Youmna Gemayel in front of her father's tomb, Bachir Gemayel, in Bickfaya, on Sept. 14, 2022. (Credit: Gemayel's Facebook page)
She rarely speaks out, but this is not the first time she has sparked controversy. Three weeks after hostilities began between Hezbollah and Israel, Youmna Gemayel, daughter of Bashir Gemayel — the former president-elect assassinated in 1982 — made a statement that continues to stir debate.On her X account, she wrote: "We will certainly confront any violation to the 10,452 square kilometers [the area of Lebanon], as well as to the Lebanese people or territory, whether it comes from Israel, Syria, or any country."While this clearly referenced Israel’s ground offensive in the South, the timing also suggested a response to circulating rumors about the Syrian army entering Lebanon to fight Hezbollah. Damascus consistently denies this possibility, yet Hezbollah-affiliated circles frequently present it as a genuine risk.Gemayel’s...
She rarely speaks out, but this is not the first time she has sparked controversy. Three weeks after hostilities began between Hezbollah and Israel, Youmna Gemayel, daughter of Bashir Gemayel — the former president-elect assassinated in 1982 — made a statement that continues to stir debate.On her X account, she wrote: "We will certainly confront any violation to the 10,452 square kilometers [the area of Lebanon], as well as to the Lebanese people or territory, whether it comes from Israel, Syria, or any country."While this clearly referenced Israel’s ground offensive in the South, the timing also suggested a response to circulating rumors about the Syrian army entering Lebanon to fight Hezbollah. Damascus consistently denies this possibility, yet Hezbollah-affiliated circles frequently present it as a genuine...
