Hezbollah's Qassem praises Gaza ceasefire deal
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has said that the Palestinian people's sacrifices aborted Israel’s attempts to erase “the Palestinian cause.”
In comments aired on the group's Al-Manar TV, he also said Lebanon's government has to firmly prevent Israeli violations of the U.S.-brokered 60-day truce aiming to end the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.
Qassem said Israel violated the truce hundreds of times since it went into effect on Nov. 27, warning that Hezbollah’s patience “should not be tested.”
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s opponents in Lebanon have been calling for the disarmament of the group saying only Lebanese state institutions should have weapons.
Qassem said the group’s weapons should be part of a national defense strategy that is discussed in a national dialogue and warned that no Lebanese side should try to take advantage of the Israel war to make gains internally.
Source: Associated Press
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