Hezbollah’s Qassem Says Resistance Will Not Disarm under Any Circumstance
Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah’s commitment to armed resistance, accused Israel of ongoing ceasefire violations, and vowed that the movement will not give up its weapons under any political or external pressure.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered a keynote speech on Tuesday under the slogan “When We Are Martyred, We Triumph,” commemorating Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as an enduring symbol of the Resistance and reaffirming the movement’s ongoing struggle against occupation.
Public gatherings were held across eleven locations in Lebanon, marking the Day of the Fallen, stretching from Beirut to Nabatieh and Baalbeck.
Addressing the crowds, Sheikh Qassem emphasized the continuity of the Resistance’s legacy and its commitment to defending Lebanon against Israeli aggression and foreign interference.
Sheikh Qassem opened by recalling Nasrallah’s statement, “When we are martyred, we triumph,” describing the fallen as those who refused humiliation and chose a life of dignity.
He commemorated Ahmad Qassir, whose 1982 operation targeted the Israeli military governor’s headquarters in Tyre. The attack resulted in dozens of casualties among Israeli forces and marked, he said, a decisive moment in confronting the occupation.
Qassem highlighted the Qassir family’s long record of sacrifice, noting that several of Ahmad’s brothers later fell on the same path.
Qassem outlined the circumstances of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, saying the occupation sought to embed itself under the pretext of targeting Palestinian factions.
He noted Israel’s reliance on proxy militias, such as the group later known as the South Lebanon Army, to depict the conflict as internal.
“Hezbollah emerged from this context,” he said, “grounded in armed struggle, confronting occupation, and aligned with the cause of Palestine.” The movement’s strength, he added, rests in its belief, discipline, and resilience.
Qassem reiterated that Israel’s 2000 withdrawal was achieved through armed resistance rather than negotiations. He said deterrence remained the basis of stability from 2000 to 2023.
During the most recent large-scale confrontation, he noted, tens of thousands of Israeli troops failed to advance significantly, attributing the outcome to the steadfastness of Hezbollah’s fighters.
Concerning the November 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement, which requires Israeli forces to withdraw south of the Litani River and the Lebanese Army to deploy, Qassem stated that Hezbollah supports the state assuming broader defense responsibilities. He stressed that the Resistance and the Army are aligned in purpose.
Despite the ceasefire, Qassem said, Israel continues to carry out violations, citing more than 7,000 documented incidents. Meanwhile, he added, Hezbollah has adhered to the agreement.
He criticized attempts by the United States and Israel to weaken the Resistance internally, pointing to public statements by American officials advocating the arming of Lebanese institutions against domestic actors.
The Hezbollah leader stressed that the ceasefire applies only to the south of the Litani River and that Israel must withdraw and release Lebanese detainees. Any continued aggression in the south, he warned, would draw broader consequences.
Qassem asserted that the Resistance’s weapons will not be relinquished. “We are under attack and will respond,” he said, adding that the cost of resistance remains lower than the cost of surrender.
He concluded by affirming three core principles: the Resistance and its communities cannot be defeated; it will either prevail or fall in the course of struggle; and this is a period of steadfastness and long-term preparation.
Qassem saluted Palestinian resistance groups and praised the Islamic Republic of Iran and its leadership for continued support. He also expressed appreciation for Yemen and Iraq, highlighting their regional solidarity.
(PC, Al Mayadeen)