Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in an October 8, 2024 address that Hizbullah supports the ceasefire initiative of parliament speaker and head of the Amal movement Nabih Berri, who he referred to as a “big brother.” He further said that despite Netanyahu’s “lies,” this is not a war over Iran and its influence over the region. Qassem added that Iran and Hizbullah are helping the Palestinians to liberate their own land. The address was aired on Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah-Lebanon) and was clipped via a Sky News Arabia TV (UAE) broadcast.
Naim Qassem: “Iran has provided support, which is clear and well known, to the resistance in Palestine, Lebanon, and the entire region. Iran takes pride in this. It is a source of honor for Iran to help the Palestinian so that they will regain their rights.
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“To all those who doubt Iran’s support and sacrifice – it is Iran that decides how and when to provide support. In any case, it has provided support all these years. Tell me, what have you skeptics given? You are making demands, but have you given anything to the resistance and the Palestinian people?
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“This war is not about Iran and its influence in the region, like Netanyahu’s lies and distortions. This is a war for the liberation of Palestine by the Palestinians themselves. Iran, Hizbullah, and all the others are helping the Palestinians to liberate their own land. This is the war. This should be the basis for your analysis.
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“Hizbullah and the Amal movement are in full agreement, through thick and thin.
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“We have full confidence in the leadership of our big brother, Nabih Berri. The esteemed Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah used to see you as a big brother. Know that you are still viewed as our big brother by Hizbullah in its entirety. This is something that no one can challenge. We support the political action taken by Speaker Nabih Berri, with ceasefire as its main heading.
“In any case, once the issue of the ceasefire is cemented, and once this is achieved by diplomacy, all the other details will be discussed, and the decision will be taken in cooperation. Do not hurry to discuss the details when we are not done with the principle yet. As far as we are concerned, prior to the ceasefire, any other discussion is out of place.
“If the enemy continues its war, the battlefield will decide [between us]. We belong to the battlefield and are not begging for a solution. Know that this is a war over who screams first, and we will not scream. We will continue to make sacrifices, and, inshallah, you will hear the screams of the Israeli enemy.”