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Lebanese authorities have stressed that Beirut first wants to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, but Israel has dismissed that prospect.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem gives a televised speech from an unknown location. (Reuters)
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Monday urged the Lebanese government to cancel planned talks with Israel in Washington, reiterating group’s rejection of direct negotiations with its foe.
“We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity… We call for a historic and heroic stance by cancelling this negotiating meeting,” Qassem, whose Iran-backed group has been at war with Israel since March 2, said in a televised address, news agency AFP reported.
The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday in the United States, would bring together the two countries’ ambassadors for rare face-to-face talks. Lebanon has said it intends to use the meeting to push for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, while Israel has indicated it wants broader peace negotiations and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Lebanese authorities have stressed that Beirut first wants to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, but Israel has dismissed that prospect, saying it prefers instead to focus on formal peace talks with Lebanon itself, with which it has technically been at war for decades.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is seeking a lasting peace agreement and the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons.
Qassem, however, said “these negotiations are futile and require a Lebanese agreement and consensus”. Hezbollah officials have also made clear they will not be bound by any outcome of the talks.
Senior figure Wafiq Safa said the group is “not concerned” with the negotiations and will continue its stance regardless of any agreement.
The developments come amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since March. Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and displaced over a million, according to reports.
Protests have also taken place in Lebanon against the planned talks, reflecting divisions within the country over how to handle the conflict and engage with Israel.
Despite the diplomatic push, Hezbollah has vowed to continue its military operations, warning that northern areas of Israel would remain under threat as long as the conflict continues.
(With inputs from agencies)
Beirut, Lebanon
April 14, 2026, 01:49 IST
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