Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Monday rejected direct negotiations with Israel, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to armed resistance, and sharply criticized the Lebanese government’s recent political course in a statement addressing the latest developments in the country.
In a written statement, Qassem said Hezbollah would not recognize or engage with any outcomes stemming from ongoing direct contacts between Lebanese and Israeli officials, describing such negotiations as unacceptable and ineffective.
“Let it be known clearly: these direct negotiations and their outcomes are as if they do not exist for us, and they do not concern us in any way,” he said.
Commitment to armed resistance and challenge to state authority
Reaffirming Hezbollah’s core doctrine, Qassem said the group would not relinquish its weapons under any circumstances, describing them as defensive and necessary in light of what he called ongoing Israeli threats.
“We will not abandon our weapons and our defense,” he said, adding that “the resistance has proven its readiness on the battlefield.”
Qassem added that Hezbollah would continue to respond to developments on the ground, even within the current ceasefire framework, signaling that the group does not consider itself bound by state-led arrangements.
“We will continue our defensive resistance to protect Lebanon and its people… we will respond to Israeli aggression and confront it,” he said.
Criticism of the Lebanese government’s decisions
Qassem firmly dismissed the ongoing diplomatic track between Lebanon and Israel, stating that Hezbollah categorically rejects any form of direct negotiations. He warned that such talks would not serve Lebanon’s interests and said any results emerging from them would be considered null by the group.
He accused Lebanese authorities of making unjustified concessions under external pressure and called for a reversal of key decisions. “It is the responsibility of the authorities to reverse their serious mistakes that are placing Lebanon in a cycle of instability,” he said.
He specifically called for the cancellation of the March 2 government decision that criminalized Hezbollah’s military and security activities. “The authorities must cancel the March 2 decision that criminalizes the resistance and its people that is, more than half of the Lebanese population,” he added.
In a direct challenge to the ongoing diplomatic process, he reiterated that Hezbollah does not consider itself bound by any agreements reached through current negotiations.
Qassem outlined what he described as the necessary conditions for resolving the conflict. These include a complete halt to Israeli military operations across land, air, and sea, a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the release of detainees, the return of displaced civilians, and the launch of reconstruction efforts.
He insisted these steps must come before any broader political process.
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