones nor what follows from them.

Hezbollah's refusal to comply with the disarmament terms poses a significant obstacle to the agreement's success. The movement, which has not claimed attacks against Israeli troops in over two months, maintains a defiant posture, with Qassem asserting, "We keep our heads high and we will not surrender."

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We will not surrender.