• 

In a speech on the occasion of the Arbaeen, the event commemorating the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stated that "Lebanon is facing a golden opportunity that may reoccur by the possibility of extracting gas to address its crisis," stressing that oil and gas extraction from the Karish field cannot be allowed before Lebanon obtains its full rights, a red line for the Lebanese Resistance group.

Hezbollah gave negotiations a real chance in order for Lebanon to extract its gas without looking to incite any problem, Nasrallah said, and while the Resistance group is not part of the negotiations, its eyes and missiles are directed toward Karish: "If confrontation is imposed, it is absolutely inevitable.

"I think that the Israelis, the Americans, and others have sufficient data regarding the seriousness of the resistance" and that it is not messing around with this affair, he added. 

UNIFIL decision is an assault on Lebanese sovereignty

Commenting on the recent decision by the UNSC regarding the UNIFIL, Nasrallah affirmed that it "is an assault and an encroachment on Lebanese sovereignty and reflects the state's slackness and absence." 

Besides the renewal of its mandate, the UNIFIL attempted to extend its set of privileges over the population in the South by not requiring prior authorization or permission from anyone to undertake its mandated tasks, in an attempt to conduct its operations without the supervision of the Lebanese Army or government.

"The latest decision is an Israeli trap, and would have opened the door to great dangers," he revealed, noting that "whoever stood behind it is either ignorant or a co-conspirator," whilst simultaneously stressing that "the state's position on the issue was good."  

Read more: Who benefits from UNIFIL's new amendments to its mission in Lebanon?

As for the formation of the Lebanese government, Nasrallah expressed great hopes, stressing that a presidential vacuum must not occur: "Everyone must make concessions, and the presidential elections must be held on its constitutional date, and threats are useless," supporting "calls for agreement on the president, and for there to be meetings away from challenge and vetoes." 

Regarding the repeated banking incidents, the resistance leader pointed out that tackling the issue from a security angle is not enough, with officials having to "form a crisis cell and an emergency cell to find real solutions."

Furthermore, he underscored that "the next president of the country must have the broadest possible political and popular base to carry out his legal and constitutional role," adding that no matter the nature of the challenges facing Lebanon locally and regionally, the country will emerge victorious with the people imposing their will. 

Resistance forces must unite

Regarding Palestine, the resistance leader stressed that the Palestinian cause and the confrontation with the Israeli occupation will guide all decisions, as mentioned in the Hamas statement. 

He underlined that "the recent statement of the Hamas leadership regarding rearranging and strengthening relations with Syria is a very advanced position, and we respect this decision," stressing that "Syria, through its leadership and people, will remain the true backbone of the Palestinian people, and it bears sacrifices for it." 

Nasrallah further praised Hamas' statement for its sound position, noting its correctness and importance given that all resistance forces must unite and take root in the same axis.

"Resistance is the only path for reclaim rights, not begging," noting that "the majority of the Palestinian people have reached the conviction that the path of negotiations has not led to a result, and the only option before them is resistance." 

Alluding to the recent heroic operations in occupied Palestine, the Secretary-General highlighted that  "Gaza's choice is steadfastness and resistance, and today we see the enemy terrified of the West Bank because it is fighting a generation of young people." 

Sabra & Shatila massacre is the most heinous in the history of the Arab-Israeli confrontation 

During his speech, Nasrallah touched on the 40th commemoration of the Sabra and Shatila massacre that took place between September 16 and 18, 1982, with the participation of Israeli forces and right-wing Lebanese militias, and led to the killing of thousands of Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian civilians: "The Israeli enemy sponsored this massacre, but the main perpetrators were from well-known Lebanese parties, which were allied with the occupation militarily during the 1982 invasion." 

The resistance figure noted that "about 1,900 Lebanese martyrs were killed in the Sabra and Shatila massacre, with nearly 3,000 Palestinian martyrs, and 300 to 500 people still missing," stressing that this massacre is the largest and most heinous massacre committed in the context of the confrontation between the Israeli occupation and the Arab world, yet its officials have gone unpunished.

Responding to those who claim that their "Lebanon is not the same" as the resistance's and its people's, Nasrallah sternly said: "The Sabra and Shatila massacre is part of your culture, part of your Lebanon, what your hands have committed and your true image." 

Read more: “Israel” planned, LF executed: The Sabra and Shatila massacre

He added that "the culture of death" - an accusation long-directed by pro-Western political forces in Lebanon towards Hezbollah - belongs to those who committed the Sabra and Shatila massacre whereas the culture of life is that of those who liberated the Lebanese South without spilling the blood of a single innocent creature, highlight that "in the face of your ugly culture of revenge, our culture is so fond of life that we did not exert revenge upon the collaborators upon liberation."

Moreover, Nasrallah referred to the massacre of September 13, 1993, asking: "What is the crime of those who demonstrated on September 13 on the airport road, denouncing the Oslo Agreement?" 

The massacre in question took place on September 13, 1993, when nine Lebanese citizens were killed by the Lebanese security forces' bullets, minutes after the beginning of a demonstration rejecting the Oslo Agreement between "Israel" and the Palestinian Authority. 

Pilgrims number Arbaeen march in Iraq is unprecedented 

Regarding the Arbaeen pilgrimage march in Iraq, the Hezbollah Secretary-General stressed that it was "unprecedented in terms of the number of crowds, despite the intense heat," comparing the phenomenon as "akin to a miracle".

"A historical scene in Iraq is manifesting in terms of the huge crowds that are being ignored internationally," Nasrallah stated, thanking the Iraqi people, officials, and all parties for their "generosity, presence, hospitality, humility and love."