Hezbollah Rejects US-Brokered Israel-Lebanon Deal, Calls It ‘Humiliation’

Hezbollah refuses to accept the Lebanon-Israel agreement.

Naim Qassem has described the agreement as utterly detrimental to Lebanon.

The agreement between Lebanon and Israel was brokered by the US.

Beirut: Hezbollah has completely rejected the US-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Naim Qassem, the head of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, alleged that the agreement is entirely one-sided and favors Israel; consequently, Hezbollah will not abide by it. Hezbollah's rejection of the deal has dimmed hopes for an end to the months-long conflict and the restoration of peace in Lebanon.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem strongly condemned the US-Israel-Lebanon framework agreement. He stated that his group considers the agreement a major blunder by the Lebanese government and rejects it as invalid. The agreement was signed in Washington on Friday; it includes provisions such as Israel relinquishing its occupation of Lebanese territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

"This Lebanon-Israel agreement is completely ineffective and worthless. By unilaterally granting concessions to Israel, the Lebanese government has undermined the country's sovereignty. Hezbollah will never agree to lay down its arms."

— Hezbollah Chief Qassem

'The agreement is meaningless'

Qassem stated that the framework agreement reached in Washington is humiliating and shameful. This is tantamount to mortgaging Lebanon's sovereignty. It cannot be considered an agreement. We demand the implementation of the terms of the MoU reached between Iran and the US; that MoU includes a provision for a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Naim Qassem stated that Israel must withdraw from Lebanon unconditionally, as it is illegally occupying another country's territory. Lebanese officials are making a grave mistake by legitimizing the continuation of the Israeli occupation for years to come; this could even lead to the annexation of these areas.