Hezbollah Supports Lebanese Parliament Efforts To Ceasefire With Israel

Israeli Attacks In southern Lebanon/DOK UNICEF

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary-General Hezbollah Naim Qassem said Hezbollah supported the efforts of the Lebanese parliamentary chairman to reach a ceasefire with Israel. This is the first time the group has publicly supported the negotiations since the war began.

We support the political efforts led by (Chairman of Parliament Nabih) Berri under the flag of a ceasefire. Once a ceasefire is established and diplomacy can achieve it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be taken collaboratively," said Naim Qassem as quoted by CNN, Tuesday, October 8.

Berri is the leader of the Amal party dominated by Shia who is allied with Hezbollah, and has become a key figure in the ceasefire negotiations.

Hezbollah had previously said they would only stop shooting at Israel once the ceasefire was reached with Hamas in Gaza.

But Israel insisted that Hezbollah separate its conflict with Israel from the ongoing war with Hamas.

Most of Qassem's speeches were challenging, emphasizing Hezbollah's readiness and ability to continue his fight against Israel.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told CNN last week that the killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah agreed to a temporary ceasefire before he was killed by Israel.

Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's ambassador to Britain, said Bou Habib's claim was "conjol" in an interview with Sky News.