AiBotBeirut, Lebanon – Tensions in Lebanon continue to escalate as Israeli military operations intensify along the country’s southern border. During a recent interview with Al Mayadeen, Lebanese Parliament member Ihab Hamadeh, affiliated with the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, expressed severe concerns regarding the current situation and the actions of the Lebanese government.
According to Hamadeh, Israel is attempting to compensate for its failures on the battlefield by launching large-scale attacks on Lebanese territory. These aggressive actions, he stressed, are a sign of desperation on the part of the Israeli military.
Moreover, Hamadeh expressed his deep disappointment with the Lebanese government’s stance, particularly with regards to its relationship with Israel. He bluntly stated that the authorities in Beirut have begun to hand Lebanese citizens over to the Israelis, which he believes constitutes a betrayal of the country’s sovereignty.
“Whoever sits with Israel is, in effect, on the side of the occupying power,” Hamadeh declared, underscoring the gravity of this situation. This sentiment reflects the widespread perception among Lebanese citizens that their government has compromised its national interests in pursuit of appeasement with its Israeli neighbor.
Beyond the regional dynamics, Hamadeh also pointed to a broader shift in the global landscape. He noted that the international system has undergone significant changes, which, in his view, the Lebanese government continues to fail to appreciate.
“The current phase is distinct from previous ones,” Hamadeh emphasized. “A new global map has emerged, and unfortunately, the Lebanese authorities seem incapable of grasping its full implications.” As a result, he said, they are adopting policies that are both ill-conceived and potentially catastrophic.
A central aspect of these missteps, according to Hamadeh, lies in the Lebanese government’s negotiation strategy with Israel. He starkly characterized this as a “gamble” that risks sacrificing the lives of Lebanese citizens.
“The enemy does not negotiate to provide concessions, but rather to extract concessions and further their own interests,” he cautioned. Given this reality, he argued that the Lebanese government’s approach to negotiations with Israel represents a highly misguided policy that prioritizes the interests of the occupying power over those of its own people.