Hezbollah Leader Naim Qassem Demands Lebanon Cancel Peace Talks With Israel

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem issued a forceful rejection of the US-led peace talks scheduled between Lebanon and Israel.

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Al Jazeera

Qassem said, We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity... We call for a historic and heroic stance by canceling this negotiating meeting.

Al Jazeera

The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors were set to meet to discuss direct negotiations between the two countries.

Qassem insisted such talks require a Lebanese agreement and consensus which he said does not exist.

He accused the Lebanese government of becoming a tool for Israel.

We will not surrender. We will remain in the field until our last breath.

Qassem's rejection highlighted growing tensions between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government.

The government last year approved a plan to remove all weapons not belonging to the state, and declared Hezbollah's armed wing illegal.

Anadolu Ajansı

Qassem said, You have taken a decision and you are stabbing the resistance in the back.

Hezbollah is currently not directly speaking with President Aoun or Prime Minister Salam.

Communications are going through Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The contradiction underscores Lebanon's fractured political landscape.

Hezbollah continued to fight Israeli forces in southern Lebanon despite diplomatic developments.

Qassem said the resistance has rebuilt itself after months of Israeli strikes.

He warned that when the opportunity arises, we will capture enemy soldiers.

The IDF has not conducted strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut since Wednesday night.

The conflict has killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and displaced over one million.

We will not surrender and we will stay in the field until the last breath.

The planned Lebanon-Israel talks come amid broader regional efforts to end the fighting.

Lebanese President Aoun said the talks are the responsibility of the Lebanese state, and no other party.

Arab News PK

European leaders have called for the fighting to end.

The divergence between Hezbollah's rejection and the government's engagement illustrates the complex challenge of achieving peace.