The "Lebanon Strong" bloc condemned in a statement following its periodic meeting chaired by MP Gebran Bassil, the "ongoing Israeli aggression against civilians in Gaza amid heavy international silence and a deadlock towards a solution." They also condemned "the aggression that led to the death of four civilians in the town of Ainatha in southern Lebanon, considering that what Israel is doing constitutes war crimes." The bloc rejected "the increasing Israeli rhetoric that considers Lebanon part of the land of Israel," deeming it "a distortion of facts and history, indicative of Israel's expansionist intentions and its involvement in a dangerous narrative that transforms the land conflict into a religious and civilizational struggle, with dire outcomes, thereby contradicting the idea of Lebanon as a place of diversity, tolerance, and coexistence of civilizations and dialogue."
They expressed their astonishment at "the uproar surrounding the army leadership file amidst a dubious campaign for the extension of the army commander contrary to the constitution and applicable laws, and the programmed intimidation regarding the division of the army or the halting of aid to it in the absence of an extension, all of which have purely political backgrounds unrelated to the interest of the military institution that should be kept away from politics rather than being used for narrow and personal political agendas."
The bloc reiterated its commitment to "refusing extensions in any position of authority and management and rejecting legislation contrary to the principle of inclusivity," noting that there are "several legal solutions available to avoid a vacancy in the army leadership and that such a vacancy will not occur and is not at all relevant in institutions with military hierarchy." They added that campaigns attempting to bid for loyalty to the army are well-known in their motives, stating that "history and the present witness who the true lovers of the army are."
Furthermore, they affirmed that "the goals pursued by the president through the consultative tour he conducted are defined in the document that was announced," considering that "the presidential election, which has been delayed for a year, has become more urgent in the current circumstances to reconstitute the authority entrusted with facing challenges, primarily the issue of Syrian refugees, which rises to the level of an existential threat, and which has been set as a secondary operational goal to achieve tangible results through municipalities."
