Hezbollah Hints It Won't Disarm If Israel Still Occupies Southern Lebanon
A senior Hezbollah official has hinted that the Lebanese group will not lay down its weapons as long as Israel is occupying parts of the country.
Mohammed Daamoush made his comments in Beirut during a sermon for Friday prayers adding that Israel's occupation of five strategic hilltops and what he said were daily violations of a ceasefire aim to pressure Lebanon to normalize relations with Israel.
Daamoush said the state now controls the border with Israel and Lebanon's new government is backed by the international community and has weapons, so 'what have you done to face daily Israeli violations and aggression?'
He called on authorities to convince the public about why weapons should only be held by the state, adding: 'When there is occupation and a continuing aggression weapons should be in the hands of men and everyone should repel this occupation.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
an hour ago
- Saudi Gazette
Israeli strike on Gaza seafront cafe kills at least 20 Palestinians
JERUSALEM — At least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike that hit a popular seafront cafe frequently used by activists, journalists, and local residents in western Gaza on Monday, according to medics and eyewitnesses. Rescue teams evacuated 20 bodies and dozens wounded from Al-Baqa Cafeteria, an outdoor venue which consisted of tents along the beach, a spokesperson for Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence told the BBC. He added that emergency crews were still searching through a deep crater left by the explosion. "I was on my way to the café to use the internet just a few meters away when a massive explosion hit," said Aziz Al-Afifi, a cameraman with a local production company, told the BBC. "I ran to the scene. My colleagues were there, people I meet every day. The scene was horrific - bodies, blood, screaming everywhere." Videos posted by activists on social media appeared to show the moment a missile, reportedly fired from an Israeli warplane, struck the area. Footage captured the aftermath of the attack, with bodies scattered across the ground. Al-Baqa Cafeteria had become a well-known space for journalists, activists, and remote workers, offering internet access, seating, and workspace along Gaza's Mediterranean coast. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The attack came after Israel carried out a wave of air strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight, triggering the mass displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families, witnesses said. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of five people, while dozens of injured civilians were evacuated to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, according to local reports. The bombardment follows one of the largest evacuation orders issued since the war resumed in March. It comes amid increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refocus efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said on social media that Netanyahu was working on negotiating a deal with Hamas "right now". That came days after a senior Hamas official said mediators had intensified their efforts to broker a new ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, but that negotiations with Israel remain stalled. A two-month ceasefire collapsed in March when Israel launched fresh strikes on Gaza. The ceasefire deal - which started on 19 January - was meant to have three stages, but did not make it past the first stage. Israel followed this with a total blockade on humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, which it partially eased after 11 weeks following pressure from US allies and warnings of starvation from global experts. The partial easing saw the creation of the controversial US- and Israeli-backed aid group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Since GHF took over distribution operations, there have been almost daily incidents of killings and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid. Eyewitnesses and medics have blamed Israel, though Israel has said it has only fired warning shots towards people it considered a threat. Residents in Gaza City said dozens of Israeli air raids targeted densely populated eastern neighbourhoods, including Shujaiya, Tuffah, and Zeitoun. Videos posted by activists on social media captured scenes of chaos and explosions illuminating the night sky, followed by flames and thick plumes of smoke rising above the skyline. One of the strikes reportedly hit a school in Zeitoun that had been sheltering displaced families. "Explosions never stopped... it felt like earthquakes," Salah, 60, from Gaza City told Reuters news agency. "In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions," the father of five added. The five fatalities reportedly occurred in a strike at the Al Shati camp, to the west of Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had earlier ordered residents to leave large parts of northern Gaza, in anticipation of the attacks. Most of those displaced overnight moved westwards within Gaza City rather than to the southern region as instructed by the IDF. "We had no choice but to leave everything behind," said Abeer Talba, a mother of seven who fled Zeitoun with her family. "We got phone calls recordings in Arabic telling us we were in a combat zone and must evacuate immediately. "This is the seventh time we've been forced to flee," she added. "We're in the streets again, no food, no water. My children are starving. Death feels kinder than this." Amid the growing humanitarian crisis, fears are mounting that the evacuation orders and sustained air strikes are part of a broader Israeli plan to expand its ground offensive deeper into Gaza. But there is also speculation in Israeli media that some generals are close to concluding that military operations in Gaza are near to being achieved. That is also the view of many former army leaders who fear that the descent of the Gaza campaign into more attritional, guerilla-style warfare would lead to more deaths – of hostages, civilians and soldiers. The Israeli prime minister's next moves are being closely watched. While Benjamin Netanyahu's instincts have always been to continue the war and defeat Hamas, he is coming under increasing pressure at home and abroad to pursue a new ceasefire agreement. The Israeli military launched its bombardment of Gaza in response to the attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. More than 56,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. — BBC
Leaders
11 hours ago
- Leaders
New York City Mayoral Race, Netanyahu Controversy: Political Turning Point
A recent video circulating on social media has sparked heated debate about the upcoming New York City mayoral race and its potential global implications. The video features a discussion about Zohran Mamdani, a candidate who has made headlines for his stance on international law and foreign policy—specifically regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the interview, Mamdani makes it clear that if elected mayor, he would not welcome Netanyahu to New York City. Instead, he boldly claims that the city would arrest the Israeli leader, arguing that New York's values align with international law and it is time for the city's actions to reflect those values as well. @erikwarsaw.2024 News Update: Zohran Mamdani #erikwarsaw Erik Warsaw ♬ original sound – 𝔼𝕣𝕚𝕜 𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕤𝕒𝕨 The conversation then highlights the significance of New York City as the host of the United Nations headquarters. If Mamdani were to win, Netanyahu would likely avoid visiting the city, effectively preventing him from delivering speeches at the UN. The video also points out that New York is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States, making this stance particularly impactful and controversial. New York City Mayoral Race Further, the video references major Jewish organizations calling for the evacuation of Jews from New York City on social media, in reaction to this political climate. The speaker emphasizes that Mamdani's potential victory would be a watershed moment, not only for New York but for American politics as a whole. He argues that foreign influence in the United States has become excessive and that this election could mark a turning point in reclaiming domestic political agency. In conclusion, all eyes are on the New York City mayoral race, with the outcome poised to send ripples through both national and international politics. The debate underscores the complex intersection of local governance, international law, and community relations in one of the world's most influential cities. Related Topics: Zohran Mamdani Beats Cuomo in New York City's Democratic Mayoral Primary Kingdom Discusses AI Capacity Building at New York Advisory Board Meeting Saudi Foreign Minister Arrives in New York for UNGA 79 Short link : Post Views: 11
Leaders
11 hours ago
- Leaders
Israel ‘Interested' in Ties with Syria, Lebanon with No Discussion on Golan
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday that his country is 'interested' in establishing diplomatic ties with its neighbors Lebanon and Syria, according to Reuters. 'Israel is interested in expanding the Abraham Accord circle of peace and normalization,' Saar said at a news conference. In the same context, Saar stressed that the occupied Golan Heights 'will remain part of Israel' under any possible peace agreement with Syria. 'In any peace agreement, the Golan will remain part of the State of Israel,' Saar stated. US President Donald Trump met Syria's President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in May in Saudi Arabia and urged him to normalize ties with Israel. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights after taking over most of the area from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. Related Topics: Israeli Military Strikes Syria in Response to Fired Projectiles Syria's Al-Sharaa Emphasizes Indirect Talks with Israel to Calm Tensions Israel Deploys Troops in Southern Syria to Protect Druze Short link : Post Views: 63 Related Stories
