Kataeb Party Urges Lebanese Officials to Demand Immediate Ceasefire from Hezbollah

BEIRUT: The Kataeb Party has issued a strong call to Lebanese officials, urging immediate action to demand a ceasefire from Hezbollah amid escalating tensions with Israel. The party's political bureau, under the leadership of Samy Gemayel, expressed deep concern over the unprecedented developments that include Israeli threats and mass displacements across regions. According to National News Agency-Lebanon, the Kataeb Party's statement emerged from its weekly meeting, which focused on the critical situation. The party appealed to the Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister to adopt a clear and decisive stance, advocating for an unconditional and immediate ceasefire from Hezbollah. Additionally, the party emphasized the necessity for the Lebanese Army to strengthen its presence along the borders, backed by a robust political resolution, international mandates, and support from UNIFIL forces. This deployment aims to curb Israeli advances and bring global attention to the actions, thereby removing any groun ds for Israel's continued aggression and encroachments into Lebanese territory. The statement highlighted two essential approaches to resolving the crisis. First, a security strategy to ensure that all weapons are controlled exclusively by legitimate Lebanese forces, preventing any group from arming independently, which has historically led to destruction. Secondly, a political strategy that calls for a deep reevaluation of Lebanon's internal divisions and a restructuring of the political system based on principles of equality and partnership, as outlined in the Constitution. Furthermore, the Kataeb Party stressed the urgency of facilitating the swift return of displaced individuals to their regions to prevent further social instability. The party also pointed out the recurring issues between displaced populations and host communities, underscoring the importance of an increased security presence to deter external actors from exploiting these tensions.