
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem during an interview on NBC. (Credit: Archive photo by NBC)
Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, addressed the Lebanese state and the international community on Saturday, stating, "Do not test our patience." This statement was made during a speech at an event dedicated to "Resistance in Gaza," on the eve of a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, which could potentially end a devastating war lasting more than a year.
In Lebanon, where the party opened a support front for Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated in September, devolving into an all-out war. A cease-fire was brokered on Nov. 27 and is set to expire on Jan. 26, though Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities have reported repeated violations of the agreement.
"Our patience with [Israeli] violations aimed to give an opportunity to the Lebanese state, which is responsible for this agreement, and to international leaders. But I say to them: do not test our patience," said Naim Qassem. He called on the Lebanese state to take a firm stand against the violations, which he claimed number over a hundred, insisting that "this cannot continue." The agreement, he noted, is limited to the area south of the Litani River, referring to the region where Hezbollah is supposed to withdraw, ceding control to the Lebanese army and UN forces.
'Emerging glorious and with heads held high'
During his speech, Sheikh Naim Qassem hailed what he described as "a day of victory against the despicable Israeli enemy" and praised the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation of Oct. 7, 2023, which he said "revived the Palestinian cause, echoing across the globe," as the cease-fire in Gaza was set to take effect on Sunday. He acknowledged the "immense sacrifices" but claimed they "prevented Israel's subjugation plans" in the enclave.
"This cease-fire is no different from what was proposed in May 2024, proving the resilience of the Resistance," he argued, claiming that Israel had "suffered heavy losses" in terms of personnel, as well as economically and psychologically. "The people within the Israeli entity will not remain settled in Palestine. Wait and see the consequences in the coming days and months. Internal divisions within Israel will continue to grow, and there is no solution for Palestine other than to return this land to its rightful inhabitants," the Hezbollah leader asserted.
Sheikh Qassem also paid tribute to the memory of Hassan Nasrallah, his predecessor, who was assassinated on Sept. 27 during heavy Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. “Hezbollah thwarted Israel's objectives, which sought to destroy the Resistance in Lebanon. The Resistance emerged glorious and with heads held high,” he declared.
"We come out of this with our heads held high; the weapons remain in the hands of the resistance fighters, and Resolution 1701 is a general framework," he continued, referring to the UN Security Council resolution adopted in 2006 that ended the war between the party and Israel. The resolution stipulated the exclusive presence of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon.
Regarding plans involving the Resistance and its weapons, Sheikh Qassem emphasized that such matters are addressed within a defense strategy and through dialogue aimed at safeguarding Lebanon’s strength, sovereignty and independence.
Joseph Aoun elected with Shiite bloc's support
The Hezbollah leader, who had not spoken publicly since Joseph Aoun's election as President of Lebanon on Jan. 9, addressed the matter. “It was our participation as Hezbollah and Amal that led to the election of General Joseph Aoun by consensus,” he asserted.
“No one can exclude us from effective political participation in the country. We are an essential component of Lebanon and its revival,” Naim Qassem added, referring to the parliamentary consultations led by Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam to form a new government.
These negotiations lasted two days, but the parliamentary blocs of Hezbollah and the Shiite Amal movement boycotted the consultations. Nawaf Salam eventually met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the leader of Amal, who described the meeting as "promising," hinting that a government could soon be formed with the participation of the Shiite duo. “No one will benefit politically from the consequences of the [Israeli] aggression in domestic politics. Political developments are separate from the situation of the Resistance,” Naim Qassem emphasized in his speech.