Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has formally rejected the newly signed framework agreement between Lebanese authorities and Israel, declaring the pact null and void. In a statement issued after the US-mediated deal was announced, Qassem characterized the agreement as a humiliating surrender of Lebanese sovereignty that prioritizes Israeli and American dictates over national independence.
Qassem's Core Objections
Qassem centered his critique on the claim that the agreement bypassed superior protections offered by a separate Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US. He described that MoU as a gift of honor, dignity, and strength, which stipulated an immediate permanent cessation of hostilities, complete Israeli withdrawal, and guaranteed Lebanon's territorial integrity.
"The authorities are legitimizing the occupation for many years to come, and this could even lead to the annexation of these lands to the Zionist entity!" Qassem stated. He argued that the agreement deprives Lebanese of their right to return to their land and questioned Israeli interference in internal Lebanese affairs. He insisted any agreement must be confined to the area south of the Litani River and have no connection to internal matters concerning weapons, security, or the country's future.
Disarmament and Sovereignty Concerns
Qassem described linking Israeli withdrawal to the disarmament of the resistance throughout Lebanon as a very dangerous proposition that crosses all red lines and makes Lebanon a pawn in the hands of the Israeli enemy. He urged international and Arab pressure to force Israel to adhere to the withdrawal timeline, dismissing any agreement that links withdrawal to internal disarmament as a dangerous violation of Lebanon's right to self-defense.
He launched a sharp attack on the Lebanese government, accusing officials of acting against the will of a significant portion of the population and violating the constitution by engaging in direct negotiations with what he termed the "Zionist enemy entity." Qassem argued the authorities possess no leverage because they "willingly abandoned the power of the resistance" and "stabbed the resistance in the back" through previous government decisions.
Critique of Negotiation Tactics
"We told the authorities that direct negotiations are nothing but gratuitous concessions to Israel, because they are meetings designed to force submission to the demands of aggression and the dictates of Israel and the United States," Qassem stated. He accused the government of going to meetings in hostility with more than half of the Lebanese people, in violation of the constitution and laws that consider the Israeli entity an enemy.
He questioned the integrity of Lebanese authorities, asking why they rejected a ceasefire from Pakistan talks between America and Iran in April 2026, which he claimed led to the Israeli "Black Wednesday" attack that killed hundreds, wounded many, and caused destruction through air raids across Lebanon.
Pilot Program and Monitoring
Qassem expressed deep alarm over the agreement's mechanisms, particularly a pilot program in two zones near the "Yellow Line" where the Lebanese Army would operate under Israeli monitoring. He warned this effectively legitimizes long-term occupation.
"What is this appalling blunder? What is this grave sin of surrendering sovereignty to the Israeli enemy? Netanyahu is allowing the Lebanese army to operate in two experimental zones!" Qassem questioned. He noted the enemy monitors deployment and disarmament steps, and the tripartite committee complies with enemy demands. The experimental period could last months, with no further experimentation without a certificate of good conduct from Israel.
Hezbollah's Continued Operations
Qassem signaled that Hezbollah intends to continue operations, claiming the current ceasefire does not diminish its right to defend the country. "We will pursue all necessary means and exert international and Arab pressure to compel the Israeli enemy to abide by the first clause of the Memorandum of Understanding and withdraw from Lebanon," he declared.
He concluded by urging Lebanese authorities to "retract your sins" and inviting cooperation on a national security strategy prioritizing land liberation and return of displaced citizens. He reaffirmed that Hezbollah would "continue as a resistance in the field to defeat the occupation."
The formal signing of the trilateral framework agreement by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon occurred on Friday. The accord, after several days of intense deliberations in Washington, represents a major breakthrough aimed at ceasing hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, though officials from both sides termed it merely an initial step towards a wider settlement.
