The Deputy Speaker of the House, Elias Boussel, expressed regret over the absence of the Minister of Defense in the caretaker government, Maurice Slim, at the Independence Day celebration held today in Rashaya. He stated, "The lack of coordination between Mikati and several ministers was evident today, and this is considered a big mistake; 'this is not how things work'." He added, "We must exploit the crises to elect a new Lebanese president," asserting that Lebanon is the one to decide on peace and war, while indicating that the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian was natural. He continued, "We cannot criticize it while overlooking the American visit."
In an interview with LBCI on the program "Dialogue of the Stage," Boussel pointed out that the visit of the American presidential envoy Amos Hochstein took place during the war in Gaza and the Israeli crimes against children, women, and hospitals, noting that the Israelis are in a predicament. He argued that the Israeli army cannot win the war in Gaza in addition to losing public opinion. He noted that street warfare will make the Israelis pay the price and will clarify the extent of their military equipment.
He said, "We confirmed to Hochstein that Lebanon rejects war, and this is what he conveyed to Israel. Hochstein played a very significant role in preventing the expansion of the war into Lebanon." He added, "We have reached today the beginning of the end of the war in the south due to the truce in Gaza, and to my knowledge, if by tomorrow at ten in the morning the military actions stop, Hezbollah will adhere to the ceasefire if the Israelis also commit to this matter."
Boussel emphasized that the international pressure resulting from indiscriminate bombardment and the prisoner exchange deal would be positive indicators. However, he warned that if the Israelis insist on a ground invasion of Gaza, this could lead to a regional war. He remarked that Hezbollah's handling of this issue showed that its rhetoric is responsible without being a contributor to the ceasefire in Gaza, asserting that what Hezbollah did in the south put pressure on the Israelis to reach the current situation.
