Naim Qassem: “It does not concern us who governs Israel” – Hezbollah rules out disarmament and rejects the Lebanon–Israel framework agreement

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Wednesday, October 28, commented on the outcome of Israel’s election the day before. “It does not concern us who governs the entity of the usurping Israel, but let it know that it will not be able to continue its occupation and must leave our land,” he wrote in a written statement published by the group’s television channel, Al-Manar. Hezbollah’s statements are quoted here as the organisation’s own positions.

In the same text, addressed to “our faithful, sacrificing and honest people”, Qassem closed the door to any discussion of the organisation’s weapons: “There is no room for discussion of disarming the resistance while the occupation exists and its aggression continues.” Hezbollah, he claimed, will confront any attack on it or on Lebanon, invoking the “legitimate right to resistance” and the Taif Agreement.

The June framework agreement

He was especially harsh toward the framework agreement signed in June by the authorities of Lebanon and Israel, which provides for Hezbollah’s disarmament, Israel’s gradual withdrawal from occupied territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army. Qassem called it “null” and without legitimacy, arguing that it violates the Constitution, the Taif Agreement, the laws, the President’s oath and the government’s policy statements. He claimed it gives Israel what it is not entitled to and undermines Lebanon’s sources of strength. Instead, he demanded Israeli withdrawal based on the November 27, 2024 agreement and UN Resolution 1701, and deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani river.

On the Israeli election, where the count showed Likud first but Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc without a majority, Qassem described the result as “one of the images of defeat”. He spoke of an Israel that has not achieved its goals and is sinking into internal turmoil and a political, economic and social crisis.

Iran and the domestic front

An important part of the statement concerns Iran. Qassem said Hezbollah gives weight to the Iran–US agreement, which he considers, together with the endurance of the resistance, its people and supporters, the “only available source of strength”, and claimed that since the memorandum of understanding took effect the intensity of attacks on Lebanon has fallen. Tehran, he added, has ending Israeli attacks and Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory at the top of its priorities. He also claimed that Iran thwarted US and Israeli plans to overthrow the regime and dismember the country, attributing this to the endurance of the Iranian people and the “wise leadership” of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

On the domestic front, Qassem called for an end to “American guardianship” over key state institutions, saying that “guardianship is like occupation, both violate sovereignty”. He declared himself ready to bridge the gap with other political forces, while asking for “deeds” from the other side, and assured that the relationship with the Amal Movement and allies remains “solid”. “The cost of resistance is enormous, but surrender and concessions leave nothing,” he argued.

Israel’s opposite line

The line of the statement does not differ from August, when Qassem again rejected the Israel–Lebanon agreement. The Israeli side has made clear the opposite: Defence Minister Israel Katz has repeatedly said his forces will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah is not disarmed, and has threatened new strikes if the organisation joins an Iranian attack. On Wednesday evening Al-Manar reported a new wave of Israeli air raids on southern Lebanon and shelling near Deir Mimas.