Naim Qassem: We cannot be asked to lay down our weapons while the aggression continues.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem affirmed on Sunday that Israeli threats will not push his party to "surrender" or lay down its weapons, at a time when it is under continuous US pressure to disarm. However, he indicated that the party is ready for peace and cooperation for the sake of stability and building Lebanon, just as it is ready for confrontation and defense.

Since the end of the last Israeli aggression on Lebanon in November 2024, Washington has been pressuring Hezbollah to disarm, which it will continue to maintain as long as the Israeli occupation continues.

Israel expanded its aggression against Lebanon on September 23, 2024, following a border exchange of fire, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths and approximately 17,000 injuries, in addition to the displacement of approximately 1.4 million people.

During a televised speech marking the commemoration of Ashura, Qassim said: "This threat does not make us accept surrender. We are not being told to soften our positions. Rather, we are being told to stop the aggression. We are not being told to lay down our weapons."

He added, "The defense will continue because we believe that liberation is a duty, no matter how long it takes and the sacrifices are many. The Israeli enemy is still attacking and occupying the five points, and we cannot surrender to this aggression."

He added, "We are responsible for continuing the resistance. We will not be part of legitimizing the occupation in Lebanon and the region, and we will not accept normalization. We will continue and confront it."

Qassim: No surrender of weapons before the aggression stops

Qassem explained that "the ceasefire agreement was supposed to halt the Israeli aggression, but the opposite happened with American support."

He stressed that "we cannot be asked to soften our positions or lay down our weapons while the aggression continues."

Qassem stressed that "Israel must implement the first phase of the ceasefire agreement first, by withdrawing, stopping aggression and airstrikes (air violations), returning prisoners, and beginning reconstruction. After that, we will move to implementing Resolution 1701."

He continued: "They are threatening us and promoting the idea that we must submit... This threat will not make us surrender."

He stressed that "the Israeli-American aggression, killing, and crimes must stop."

Qassem added, "The threat of a new agreement does not make us accept surrender. Rather, the aggression must be told to stop... The defense of our country will continue even if the entire world unites."

He said, "We are ready for peace, building the country, and cooperating with what we have pledged for the sake of progress and stability." However, he added, "We are also ready for confrontation and defense."

Qassem saluted "the sacrifices and contributions of the people of Gaza, who have shown more patience and steadfastness in the face of the occupation than anyone else."

He stressed that "Palestine will remain for its people, and we are certain of its liberation and will always stand by its side."

On Friday, Naim Qassem said his party would not respond to calls to surrender its weapons before the Israeli "aggression" left Lebanon.