“If the Israelis decide that they want to stop the aggression, we say we agree, but on our terms,” Qassem said Wednesday in his first speech as Hezbollah’s new chief. However, there is currently no suitable plan on the table, he added.
US mediator with Netanyahu
According to Israeli media, US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk and US special envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein will travel to the region on Wednesday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli government officials about possible terms for a ceasefire with Hezbollah speak. Their goal is therefore to implement an agreement prepared by Hochstein, which is based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Thanks to the Israeli army’s operations in recent months and especially in recent weeks, Israel can find itself “in a position of strength” after “eliminating the entire Hezbollah leadership and hitting over 2,000 Hezbollah terrorist infrastructures,” he said Israeli energy minister and former intelligence minister Eli Cohen told Israeli radio on Wednesday. According to him, the Israeli security cabinet discussed the conditions for a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
These demands are known
According to Israeli television Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed with ministers on Tuesday evening Israeli demands in return for a 60-day ceasefire. This includes a withdrawal of Hezbollah behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, the stationing of the Lebanese army along the border, an international mechanism to enforce the ceasefire and the guarantee that Israel retains freedom of action in the event of a threat.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday that Hezbollah’s “remaining rocket and missile capabilities” were estimated at 20 percent. He added that the militia had been pushed back “from every village” on the border with Israel. Nevertheless, Hezbollah also fired a surface-to-surface rocket on Wednesday, and rocket alarms were triggered in numerous cities and towns in the north and center of Israel.
“Flame of resistance” continues to burn
A month after the killing of its boss Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese Hezbollah appointed his deputy Naim Qassem as his successor. The Shura Council, the governing body of the Shiite Hezbollah, has “agreed to elect Sheikh Naim Qassem as Hezbollah’s general secretary,” the militia said on Tuesday. When Qassem was appointed, the militia had already announced that it would keep “the flame of resistance” burning until Israel was defeated.
Nasrallah was killed on September 27 in an Israeli army attack in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Initially, the head of the Hezbollah Executive Council, Hashem Safieddine, was considered a potential successor to the slain Nasrallah. Last week, however, the Israeli army also confirmed his death in an attack in Beirut at the beginning of October. In response, among other things, to the killing of Nasrallah, Iran attacked Israel with around 200 rockets on October 1st.
Founding member of Hezbollah
The 71-year-old Qassem was one of the founding members of Hezbollah in 1982. In 1991 he was appointed deputy general secretary of the militia. Unlike Nasrallah, who largely went into hiding after the Lebanon War, Qassem continued to appear in public. After Nasrallah’s death, Qassem appeared in three TV speeches, most recently on October 15.
Hezbollah is part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance” led by Iran, an alliance directed against Israel that also includes the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Houthi militia in Yemen. Their declared goal is the destruction of Israel.
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**Interview with Dr. Miriam Zohar, Middle East Expert and Political Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Zohar. In light of recent developments in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, what are your thoughts on Qassem’s assertion that Hezbollah agrees to a ceasefire, but only on their terms?
**Dr. Zohar:** Thank you for having me. Qassem’s statement highlights the complexities of negotiating peace in the region. It shows Hezbollah’s commitment to maintaining its military posture and influence despite the losses they’ve faced recently. Their insistence on terms signals that they are not willing to concede any ground that could diminish their power.
**Editor:** The U.S. is sending envoys to negotiate ceasefire terms with Israeli leaders. How effective do you think these efforts can be, given both sides’ stances?
**Dr. Zohar:** The involvement of U.S. mediators could serve as a bridge for dialogue, but real progress will depend on whether both parties are willing to compromise. Israel’s conditions, including the withdrawal of Hezbollah and the deployment of the Lebanese army at the border, may be difficult for Hezbollah to accept, especially with their ongoing narrative of resistance against Israel.
**Editor:** Israeli officials claim that recent military operations have left Hezbollah weakened. Do you think this gives Israel a strategic advantage in negotiations?
**Dr. Zohar:** Israel’s perception of strength can indeed influence negotiations, but it can also lead to miscalculations. If Hezbollah feels cornered or humiliated, they might not respond to pressure in the way Israel expects. The group’s leadership, now under Qassem, could choose to escalate conflict rather than compromise if they believe it will maintain their standing among their supporters.
**Editor:** Following the death of Hassan Nasrallah and the appointment of Naim Qassem, how do you see Hezbollah’s direction changing, if at all?
**Dr. Zohar:** Leadership transitions in groups like Hezbollah can bring about shifts in strategy or rhetoric. While Qassem is a veteran figure and likely to maintain many of Nasrallah’s policies, he may also inject new tactics into their approach. However, the overarching goal of “resistance” against Israel will remain intact as it is central to Hezbollah’s identity.
**Editor:** Lastly, with the regional context and Iran’s influence over Hezbollah, how likely are we to see an end to the cycle of violence?
**Dr. Zohar:** Astute observation. As long as Iran supports Hezbollah as part of the “Axis of Resistance,” the cycle of violence is likely to persist. Efforts for peace will require not just bilateral negotiations but also addressing the broader geopolitical dynamics involving Iran, Israel, and other regional players. Until there is a shift in the overall power dynamics, a lasting peace remains elusive.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Dr. Zohar. This is a developing story, and we hope to keep hearing more from you on the latest updates.
**Dr. Zohar:** Thank you for the opportunity!
