Naim Qassem Pledges Cooperation with Army in Implementing Ceasefire Agreement

The Secretary-General of Hezbollah asserts that Israel failed to destroy the group despite losing key leaders and suffering damage to numerous sites.

2nd December 2024

5 minutes read

Naim Qassem Pledges Cooperation with Army in Implementing Ceasefire Agreement

Naim Qassem, the Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, pledged on Friday to work closely with the Lebanese army to implement a ceasefire agreement with Israel. He stated that Hezbollah accepted this agreement “with heads held high,” claiming it represents a victory greater than the one achieved in 2006. However, the celebration by this Iran-backed party has drawn criticism from many Lebanese, who blame it for dragging the country into a war that caused thousands of deaths and massive destruction, requiring substantial funding for reconstruction.

This was Qassem’s first speech since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday, following over a year of fighting.

Qassem clarified that the ceasefire agreement “is neither a treaty nor a new deal requiring state signatures. It is an operational program related to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

He added that “coordination between Hezbollah and the Lebanese army will be at a high level to fulfill the agreement’s commitments,” while security sources and officials indicated that the army had already deployed additional troops to the south and was preparing a detailed deployment plan to present to the government.

Qassem asserted that the group had achieved a “divine victory” over Israel, surpassing that of 2006, and added: “To those who bet on the party’s weakening, we regret that their bets failed, and we return victorious in the face of the Hebrew state.”

He also said: “We will continue reconstruction efforts with our people, which require significant work. We have the appropriate mechanisms and will cooperate with the state and all who wish to help Lebanon in this endeavor.”

On the political front, he added: “We will ensure the completion of constitutional institutions, particularly the election of a president, which will occur on schedule.” Since the term of President Michel Aoun ended in October 2022, Parliament has failed to elect a new president in 12 sessions, the last of which was on June 14, 2023. On Thursday, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri scheduled a new session for January 9, 2024.

On other commitments, Qassem stated: “Our national work will involve cooperation with all forces that believe the nation belongs to all its citizens. We will also dialogue with those who wish to build a united Lebanon based on the Taif Agreement.”

The Taif Agreement, signed in 1989 in Saudi Arabia, ended 15 years of civil war in Lebanon, redistributing powers among communities to enhance political participation.

Regarding resistance, Qassem said: “The resistance will continue to safeguard civil peace and remain ready to prevent the enemy from weakening Lebanon, in collaboration with national forces and the Lebanese army.”

The ceasefire agreement stipulates the withdrawal of Hezbollah from areas south of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border, along with the deployment of the Lebanese army following the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

However, ongoing Israeli troop presence complicates deployment efforts. Israel has imposed restrictions on residents returning to border villages and recently fired at some, calling these actions violations of the truce.

Intense negotiations, fraught with uncertainties until the last moment, led to this agreement, facilitated by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein and assistance from France.

Two European diplomats reported that Lebanese officials had informed the United States that Lebanon had little trust in U.S. policies or Benjamin Netanyahu.

A Western diplomat added that France’s growing criticism of Israeli military campaigns had positioned it as a balancing force against U.S. influence in the negotiations.

In November, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited the region at Israel’s request despite tensions between the two nations. Two sources indicated that he held extensive talks with Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, regarding mechanisms for a ceasefire, adopting a gradual approach to redeployment while jointly examining detailed maps.

As Lebanon’s situation worsened, frustration over the pace of talks grew. A Lebanese official stated: “Hochstein told us it would take ten days to secure a ceasefire agreement, but the Israelis extended it to a month to complete their military operations.”

The agreement was intended to build on better enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Both sides had frequently complained of violations and sought assurances.

The main sticking point was Israel’s insistence on retaining the freedom to conduct strikes in case of violations by Hezbollah, a condition unacceptable to Lebanon.

Israel and the United States eventually reached an informal arrangement in the form of verbal assurances, according to a Western diplomat, allowing Israel to respond to potential threats. A European diplomat stated: “Both sides retain their right to self-defense, but we want to do everything possible to prevent them from exercising that right.”

Israel was also concerned about arms supplies to Hezbollah via Syria. Three diplomatic sources revealed that Israel had sent messages to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad through intermediaries to prevent this. These messages were reinforced by intensified airstrikes in Syria, including near Russian forces in Latakia, a region housing a key port.

A senior Western diplomat stated: “The Israeli government can almost dictate the terms. Hezbollah, significantly weakened, needs this ceasefire more than Israel. This outcome was less about U.S. diplomacy and more about Israel feeling it had achieved its objectives.”

A U.S. official said mediators briefed Trump’s team, explaining that the agreement was beneficial for Israel, Lebanon, and U.S. national security.

A potential complication arose when violence involving Israeli supporters broke out in Amsterdam, threatening France’s critical role in the negotiations. However, aiming to avoid tensions, President Emmanuel Macron sat next to the Israeli ambassador at a football match in France. “The match was so boring that they spent an hour discussing ways to ease tensions and move forward,” a source familiar with the matter noted.

At a crucial moment, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Netanyahu threatened to exclude France from the negotiations if it persisted in its commitment to the Rome Statute by arresting him. This would have jeopardized Lebanon’s acceptance of the agreement.

President Joe Biden contacted Macron, who then spoke with Netanyahu before speaking to Biden again. The Élysée ultimately issued a statement affirming its respect for the ICC while avoiding direct threats of arrest.

Israeli officials explained that the U.S. had intensified pressure on Israel earlier in the week. Hochstein warned that without an agreement within days, he would end mediation. By Tuesday, all the pieces fell into place, and on Wednesday, the bombings stopped.