Bassil Urges South Ceasefire Despite Gaza Conflict

Jebran Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, has called for an immediate halt to hostilities in south Lebanon, insisting that this issue should be distinct from the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In a conversation with Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper, Bassil emphasized the need for unity during Lebanon’s severe crisis, offering his support for defensive actions against any Israeli incursions into Lebanon. However, he expressed disapproval of Hezbollah’s involvement in the Gaza conflict, citing a lack of national agreement on the matter.

Bassil pointed out that while Hezbollah seems reluctant to escalate into a full-scale war with Israel, it appears to have relinquished the power to end the current conflict, questioning the beneficiaries of this decision—whether it’s for Yahya al-Sinwar’s sake or the broader goal of freeing Jerusalem.

He called upon international allies to assist in achieving a ceasefire in south Lebanon but firmly separated this issue from the presidential elections in Lebanon, arguing that the elections should proceed independently.

Maintaining open lines of communication with Hezbollah at the highest levels, Bassil disclosed his request to Speaker Nabih Berri for assistance in decoupling Lebanon’s internal matters from the Gaza war situation. He advocated for consensus on appointing a new Lebanese president, stressing that no single entity could dictate terms within Lebanon.