To the families of the prisoners, and all our distinguished guests, peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God.
Today, we wanted, on the occasion of Resistance and Liberation Day, to hold this solidarity vigil for the prisoners—the Lebanese prisoners, the thirty held in Zionist occupation prisons—to assure them and their families that their cause is a fundamental and central issue in the agenda of Hezbollah and all our allies, and in the agenda of the Resistance, until they return home, by all possible means, available now or in the future, by the will of God Almighty.
In this vigil, we wanted to shed light on the Zionist enemy's treatment of its prisoners, which is a brutal, Nazi-like, and fascist practice. They bar the International Red Cross from visiting them, withhold all information about them, regarding their health and their conditions, and deny them any interviews. This is while Trump and Netanyahu describe it, falsely and slanderously, as a “civilized army” and a “civilized entity.” Yet it is an army devoid of civilization or humanity, and an entity that bears no resemblance to humanity.
We are the most knowledgeable of them on this earth, through their aggression against Gaza, Palestine, and the West Bank, and against Lebanon; from the Bahr al-Baqar school massacre in Egypt to the recurring massacres throughout the region's history. We will not be deceived by the biased media favoring the enemy, nor by the abundance of wealth, capital, nations, or bullies. It is a murderous, terrorist enemy. History will never forget that those who founded it were the Irgun and terrorist killing gangs who committed massacres like Deir Yassin, Al-Tantura, Houla, and others.
During this period, there are two main issues on this occasion of solidarity with the prisoners that must be raised.
The first issue is the path taken by the Lebanese authorities—the path of direct negotiations with the Zionist enemy, and the predicament the government has put itself in. They are heading to the fourth session of the so-called “security track” in Naqoura in the coming days, on May 29th.
We reiterate our rejection of the entire direct negotiation process, including the security track, as it is part of a flawed path and is itself a mistake.
A few days ago, Rubio said that America wants to select a brigade from the Lebanese Army, choosing its officers, ranks, and personnel themselves, to arm and train them to confront the Resistance. The Americans and Israelis are also proposing a joint security committee.
To confront whom?
When the Israelis mention Hezbollah, the Lebanese authorities remain silent. If it weren't for the Army's statement—and the Army is national, appreciated, and respected—the political leadership remains silent, quiet, in a suspicious silence.
The security track is rejected, fraught with dangers and challenges. You have entered a dangerous path. What will you do in the face of U.S. and Israeli demands, as a political authority?
Lest anyone misinterpret, the Army's stance is clear, but the political leadership's stance is ambiguous. The Army has clearly stated its position, standing by its people and its nation. This is its reality, and its nature as a Lebanese national army.
As for the authorities, who didn't dare respond to Rubio, or to the sanctions imposed on officers in the Lebanese Army and General Security. And you didn't... And you didn't talk about the matter? What, is it fine? No, what?
I'll tell you.
When you cower before Ortagus's statements when she said she thanks Israel for defeating Hezbollah, and you remain silent on Barrack's statements that America arms the Lebanese Army not to face Israel, but to face Hezbollah. And when you stay silent on Barrack's statements who threatened to annex Lebanon to Syria if it doesn't fulfill America's demands, turning it into a mere maritime product, and said Lebanon is a failed state.
When you stay silent on Rubio's words from a few weeks ago, less than two weeks ago, and when you stay silent on the sanctions, when will you dare say to America, if it asks more of you? If it asks more of you...
Beware, beware of falling into the American trap, the Israeli trap, which seeks discord in Lebanon. We might resist it; we don't want discord, we reject it. Discord is what the Americans have planned since Dean Brown, and the displacement of some Lebanese from 1976 until today. The American is the architect of discord. So beware, beware of yielding to this American and fulfilling his demands.
The second point is the ongoing negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.
Iran is a skilled negotiator, while America is a deceptive, cunning negotiator.
What matters to me on this occasion is what the Islamic Republic has declared, repeatedly, most recently in the message from the Iranian Foreign Minister to His Eminence, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, may God protect him.
An Iranian confirmation that one of the fixed points in Iranian demands is a ceasefire, without conditions and without freedom of movement for the enemy in Lebanon, in addition to adopting Lebanon's demands, which are: a ceasefire, no freedom of movement, full Israeli withdrawal, the return of the displaced, the return of prisoners, and reconstruction.
These are Lebanese demands, and Iran supports us in them. Lebanese demands, supported by Iran. Iran does not interfere in our sovereignty; rather, it supports our sovereign demands.
But America—and here is the comparison—interferes in our affairs, even the minor but important ones, and incites discord. Iran calls for unity and the strengthening of unity, while America calls for division and discord, and even worse.
What a vast difference between a sincere, loving friend and a so-called “mediator”—who is more Zionist than the Zionists themselves, whether named Trump or Biden.
Beware, beware.
Our prisoners, no matter how long you are gone, you will return to your people, your loved ones, and your families. Freedom to you, and shame and disgrace to the enemy and all who support them.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God.
