Derian: There is no other solution but negotiations to end the massacres

The mufti of the Republic, Abdellatif Derian, called Monday for prioritizing diplomacy in resolving the war that has been ravaging Lebanon since March 2, following the announcement of an Iranian-American cease-fire that includes Lebanon but already appears fragile.

"Devastation is spreading and extending across the country. As a result, the authorities have opted for negotiations to break out of this deadlock, as there is no other solution to end the massacres, sabotage, destruction, and forced displacement," the dignitary said in a message marking the Hijra holiday, celebrated Tuesday.

"The state and the population are facing major challenges. We have long suffered from the presence of armed and political groups and the domination of weapons. The challenge posed by these weapons to the state and its stability has intensified," the mufti warned, adding that the country is also facing the challenges of the Israeli-Iranian conflict and violations of sovereignty. He also thanked Saudi Arabia, which he said is committed "to the security and stability of Lebanon, the development of the state and its institutions, and the strengthening of the unity of the Lebanese people."

"In this explosive climate, Beirut does not need more weapons of discord or arms outside the control of the state," Derian said. "What happened in Aisha Bakkar, near Dar al-Fatwa, is unacceptable," he added, referring to an incident in this West Beirut neighborhood in early June between members of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, a Sunni Islamist political party affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, and individuals close to the Brigades of the Resistance, a militia aligned with Hezbollah.

The mufti also addressed the forced displacement of thousands of families due to the war. "Our cities are overflowing with displaced families, and some are beginning to grow weary of their fate ... A quarter of the country's population is displaced, and another quarter is suffering from hunger," the cleric stressed, while calling for increased solidarity among the Lebanese to overcome the crisis.