The new leader of Hezbollah, Naim Kassem, declared in his first public comments that the group will continue fighting against Israel until acceptable terms for a ceasefire are presented. Kassem mentioned in a televised speech that if Israel decides to end the aggression under conditions they deem appropriate, they will accept it. However, he assured that they will not beg for a ceasefire and will continue the fight regardless of how long it takes.
Amidst a new initiative by international mediators to negotiate ceasefire processes in Lebanon and Gaza, Kassem expressed these statements. Since the beginning of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel on October 8, 2023, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 2,790 people have lost their lives and another 12,700 have been injured in Lebanon.
Kassem, who was an assistant to Hassan Nasrallah for more than three decades, emphasized that despite the losses suffered by the group in recent weeks, they continue to operate and are prepared for a prolonged conflict. During the speech, he also mentioned that Hezbollah has been able to quickly reorganize after Nasrallah's assassination.
Additionally, Kassem reported on Hezbollah's coordination with the President of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, to present proposals aimed at ending the conflict, although no agreement has yet been reached that satisfies both parties. On the other hand, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified following the invasion of southern Lebanon by Israeli forces in early October.
