Qassem says Hezbollah does not accept 'surrendering country to Israel'

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Monday warned against what he called “surrendering” the country to Israel.

“Those saying the resistance is a problem because it's not surrendering accept that the country be surrendered to Israel, whereas we do not accept that,” said Qassem in a televised speech marking the first anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah spokesman and senior official Mohammad Afif.

“Today there are a lot of pressures, but they will not succeed in the face of our resilience. We will withstand the pressures in this period and we do not accept to become slaves to anyone,” Qassem stressed.

“The level of strength of our people and society is unprecedented and this strength cannot be defeated. We want our land, captives, stability, economy, politics and rights and it is our right to get these rights,” he added.

Warning that “we are before a dangerous aggression that has its extensions,” Qassem said the Lebanese “must confront it with all diplomatic and political forms.”

“What's happening today is aimed at seizing control of Lebanon and stripping it of all forms of strength,” he cautioned.

“Let the Israelis get out of our land, let the aggression stop and let the captives be freed, and we will be able to agree with each other inside the country,” Qassem added.

“We are partners in the country and we have our say and we are supported by a large number of the Lebanese people and the allied forces,” he said.

Noting that the Lebanese government and state have “a responsibility to devise a program for confrontation,” Qassem emphasized that “the aggression is the problem, not the resistance.”

Addressing the Lebanese government, Qassem added: “I advise you to say 'No' based on Lebanon's rights. Let's be together and we will succeed if we stand together, and together we will liberate our land and regain the independence steps.”

Pointing out that “the Lebanese Army deployment that is taking place south of the Litani River despite the continuous aggression is a concession,” Qassem decried that “Israel has not implemented any step related to the ceasefire agreement and the U.S. side has not given any guarantee.”

He lamented that “days ago, a delegation from the U.S. Treasury was sent to tighten the noose financially on Hezbollah and on all Lebanese.”

“If you want to know the biggest problem in Lebanon, search for America,” Qassem said.

“I advise the government, the central bank governor and the relevant officials to halt the measures that are putting pressure on all Lebanese,” Hezbollah’s leader added, in response to the new restrictions announced by the central bank.

Addressing political rivals, Qassem added: “Stop paralyzing parliament, because this obstruction is unjustified, and the attack on Speaker Nabih Berri is a sinful attack.”