It is clear that the post-Gaza plan period is not the same as before for the region, especially regarding the course of wars, particularly concerning “Hezbollah,” which fought a war this month under the banner of support and engagement in favor of Hamas. This battle was launched by the late Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah under the title “On the Road to Jerusalem,” resulting in the destruction of the south, the southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley, with a huge number of martyrs and wounded, in addition to the assassination of top leaders and the destruction of a significant part of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. In other words, the party’s decision at that time raised questions: Was it taken by Nasrallah himself or was it an Iranian dictate? Ultimately, it negatively affected Hezbollah with severe consequences, the most damaging in all the wars it has fought.

After the Gaza plan and Hamas’s indirect negotiations with Israel, and the end of the war and Hamas militarily, what about Hezbollah? Is it now alone? Who supports or engages it? What will be its position and role in the upcoming phase? Can it confront Israel? The Gaza agreement may have left it isolated politically and in negotiations, as well as militarily, with possible repercussions in the coming days. It is worth noting that Sheikh Naim Qassem said, “We support the Gaza plan,” although two days earlier he had condemned it, suggesting that he may have received Iranian messages regarding what happened in the Sharm El-Sheikh negotiations.

In this context, MP Ashraf Rifi told “An-Nahar”: “Hezbollah’s role ended before the Gaza plan. Hamas was fighting in Gaza and paid a heavy price, with its leaders fighting the Israeli enemy and many martyrs falling, regardless of Iranian support and Tehran’s backing of Hamas, as they did with Hezbollah, asking it to support and engage, which led to the destruction of Gaza and Lebanon. This is the result: the Gaza plan and consequently the negotiations with Israel.”

Rifi added: “I believe the party will have no justification, especially for the function of its weapons. What will it say? Should I support and engage? This support was an Iranian decision that led to the destruction of its supporting environment and the country, and we are still paying a heavy price because of this decision. Therefore, after the Gaza plan, things changed regarding Hezbollah’s political and military structure on all levels. Even Iran’s role ended because it lost a major card, Hamas, as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, leading to the fall of the former Syrian regime. Only Hezbollah remains as a card, but the party is militarily finished. The post-Gaza plan is not like before.”

Rifi concluded: “Yes, the party has become isolated and must read these transformations and changes. Frankly, we were the first to say that its role ended, as well as Tehran’s, especially in light of all that happened. I had previously informed Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri of all the data and atmospheres I had to preserve the country, but Hezbollah did not listen, resulting in a catastrophe for it and Lebanon.”