Hezbollah Secretary-General Naeem Qassem set conditions for handing over the party’s weapons, including Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territories, stopping aggression, releasing prisoners, and starting reconstruction. In a televised speech at a social event, Qassem said, “We will not give up the weapon that has honored us and protects us from our Israeli enemy.” He added that the Lebanese army must be armed and entrusted with the responsibility of expelling Israel from Lebanon, with the resistance remaining a supporting factor. This statement came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed that Tel Aviv would reduce its occupation of areas in southern Lebanon if Beirut took the necessary steps to disarm Hezbollah. Since the last war on Lebanon, Israel has occupied areas in southern Lebanon, in addition to other territories it has held for decades.