BEIRUT. Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, stated on Tuesday that the Lebanese militant group would cease hostilities with Israel if a full cease-fire is achieved in Gaza. This announcement was made during an interview with The Associated Press at Hezbollah’s political office in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“If there is a cease-fire in Gaza, we will stop without any discussion,” Kassem affirmed, emphasizing Hezbollah’s role as a “support front” for Hamas. He clarified that Hezbollah’s military support will cease if the war ends. However, Kassem expressed uncertainty regarding the implications for the Lebanon-Israel border conflict if Israel reduces its military operations without a formal cease-fire and complete withdrawal from Gaza.
The conflict began on October 7, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of about 250 individuals. Israel’s subsequent air and ground assaults have devastated Gaza, killing over 37,900 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Cease-fire talks have stalled, raising concerns about potential escalation on the Lebanon-Israel front. Hezbollah has been engaging in near-daily strikes with Israeli forces along their border for the past nine months. This ongoing conflict has displaced tens of thousands on both sides, with significant casualties including 16 soldiers and 11 civilians in northern Israel, and over 450 people, mostly fighters, in Lebanon.
Hamas demands a complete end to the war in Gaza. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and securing the release of approximately 120 hostages.
Recently, the Israeli army confirmed plans for an offensive in Lebanon if diplomatic solutions fail. While some Israeli officials seek a diplomatic resolution to avoid war, they have also warned that the destruction seen in Gaza could be mirrored in Lebanon.
Kassem dismissed the likelihood of Israel launching a full-scale war with Hezbollah but warned that any limited operations by Israel would not guarantee limited retaliation. “Israel can decide what it wants: limited war, total war, partial war,” he said. “But it should expect that our response and our resistance will not be within a ceiling and rules of engagement set by Israel.”
This reference alludes to Hezbollah’s allies in the Iran-backed “axis of resistance” across the region, which includes armed groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and potentially Iran itself. Such a conflict could also involve Israel’s key ally, the United States.
Diplomats from the U.S. and Europe have been actively working to prevent a wider conflict. Kassem mentioned a recent meeting with Germany’s deputy chief of intelligence, Ole Dieh, in Beirut. Although the U.S. does not engage directly with Hezbollah, designated a terrorist group by Washington, intermediaries often convey messages.
Kassem revealed that White House envoy Amos Hochstein had requested through intermediaries that Hezbollah pressure Hamas to accept a U.S.-proposed cease-fire and hostage exchange. Hezbollah declined, maintaining that Hamas alone decides its actions.
Kassem criticized U.S. efforts, accusing them of supporting Israel’s aim to eliminate Hamas from Gaza. A constructive resolution, he argued, would involve ending the war, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and securing hostage releases. Once a cease-fire is established, political negotiations can determine future arrangements for Gaza and the Lebanon front.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
