Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, stated during a memorial ceremony in Beirut that we are "faced with two scenes in Gaza: first, the scene of the resistance fighting with extraordinary courage, and second, the scene of the Israeli-American enemy. What we see today is an American-Israeli decision; in fact, Israel is a stick used by America. This savage enemy kills civilians, children, women, and the elderly, enters hospitals, prevents medical care and medicine, and blocks the entry of supplies for the people, all while carrying out a systematic destruction project daily to gradually eliminate the Palestinian people."
Qassem pointed out that "in light of these two scenes, we face two choices: either to stand with this savage occupying enemy or with the resistance and the rightful owners of the land. History will record who colluded with Israel and who failed to support the resistance. Arabs, Muslims, and everyone else cannot say they have no connection to what is happening in Palestine. Express your humanity to stand with the right position or clearly state your position. This history cannot be erased, and no one can distort it with the existence of multiple media."
He considered that "despite all this savagery, Israel has achieved nothing, and I tell you it will achieve nothing. No matter how long it takes, Israel will remain in the hell it placed itself in without achieving results. As for the resistance, it has triumphed and prevented Israel from achieving its goals despite all the political, media, material, and military support it received. Nevertheless, the resistance remains steadfast, and its operations continue."
Qassem revealed that "leaders of the resistance informed us that they are capable of enduring even if the situation lasts for months. When we asked them about the city of Rafah, they informed us that the enemy thinks it is the center of operations, knowing that it is just another city like the other cities in the Gaza Strip. We are not facing a tidal wave limited to Palestine and just the Gaza area; the Tidal Wave of Al-Aqsa has generated a political, cultural, social, and moral tsunami globally. This is the wave present today, and it will leave its impacts and we will see its results."
He continued, "Regarding the discussions about a ceasefire agreement, if there is no proposal that leads to stopping the fighting and ending the war, then you are asking the resistance to hand over prisoners in exchange for some food and release detainees, then eliminate the Palestinians. What kind of logic is that?! The solution lies in stopping the war and not through this approach. Those who bet on crushing the resistance have discovered that it cannot be ended; the resistance that liberated southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa in 2000 is the same resistance that has surpassed international lies and resolutions and was able to force Israel out against its will, thanks to jihad, the army, and the people."
Qassem affirmed that Lebanon, which enjoys a sense of independence and dignity and has a role in the world, would not have achieved this without its resistant sons from the army and the people. However, when we found it appropriate to support Gaza, we worked in Lebanon to bear the entire burden as an Islamic resistance alongside our people in southern Lebanon specifically, alongside those who support us from forces and parties that believe in this project, and we set ceilings to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese in our way of supporting Gaza, which we consider a duty for all of us.
He added, "For those who say that there is no connection between our homeland and others, we say that to be patriotic, you must protect your geographical borders. But to be human, you must empathize with your neighboring brothers; then you become a human patriot worthy of an independent homeland."
He further stated, "For those who wonder what if Israel attacks Lebanon, we say that Israel has come from all over the world to attack Palestine and occupied Lebanon, reaching the capital; it was the one that attacked and occupied. If it attacks Lebanon, we will confront it, and it will curse the hour it decided to attack Lebanon. The essence of patriotism is to support the resistance that has defended and continues to defend Lebanon. Today, any patriot in Lebanon must stand with the resistance. No matter what you say about us, we will not diminish; we want our partners in the homeland to be great. That is why we always say that we do not seek support, but we do not accept betrayal from which Israel benefits. Our choices are based on evidence and logic, and for those who press us, I say: stop this behavior for the sake of your children, your partners, and your homeland.
We are currently facing a pivotal challenge, and rest assured that the enemy is suffering significant losses, one of its policies being to conceal its losses. Additionally, it has deployed a third of its army on the northern borders, which reflects the extent of fear, cost, and damage. Some say we are losing; it is true that we are both losing, but what we lose we build on for future victory, while what they lose they build on for future defeat."
