Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said today he rejects the joint US–Israel–Lebanese
government statement on an Israel–Lebanon ceasefire, refusing to comply with its
demand that Hezbollah fighters withdraw from southern Lebanon and insisting
Israel must fully withdraw from Lebanese territory. Speaking on Hezbollah’s
Al-Manar TV, Qassem called the joint statement a 'false ceasefire' that advances
a security agenda and amounts to 'surrender' and 'failure.' He said Hezbollah's
objectives are to end Israel's 'full-scale aggression,' secure a ceasefire and
force Israeli withdrawal, and stressed that any ceasefire must be comprehensive
— southern Lebanon and other areas are inseparable — and that resistance will
continue 'as long as occupation exists.'
