Hezbollah’s Leader Says It Has Responded To US Proposal, Ceasefire In Israel’s Hands

In his third speech since taking over as Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem announced on Wednesday that the group had reviewed a U.S.-backed proposal for a ceasefire. Their response, he said, was delivered through Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, leaving the next move in Israel’s hands.

Speaking in a pre-recorded message, Qassem refrained from revealing Hezbollah’s stance to the public but emphasized two guiding principles in the negotiations: a complete halt to all hostilities and upholding Lebanon’s sovereignty.

He dismissed any suggestion that Israel would retain the ability to continue attacking Hezbollah after a ceasefire, asserting that no agreement should permit violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

Qassem’s comments came just hours after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar addressed 100 foreign ambassadors, stating Israel’s desire for a lasting agreement with Hezbollah while insisting on the right to respond to any breaches of such an accord.

In his address, Qassem also declared that Hezbollah was prepared for a prolonged conflict if necessary. The group, he said, was ready to endure significant sacrifices, knowing that any price they pay would also be borne by their adversary. He warned that Hezbollah would retaliate against strikes on Beirut by targeting Tel Aviv.

“When the enemy does not achieve its goals, it means we have won,” he asserted.

The Hezbollah leader confirmed that negotiations for a ceasefire were ongoing and that the group was monitoring developments to determine their effectiveness. He added that achieving a truce would depend on “the Israeli response and the seriousness” of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Through the agreement, the occupation [Israel] believed that it could obtain what it has not achieved on the battlefield, but that is impossible,” Qassem said.

His remarks coincided with U.S. Mideast envoy Amos Hochstein’s announcement that he would visit Israel to push for a ceasefire following “additional progress” made during his second meeting with Speaker Berri in Beirut.

While the details of Hochstein’s itinerary in Israel were not immediately available, reports suggested he was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu on Thursday morning.

Turning to Lebanon’s internal challenges, Qassem expressed Hezbollah’s intention to collaborate with other political factions to facilitate the election of a new president in parliament once a ceasefire was in place.

Since October 8, 2023, Hezbollah-led forces have carried out near-daily attacks on Israeli military positions and communities along the border. The group has claimed that its actions are in solidarity with Gaza during the ongoing war there.

{Matzav.com}