Hezbollah not affected after al-Qard al-Hassan strikes: Israeli media
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An Arab affairs analyst for the Israeli channel KAN says Hezbollah is not on the path to collapse, citing the Lebanese Resistance group's daily operations.
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A man inspects the damage at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targetted a branch of the al-Qard al-Hassan finance group in Beirut’s Southern Suburb on October 21, 2024 (AFP)
Despite the deliberate targeting of several branches of the al-Qard al-Hassan institution by Israeli occupation forces in various areas across Lebanon, Israeli media suggested Monday that these strikes "have not financially affected Hezbollah."
Elior Levy, an Arab affairs analyst for the Israeli channel KAN, pointed out that "Israel's" assaults on the al-Qard al-Hassan branches yesterday are part of the ongoing economic warfare, adding that Hezbollah has not financially collapsed and is capable of overcoming any challenge.
Levy emphasized that Hezbollah is not on the path to collapse, citing the Lebanese Resistance group's daily operations targeting Israeli military sites in occupied territories.
"No one can eliminate Hezbollah in Lebanon, just as Israel has not been able to eliminate Hamas in Gaza over the course of a year," he stressed.
Analysts suggested that the Israeli occupation's targeting of Hezbollah-affiliated financial and social institutions, particularly the al-Qard al-Hassan, is in response to the significant economic losses inflicted on "Israel" by the Lebanese group over the past year.
On Sunday night, the Israeli occupation launched at least a dozen airstrikes across different regions in #Lebanon targeting al-Qard al-Hassan, a financial institution that the Israelis claim finances the Resistance in Lebanon.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 21, 2024
But in reality, it's just a bank-like institution… pic.twitter.com/Zal62JCXU4
Exclusive: MP says al-Qard al-Hassan depositors won't lose a penny
Earlier, MP Ihab Hamadeh, a member of the Loyalty to the Lebanese Resistance Bloc, assured depositors in the al-Qard al-Hassan that they would not lose any of their funds.
His remarks to Al Mayadeen follow a series of aggressive raids by the occupation on Sunday, which specifically targeted branches of the al-Qard al-Hassan financial institution in the Southern Suburb of Beirut, Baalbek, and South Lebanon.
Hamadeh emphasized that the foundation serves all Lebanese citizens and noted its provision of scholarships for 5,000 university students studying abroad. He also highlighted that the attacks on the al-Qard al-Hassan coincided with the arrival of the US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut.
In a related context, Hamadeh said, rebuking Israeli claims that the foundation is "Hezbollah's financial arm," saying, "The al-Qard al-Hassan is a costly institution for us and we do not make any profit from it."
What is al-Qard al-Hassan?
The al-Qard al-Hassan is a social institution focused on providing loans to individuals for specific periods to support their economic needs and services. It was established by Hussein al-Shami in 1982 following the Israeli war on Lebanon.
In recent years, the institution has expanded by opening several branches across most Lebanese regions, operating as a licensed institution under the Lebanese government.
However, the US government has imposed sanctions on the institution as part of the financial siege allegedly targeting Hezbollah and its social network. Additionally, it has faced incitement over the years from US media, as well as Western and Arab outlets.
'Israel' targets al-Qard al-Hassan
During the Israeli late-night aggression on Sunday, Lebanese media reported that the al-Qard al-Hassan financial institutions were targeted in Hermel and Baalbek after Israeli evacuation orders were issued for those areas.
Moreover, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported 11 airstrikes on Beirut's Southern Suburb, many aimed at the al-Qard al-Hassan, with one strike landing near the Beirut airport—the main entry point for humanitarian aid to the country.
The NNA added that the strike in Baalbek targeted a commercial market that housed a building previously used by the al-Qard al-Hassan.
Read more: Lebanese minister says plan in place for any potential Israeli step
