The head of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, stated via "Al-Jadeed" that "the Kataeb's stance is historical, clear, and we continue with the same position that Palestinians have the right to a state, but what we disagree on is the refusal to drag Lebanon into military conflict." He emphasized that they reject dragging Lebanon into conflict due to a party with a specific agenda, considering this a sovereign decision that no one has the right to take on behalf of the Lebanese, as the repercussions of such a decision are extremely dangerous, and Lebanon has already paid a heavy price for the Palestinian cause.
He continued, saying, "Hezbollah has tied itself and did not wait for the invasion of Gaza; it has connected itself with a bloc and with the so-called decision to unify the arenas and with Iran and regional decisions that have nothing to do with Lebanon's interests, and we fear that Lebanon will pay the price for this connection."
He noted that "it's time for Lebanon to refrain from entering military conflicts as it has no capacity for such involvement, and we refuse to let anyone bring calamity to the south and its people and to all of Lebanon because it cannot be guaranteed that the conflict will not expand." He acknowledged the existing problems from the Syrian presence and the economic crisis, stating, "we cannot assist others in our current condition; we have paid dearly, and it is time for Lebanon to rest."
Regarding the situation on the southern front, Gemayel questioned, "Do you want us to accept the idea of bearing responsibility for Hezbollah's decisions and choices, dragging the country into a dead end and leading the Lebanese people to death and massacres, while we become a burial society for our loved ones and youth in Lebanon? If this is what they want from us, we will respond in French because it seems that with the presence of French mediation, the youth have started speaking French."
Gemayel added, "Hezbollah's issue is Iran's influence in the region and the expansion of that influence; it uses the Palestinian cause to justify its existence and extend Iran's influence in the region. It is clear that Palestinians must be the masters of their own fate and decide their destiny."
