Beirut: Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has voiced strong criticism against US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza. He described it as an attempt to exonerate Israel from its alleged crimes and part of an expansionist agenda by the occupying regime.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Sheikh Qassem, during a ceremony commemorating the first anniversary of the martyrdom of two top Hezbollah commanders, Sheikh Nabil Qawouk and Sayyed Suhail Al-Husseini, warned that the United States is aiding the Tel Aviv regime in pursuing its goal of a so-called ‘Greater Israel.’ He contended that the current situation in Gaza is part of this plan, highlighting Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire proposal, which critics claim heavily favors Israel while neglecting Palestinian circumstances.
The Hezbollah leader stressed the interconnectedness of regional issues, describing the ongoing conflict in Gaza over the past two years as integral to Israel’s expansionist project. He argued that Trump’s plan aligns with Israeli interests, aiming to achieve through political means what could not be accomplished through aggression.
Sheikh Qassem further noted that perceived ‘tactical returns’ by Israel are actually ‘tactical retreats,’ intended to exploit situations for specific objectives. He criticized efforts to exonerate Israel amid global outrage, particularly through the United Nations and public reactions in the US and Europe, as attempts to improve the regime’s image.
He warned regional countries of US-backed Israeli aggression, linking attacks on Iran, the Islamic resistance, and Palestine as part of a unified battle that requires confrontation to eliminate the threat, as the Israeli project poses a gradually increasing danger.
In his remarks, Sheikh Qassem underscored the importance of continuing resistance efforts, recalling sacrifices made by leaders and commanders for the defense of Lebanese and Palestinian people. He also addressed domestic challenges, warning of threats posed by US-backed Israeli aggression impacting all aspects of life in Lebanon, aimed at pressuring the resistance and weakening the country.