Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has called for Lebanon to cancel an upcoming meeting with Israel in Washington. Qassem stated, "We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity." He urged a "historic and heroic stance by cancelling this negotiating meeting." The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States were scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss potential direct negotiations.
Lebanon has stressed a desire for a ceasefire before considering direct talks, a prospect Israel dismisses in favor of formal peace negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated the goal is the "dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons" and a lasting peace agreement.
Qassem deemed the negotiations "futile." He added that "these negotiations are futile and require a Lebanese agreement and consensus." Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters protested the planned talks, accusing Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam of being a "zionist." Hezbollah claims over 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and over a million displaced since the conflict began. Qassem vowed, "We will not surrender, we will remain in the field until our last breath."
Hezbollah continues to claim attacks against Israeli forces, while the Israeli army reported surrounding the town of Bint Jbeil. Qassem warned that northern Israeli localities "will not be safe." He also accused Beirut of "backstabbing" his group by declaring its military activities illegal at the start of the war, adding that Israel and the US aim to strengthen the Lebanese army to disarm and fight Hezbollah, which he believes the army cannot do.