The Lebanese pro-Iranian Shiite movement Hezbollah on Monday described the ceasefire in the Gaza war as an Israeli defeat.
In a first statement after the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas came into effect, the organization spoke of a “blessed victory for the Palestinian people and their resistance.”
“The agreement to a ceasefire under the conditions of the resistance, without compromising Palestinian rights, marks a political victory alongside the military achievement,” the statement said.
It added that Israel has failed “to achieve any of its objectives through force or to break the will and steadfastness of the Palestinian people.”
In the course of the Gaza war, Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, was considerably weakened militarily after repeatedly launching rocket attacks on Israel and becoming the target of Israeli counter-attacks.
In September, Israel launched a wide-scale attack on Lebanon, destroying most of southern and eastern Lebanon as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, which are all hotbeds of the movement.
The war has also resulted in the assassination of most of Hezbollah’s leaders, including their Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
The movement was further weakened following the change of power in Syria, which was an important supply route for Hezbollah.
Israel and Hezbollah also agreed on a ceasefire at the end of November.
Palestinian refugees celebrate at Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut a ceasefire deal reached between Hamas and Israel in Gaza strip. Marwan Naamani/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
