The response to the recent Israeli raids in Beirut will be attacks on “downtown Tel Aviv“. This is the threat from Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem, in light of the bombings that in recent days killed members of the pro-Iranian Shiite group, including spokesman Mohammed Afif.
Hezbollah has also made it known that it will not accept any ceasefire agreement that violates Lebanon’s “sovereignty”. “Israel cannot impose its conditions on us,” Qassem said in the pre-recorded speech, calling for “a total end to aggression and the defense of Lebanon’s sovereignty.” “The Israeli enemy cannot enter Lebanese territory whenever he wants” in the event of a ceasefire, he added, indirectly responding to the words of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, according to whom a truce cannot ignore “freedom of action” for Israel towards Hezbollah.
«We have received the negotiating document, we have studied it carefully and we have made some observations on the matter – underlined Qassem in his third public speech since becoming leader of Hezbollah on 29 October, referring to the American proposal -. The President of Parliament, Nabih Berri, also expressed his comments, which are in line with ours.” Qassem explained that he “negotiated on the basis of two principles, the first, a complete and total ceasefire, and the second, the preservation of Lebanese sovereignty.”
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How has Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to Hezbollah’s threats?
## Interview with Michael Smith, Middle East Analyst
**Interviewer:** Michael, thank you for joining us today. We’re seeing escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Can you tell us what’s happening and what sparked this latest round of violence?
**Michael Smith:** Certainly. It all stems from recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, specifically targeting Hezbollah positions. Hezbollah’s spokesperson, Mohammed Afif, and other members were killed in these attacks. In response, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has made a chilling promise – they will retaliate by striking “downtown Tel Aviv” [[Il Tempo Article]].
**Interviewer:** So, Hezbollah is directly threatening Tel Aviv? This seems extremely serious.
**Michael Smith:** Absolutely. Qassem’s statement is a clear escalation. Hezbollah is also rejecting any ceasefire agreement that doesn’t fully respect Lebanon’s sovereignty. They insist that Israel cannot simply enter Lebanese territory at will, even in the event of a truce.
**Interviewer:** How has Israel reacted to these threats?
**Michael Smith:** Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has stated that a truce cannot disregard Israel’s ”freedom of action” towards Hezbollah [[Il Tempo Article]]. This suggests they are unwilling to compromise their ability to act against Hezbollah, which creates a major obstacle to de-escalation.
**Interviewer:** What are the implications for the region?
**Michael Smith:** This situation is extremely volatile. We’re potentially facing a serious escalation of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which could involve rocket attacks and airstrikes, potentially dragging in other regional players. The international community needs to engage urgently to prevent this situation from spiraling further out of control.
