Hezbollah chief says won’t surrender under Israeli threats

‘Not now, not later’

Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli frontier.

Israel was to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, but has kept them deployed in five areas that it deemed strategic.

Qassem said Israel must abide by the ceasefire agreement, “withdraw from the occupied territories, stop its aggression… release the prisoners” detained during last year’s war, and that reconstruction in Lebanon must begin.

Only then “will we be ready for the second stage, which is to discuss the national security and defence strategy” which includes the issue of group’s disarmament, he added.

Supporters dressed in black for Ashura marched through Beirut’s southern suburbs before his speech, waving Hezbollah banners as well as the Lebanese, Palestinian and Iranian flags.

Some also carried posters of the slain leader Nasrallah.

Hussein Jaber, 28, originally from south Lebanon, said the group’s weapons “can’t be handed over, not now, not later. Those who think Hezbollah will turn in its arms are ignorant.”

In his speech, Qassem also said his movement “will not accept normalisation… with the Israeli enemy”, after Israel’s top diplomat said his government was “interested” in such a move.

Lebanon, which is technically still at war with Israel, did not comment.

Syria, also mentioned by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, said it was “premature” to discuss normalisation.