Israeli attack on the village of Mansouri on Aug. 6, 2026. (Credit: Photo received from Muntasser Abdallah)
BEIRUT — Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Loyalty to the Resistance, said Thursday that Israel's threat against the residents of Mansouri (Sour district) exposed the "misery and futility" of the Lebanese authorities' choices.
In a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency, the bloc said this was particularly evident in the government's direct negotiations with Israel.
Since Lebanon started direct negotiations with Israel in April, Hezbollah has repeatedly criticized the Lebanese authorities' decision to engage in these talks. The group sharpened its opposition to the authorities after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in late June, which mainly links Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon to the disarmament of the group through a gradual process.
"It appears that the authorities have resolved to adopt a policy of tolerance and good faith toward the enemy despite its ongoing crimes against people and property. The threat against the residents of Mansouri and their forced evacuation yesterday is further evidence of the misery and futility of the authorities’ choices. This was also confirmed by recent statements from the U.S. ambassador, who called for not placing hopes on the results of the Rome negotiations, clearly revealing the objectives of the Israeli plan of delay and procrastination," the group's parliamentary bloc said following its regular meeting.
In parallel with the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel that were taking place in Rome, the Israeli army issued an evacuation order to the residents of Mansouri on Wednesday after four strikes had already targeted the village. This was the first evacuation order in South Lebanon since mid-June.
The bloc renewed its call on the authorities "to take a firm stance and halt negotiations with the enemy in order to stop the course of concessions that have neither provided security nor brought peace, and have only led Lebanon and its people to further losses."
Sehnaoui-Netanyahu dinner
In the same statement, the group also commented on the dinner that brought together SGBL CEO Antoun Sehnaoui and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week. Sehnaoui and Ortagus had hosted the dinner in Washington in memory of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11.
The bloc described the meeting as a "shameful and disgraceful scene of betrayal against Lebanon and the Lebanese," and an "extremely provocative meeting for every honorable Lebanese and free citizen amid the escalating Zionist crimes against Lebanon at all levels."
The group added that it was surprised that "the response of the Lebanese authorities has not been proportionate to the gravity of Sehnaoui's crime, which amounts to high treason against the nation and its people."
"The authorities are called upon to act seriously and take full and sufficient legal measures against him," it added.
At least two legal proceedings have been launched in Lebanon against Sehnaoui following the circulation of the reports and pictures.
