The Secretary General of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has called on the Lebanese government to cease direct negotiations with Israel.
According to a statement released on the movement's Telegram channel and reported by the Operative Information Center-OMM, Qassem emphasized that the government should transition to indirect negotiations rather than direct engagement with Tel Aviv. The movement leader urged the Lebanese authorities to return to a national dialogue and demanded the annulment of a recent decision that prohibits the activities of Hezbollah's armed wing.
Qassem described the March 2 decision as "shameful" and stressed the necessity of its withdrawal, asserting that the government must prioritize national interests and strengthen internal unity. He further claimed that Israel, with the support of the United States, is attempting to weaken the "Islamic resistance," including Hezbollah, but maintained that the movement would not relinquish its right to self-defense or its armed resistance. The statement from Hezbollah also confirmed that the group would not surrender its weapons.
Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon, has been a central actor in the regional conflict with Israel for decades. The group's military capabilities and its role within the Lebanese political system have long been subjects of intense domestic and international debate. This latest development comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where the involvement of major powers remains a critical factor. Notably, under the administration of US President Donald Trump, Washington has maintained a firm stance on regional security and the activities of Iranian-backed groups, continuing to provide significant support to Israel's defense initiatives.
