President Najib Mikati reiterated his astonishment at the campaign directed against him due to the one billion grant provided by the European Commission to Lebanon, which has been misinterpreted by the campaigners as a "bribe" to keep Syrian refugees in the country. He emphasized that the aid is strictly for Lebanon to help alleviate the various crises it faces. In a press interview, Mikati stated that there are no commitments from Lebanon regarding the Syrians, nor is there any written text in this regard. He questioned whether bolstering the army and security forces, especially under the current circumstances, is deemed unacceptable, as well as contributing to addressing the deteriorating living conditions for the Lebanese people.
He clarified that the mentioned grant is completely unconditional and noted that the European Union provides it annually to Lebanon, having increased its amounts this time after years of neglect. He pointed out that the issue of Syrian refugees was not mentioned in its context, as some have claimed and promoted without verifying its content and direction.
### Hamas Announcement Considered a Significant Step
In another context, Mikati regarded Hamas's announcement to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza as a significant step towards stopping the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and addressing its repercussions. He stressed that Hamas has taken a crucial step towards a solution in response to the numerous mediations, particularly the Qatari and Egyptian mediations. He emphasized that there is a more urgent need than ever for international pressures on Israel to accept the proposed solution framework, paving the way for a fundamental resolution based on granting the Palestinians their rights to their land and state.
