No peace agreement in the Middle East "would be viable without guaranteeing the right of return for Palestinians, all Palestinians, to their homes, and no force in the world can erase the Palestinian cause," insisted caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Mikati was speaking at a forum on "Lebanon's Role Amid Israeli Violations and Global Resolutions," held in Beirut on Wednesday. He extensively discussed the war in Gaza and the conflict in South Lebanon since October 2023. The conflict on the Lebanese-Israeli border began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah opened a "supporting front" for Gaza by launching attacks on Israel.

"In Lebanon, our preference has always been peace; our culture is a culture of peace, based on law, justice, and international resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701," he said, referring to the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war. However, he continued, "As a people, we cannot accept the regular violations of our sovereignty and national dignity, as well as threats to the security of our civilians."

Reminding the international community of "its duty towards Palestinian refugees," he emphasized, "the Palestinian people's right to live in a free and independent land, noting that any attempt to ignore this principle will result in further crises in the Middle East and the world."

The right of return to Palestine is a major demand of the Palestinian cause, with nearly 4.7 million Palestinians currently recognized as refugees, having been forced to flee Palestine after 1948. These refugees primarily settled in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, according to 2022 figures from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the region (UNRWA).