The logo of the Strong Lebanon parliamentary group. (Credit: NNA)
The Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc, which includes MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), stated on Tuesday that "the Israeli incursion into Batroun is further proof that Lebanon is unprotected against the Israeli enemy," referring to an incident on Friday when a Lebanese naval captain was abducted.
In a statement issued after the party's weekly meeting, the bloc also called on the government and the United Nations to investigate the matter and "the circumstances that facilitated the infiltration."
Last Friday, an Israeli army commando abducted a merchant naval captain in Batroun, North Lebanon. Israel confirmed that it had captured a "high-ranking Hezbollah operative" during the operation, which was conducted by an elite naval unit. Hezbollah, however, denied any connection to the individual.
The bloc also called for "a cease-fire between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy and the implementation of Resolution 1701 by both sides, separating this matter from the cease-fire in Gaza. Managing the affairs of the Palestinian people — whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or the diaspora — is a purely Palestinian matter and should be handled through Palestinian national consensus."
The statement emphasized that "hosting displaced Lebanese is a national duty, and their protection is the responsibility of the state. Political forces must contain the inflammatory rhetoric that paves the way for discord between displaced citizens and host communities."
Finally, the FPM deputies urged Parliament "to elect a President of the Republic as soon as possible and to establish a rescue plan to halt violations of the constitution and laws."