Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks throughout an interview with Reuters in Beirut’s suburbs, June 6, 2022. File
| Picture Credit score: Reuters

Hezbollah’s new leader Naim Qassem on Wednesday (October 30, 2024) mentioned the group would comply with a ceasefire with Israel beneath acceptable phrases, however added {that a} viable deal has but to be introduced.

Qassem, who was named Hezbollah secretary-general on Tuesday (October 29), didn’t explicitly hyperlink a Lebanon ceasefire to an end to fighting in Gaza, a place beforehand held by the Iran-backed group.

“If the Israelis determine that they wish to cease the aggression, we are saying we settle for, however beneath the situations that we see as acceptable and appropriate,” Qassem mentioned in a pre-recorded speech, his first since he was named the group’s new chief.

Additionally Learn: Israeli troops capture around 100 Hamas militants in north Gaza hospital, military says

However Hezbollah “is not going to beg for a ceasefire”, he added, noting that political efforts to safe a deal have but to yield outcomes.

“No mission has been proposed that Israel agrees to and that we are able to focus on,” he mentioned.

Additionally Learn: List of Hezbollah, Hamas leaders Israel has assassinated since October 7, 2023

Qassem replaces Hassan Nasrallah who was assassinated by Israel on September 27 after greater than 30 years on the helm.

He takes over as Hezbollah is locked in all-out warfare with Israel, which ramped up strikes towards its strongholds and despatched floor forces throughout the border final month.

“Get out of our land to scale back your losses. In the event you keep, you’ll pay greater than you might have ever paid in your life,” Qassem mentioned, including that Hezbollah might maintain preventing “for days, weeks and months”.

He acknowledged that Israel’s killing of Nasrallah and different senior Hezbollah figures dealt the group a “painful” blow.

However he mentioned Hezbollah “has began to recuperate by filling the gaps, appointing various leaders and commencing work to organise every thing”.

Qassem additionally pledged to uphold the warfare technique laid down by his predecessor.

“My work programme is a continuation of the work programme of our chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,” he mentioned, pledging to press forward with “the warfare plan that he developed”.

Qassem’s remarks got here after Israeli Power Minister Eli Cohen mentioned Israel’s safety cupboard is discussing the phrases of a truce with Hezbollah in south Lebanon.

“There are discussions, I feel it should nonetheless take time,” Cohen informed Israeli public radio.

In line with Israel’s Channel 12 tv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with ministers on Tuesday (October 29) night on Israel’s calls for in return for a 60-day truce.

These embrace a Hezbollah pullback to north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli frontier, the Lebanese military’s deployment alongside the border, a world intervention mechanism to implement the truce and a assure that Israel will preserve freedom of motion in case of threats.

In line with Israeli media, U.S. President Joe Biden’s Center East adviser Brett McGurk and particular envoy Amos Hochstein will head to the area Wednesday to satisfy Mr. Netanyahu and different Israeli officers to debate situations for a ceasefire with Hezbollah.