A Hezbollah supporter waves the group’s flag in front of Lebanese army soldiers on the road to Beirut airport, Feb. 7, 2025. (AFP file photo)
Hundreds of people gathered in Beirut's Riad al-Solh Square outside the Grand Serail on Saturday afternoon to protest the government's decision to enter into direct negotiations with Israel. The protesters waved flags of Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, Iran and Lebanon. “The Resistance is our choice,” read the placards they held aloft, whilst some chanted: “Nawaf Salam is a Zionist.” The demonstration ended without any security incidents.
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement both distanced themselves from the demonstration, issuing a joint statement in which they called on their supporters “not to demonstrate during this critical period the country is going through ... in order to preserve stability, protect civil peace, and not allow themselves to be drawn into a division sought by the Israeli enemy.”
Furthermore, the Future Movement denounced their flags being waved around by protesters during the demonstration. It also stated that the party had not called on its supporters to take part in the sit-in.
Tensions had escalated both on and offline on Saturday following the controversial announcement of negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv. Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to the Iranian supreme leader, sent a message directly to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stating that "ignoring the role of the resistance and Hezbollah would expose Lebanon to irreparable security risks."
At the same time, calls to protest were made for Saturday at 4 p.m. in front of the Grand Serail, prompting the Lebanese Army to warn against "any mobilization that could threaten stability and civil peace."
Ali Akbar Velayati addressed a message to Beirut on Saturday, specifically targeting the prime minister. "Nawaf Salam must know that ignoring the irreplaceable role of the resistance and the heroic Hezbollah will expose Lebanon to irreparable security risks," Velayati wrote in a post on X. He also stated that "the stability of Lebanon is only possible through the synergy between the government and the resistance." These remarks come a day after demonstrations in Beirut against negotiations with Israel.
Faced with these developments, the Sunni Mufti of the Republic Abdellatif Deriane said that "attacking and undermining Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is an offense to all Lebanese." Dar al-Fatwa "rejects any attack or excess aimed at any authority or institution, whether it is the presidency of the republic, the presidency of the chamber, or the presidency of the council, as this undermines the prestige and stature of the state," he added.
The religious leader also called for the preservation of civil peace and national unity, warning against any drift that could plunge the country into "a spiral of chaos, instability and collapse" and serve "the interests of the Israeli enemy." The mufti finally called on the army and security forces to "strengthen security in Beirut and confront any incitement," in order to "preserve the dignity of citizens as well as public and private property."
For his part, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Saturday that "what happened yesterday, Friday, in Beirut in terms of demonstrations and insults against Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is absolutely unacceptable," calling on "the state to assume its responsibilities so as not to allow the repetition of this scenario." He praised the head of government "who is shouldering national responsibilities at a delicate time."
Warning from the Lebanese Army
On the security front, the Lebanese Army warned in a statement against "any mobilization that could endanger stability and civil peace," at a time when calls to demonstrate this Saturday at 4 p.m. in front of the Grand Serail have been made on social networks against the Lebanese authorities' decision to negotiate with Israel.
"There have been recent calls for citizens to gather and demonstrate to demand several rights. The army command, which reaffirms the right to peaceful expression of opinion, firmly warns against any mobilization that could endanger stability and civil peace, or lead to attacks on public and private property," the army emphasized.
The Army also warned that it "will intervene firmly to prevent any harm to internal stability, while Lebanon needs the highest level of awareness and responsibility," and called on citizens to "comply with the instructions of the military units deployed."
These statements come as calls to protest have been made for Saturday at 4 p.m. in front of the Grand Serail against the Lebanese authorities' decision to enter into direct negotiations with Israel. In this tense context, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said in an interview with al-Jadeed channel that the party was "committed to civil peace."
"There are those who spread rumors to stir discord, and Hezbollah is committed to civil peace. We are part of the government and we betray no one, and we refuse any insult against any politician in the country," he stressed.
