Gemayel calls on a State warning backed by enforcement

With Lebanon facing the prospect of renewed war, Kataeb Party leader MP Samy Gemayel calls for the Shia community to reclaim its voice, urges the state to take preventive action and insists that national dialogue can only follow Hezbollah's disarmament.

The Shia community must be part of the solution

“Our greatest concern today is an urgent and serious one: the possibility of war breaking out,” Samy Gemayel told The Beiruter, warning that Lebanon is approaching a decisive moment. “Either we are heading towards a major war or a major agreement. The chances are roughly equal, but one thing is certain: the situation cannot remain as it is for much longer.” The entire region is showing signs that something is about to happen, he said, whether in the form of a major military confrontation, potentially within days or weeks, or a significant political agreement.

For the party leader, however, the central issue is not engaging with Hezbollah, but reaching out to the Shia community itself. “There is absolutely no need to engage with Hezbollah, because the decision is not in its hands. The experiences of 2023 and 2025 have demonstrated that Hezbollah is an Iranian military instrument in Lebanon. Addressing the party, therefore, serves no purpose. The party that must be addressed in this situation is the Shia community.”

He pointed out to the devastation in the South, arguing that the scale of the catastrophe cannot be fully understood without witnessing it firsthand. “Unless you see the reality with your own eyes, you cannot fully comprehend the magnitude of the catastrophe that the Shia community has been made to endure because of Hezbollah.”

“How much longer will this community remain unable to rise up against this reality?” he asked, acknowledging the tremendous pressure, security threats and intimidation facing those who oppose Hezbollah. Taking a stand is not easy, he said, “but nevertheless, it must find the strength to reject this situation.”

Gemayel argued that voices opposing Hezbollah must emerge from within the community rather than be perceived as coming from outside it. “Whenever we speak out, the issue is turned into a sectarian confrontation, with our position portrayed as being directed against the Shia community.”

Instead, he called for the voices emerging from Jabal Amel, Nabatieh and Tyre to grow into a genuine movement, encompassing both the Shia opposition and the Amal Movement.

These two groups can help protect Lebanon and the Shia community, which does not share the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' commitments or priorities. These are the sons and daughters of these towns and villages, people whose interests lie in protecting their homes and communities

He appealed to those voices to act before it is too late, warning against the prospect of entire villages being reduced to rubble once again. “We must prevent these scenes from becoming widespread across Lebanon's villages and ensure that neither the Shia community nor Lebanon as a whole pays an additional price for Hezbollah's adventures and its subservience to Iran.”

“We need to hear stronger voices, and we stand alongside everyone who is willing to speak out,” he said, adding that the state has a responsibility to protect those who choose to challenge this reality.

A clear warning

Turning to the state's responsibility, Gemayel rejected the idea that the authorities should wait for Hezbollah to provide assurances that it will not enter a potential war.

It is unacceptable that the state should be waiting for assurances from Hezbollah that it will not become involved in this war. The state should not be seeking anyone's opinion, nor should it be asking anyone for guarantees or reassurance. Hezbollah does not even hold the decision-making power; that authority lies with Iran.

The party leader argued that Hezbollah's priorities lie outside Lebanon and that the party has shown little concern for the fate of its own community.

This is a party that has no genuine allegiance to the country and shows no concern for its own social environment, its people, children or families. Its priority is the interests of another country. That is where our fundamental differences lie

With Lebanon facing what he described as an existential threat, Gemayel called on the authorities to move beyond statements and issue an explicit warning backed by concrete enforcement mechanisms.

It must make clear that any attempt to drag Lebanon into a potential war will be confronted by the Lebanese Army, in accordance with Cabinet decisions, the Constitution, the law, the President's inaugural address and the government's ministerial statement.

Any attempt to involve Lebanon in another war, as happened in 2023 and 2025, would constitute a further challenge to the authority of the state. But, Gemayel stressed, the consequences go far beyond a political confrontation. “It is a deadly challenge, threatening Lebanese lives and dragging the country towards destruction, bloodshed and a catastrophe from which it may be extremely difficult to recover.”

He questioned whether the country could withstand another round of mass displacement, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the scale of a potential Israeli offensive. “We cannot predict the scale or intensity of an Israeli attack. If the entire Nabatieh Governorate were displaced, or the Tyre district evacuated, where would these people go? And if the Bekaa were bombed, where could its residents seek refuge? What would become of the country?”

Gemayel highlighted that “at the very least, during this exceptional period, the Lebanese Army must be given clear operational instructions to deploy throughout areas that could be used to drag Lebanon into the war. It must prevent such an eventuality and apprehend anyone who might seek to expose the country to this dangerous adventure.”

While acknowledging that discussions could take place over the timing of implementing Cabinet decisions, Gemayel said there should be no hesitation when the country's survival is at stake.

He warned that the state would bear responsibility if it failed to take preventive measures. 

The state will have only itself to blame if it fails to take clear measures and issue an explicit warning supported by concrete enforcement mechanisms. If it does not act, it is effectively allowing the possibility of war to materialize.

The worst-case scenario

Beyond preventing Lebanon from being drawn into a regional confrontation, Gemayel questioned the absence of visible preparations for the consequences of a possible war.

“Following the information circulating about the possibility of renewed hostilities, where are the security and ministerial meetings to prepare for a potential displacement crisis? Where are the plans concerning ports, evacuation and the management of a possible emergency?”

He placed responsibility squarely on the President of the Republic and the government, insisting that precautionary planning should already be underway. “yet none of this is happening.”

On Hezbollah's weapons, Gemayel maintained that the matter has already been settled by the state and cannot be reopened through negotiations with the party.

“The issue of Hezbollah's weapons has already been settled by the state, the legitimate authorities and the government through Cabinet decisions. It is not open to debate, and there is absolutely no question of negotiating with Hezbollah over its weapons. Nor should there be any discussion of a defense strategy or similar arrangements.”

He argued that the circumstances that once allowed such discussions no longer exist, particularly after the wars and destruction Lebanon has endured. “Once the weapons have been handed over, however, the Lebanese must sit down together for an honest discussion, reconciliation and a process of mutual understanding.”

It is simply impossible to negotiate with someone who is holding weapons.