Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has strongly condemned the newly announced "framework agreement" between the Lebanese government and Israel, describing it as a severe surrender of national sovereignty that legitimizes a prolonged Israeli occupation. According to a report by Al Mayadeen, Qassem warned that the deal deprives displaced Lebanese citizens of their right to return and risks paving the way for the annexation of Lebanese territory. The remarks come amidst escalating tensions and a fragile ceasefire along the volatile northern border region.
In a detailed statement, Qassem criticized the Lebanese authorities for allowing the enemy to dictate internal affairs, insisting that any arrangement must be strictly confined to the area south of the Litani River. He labeled the agreement a "terrible fall" and a "great sin," arguing that it enables Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to monitor the deployment of the Lebanese army in designated experimental zones while overseeing so-called disarmament efforts. Qassem stressed that the resistance’s weapons will never be surrendered, calling any attempt to link an Israeli withdrawal to the disarmament of the resistance across all of Lebanon a dangerous red line that turns the country into a plaything for the enemy. He condemned the Tripartite Committee, arguing it merely accommodates Israeli demands rather than protecting Lebanese interests.
Furthermore, the Hezbollah leader strongly accused the Lebanese government of recklessly squandering unprecedented diplomatic leverage. He referenced a supposed Iranian-American memorandum of understanding that allegedly secured an immediate and permanent ceasefire, strictly guaranteeing Lebanon's territorial integrity. Qassem claimed that when Israel blatantly violated this initial pact, Iran intervened to force a halt to hostilities. However, he argued that the Lebanese state abandoned this powerful card, opting instead for direct negotiations that he characterized as "purely free concessions" to Israel, directly contradicting Lebanese laws that criminalize normalization with the "Zionist entity".
Echoing these very strong sentiments, MP Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, denounced the tripartite framework statement as a blatant falsification of facts. Raad asserted that the agreement represents total submission to American tutelage and active collusion with the Israeli enemy against the Lebanese people. He described the deal as an extremely ominous mechanism designed specifically to cover up and extend the illegal Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon.
The controversy erupted after the United States officially announced the controversial framework agreement on Friday, a move enthusiastically celebrated by Netanyahu as a major strategic achievement that justifies the continued presence of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. In stark contrast, the announcement triggered widespread outrage across Lebanon. Numerous regions witnessed angry protest movements, while prominent political figures and grassroots organizations issued firm declarations rejecting the framework, demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese soil. Meanwhile, Qassem reaffirmed the resistance's steadfastness in the field, vowing to defend the country until the very last inch is liberated.