The Head of the Kataeb’s Foreign Affairs Department, Marwan Abdallah, reiterated his party’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, stressing the need to separate the Lebanese front from the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In an interview on Al-Hadath channel, Abdallah criticized Hezbollah’s refusal to cease hostilities until a truce is reached in Gaza, blasting the militant group for dismissing repeated call for shield Lebanon from Israel's overwhelming force witnessed previously in Gaza. 

Abdallah emphasized that Kataeb’s sole demand has been for a ceasefire, yet this plea has gone unanswered, leading to continued escalation. He proposed a comprehensive and balanced approach to resolve Lebanon’s crisis, including a ceasefire, the election of a president, the formation of a government, the return of displaced persons, and the reconstruction of the country. 

"The various misadventures Lebanon has undertaken in recent years have brought nothing but devastation," Abdallah said. "It is time to return to legitimacy and rally around the Lebanese Army, the institution that unites all Lebanese."

"We are asking for the state, government, and Lebanese Army to take charge. Is such a request treasonous?" he asked rhetorically.

Hezbollah’s arms, Abdallah pointed out, are a key issue, as the group operates under foreign influence. He stated that these weapons must be placed under the control of the Lebanese government, in line with the country's laws.

Abdallah also addressed accusations that Kataeb is exploiting the current situation to push for Hezbollah's disarmament.

"We called for the withdrawal of Syrian occupation forces when they were at the peak of their power. We demanded the disarmament of Lebanese militias during the 2006 national dialogue, before and after the July War. To this day, we continue to call for all militias to be disarmed and for their weapons to be handed over to the Lebanese state. We have sacrificed martyrs for this cause," he said.

Abdallah highlighted the recent tripartite meeting held in Bikfaya, which reinforced support for Lebanese legitimacy and the functioning of state institutions. He criticized Hezbollah's dominance over both the legislative and executive branches, noting that the current government does not reflect the composition of the 2022-elected parliament.

"This caretaker government, appointed before the elections, remains in place due to Hezbollah’s influence and force, representing their interests abroad," Abdallah said.

He expressed confidence that if Parliament reconvenes, lawmakers are capable of electing a president.

"Our priority is to elect a president," Abdallah added. "The problem lies with Speaker Nabih Berri, who only convenes one electoral session at a time, and in the last session, opposition candidate Jihad Azour received 59 votes, just shy of the 65 needed for election."