Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended ongoing negotiations with Israel and the recent ceasefire agreement as a necessary step toward stability, saying the process reflects strength rather than concession and pledging to safeguard Lebanese lives and sovereignty.

In a televised address to the nation, Aoun said the ceasefire was the product of collective efforts and the sacrifices of the Lebanese people, crediting those who remained in their homes and villages under fire as well as those who sheltered displaced families.

“What we’ve achieved in terms of a ceasefire is the result of everyone’s efforts and the sacrifices you’ve made,” Aoun said. “It’s the result of those who stood their ground in their homes and villages on the front lines and showed the world that we are here to stay.”

He also pointed to sustained diplomatic efforts by Lebanese officials working with international partners.

“There were tireless efforts, days and nights of nonstop contacts at every level and in every direction,” he said. “We did not rest, we did not tire, and we never doubted our right or our duty.”

Aoun sought to counter criticism of the negotiations, saying they should not be viewed as a sign of weakness.

“Let me be clear: these talks are not weakness, not retreat, and not a concession,” he said.

“They are a decision rooted in our belief in our rights, in our responsibility to protect our people, and in our refusal to die for anyone but Lebanon.”

He pledged to prevent further loss of life, saying, “I will not allow another Lebanese to die, nor will I allow our people to keep bleeding for the interests of others or for the calculations of regional and international powers.”

The president said Lebanon is entering a new phase, moving beyond a ceasefire toward efforts to secure lasting agreements.

“We are now transitioning from stopping the fighting to building durable arrangements that protect our people’s rights, preserve our territorial unity, and uphold our sovereignty,” he said.

Aoun also said Lebanon has regained control over its own decision-making after decades of external influence.

“For the first time in nearly half a century, Lebanon has reclaimed its decision,” he said. “We negotiate and decide for ourselves—we are no longer a card in anyone else’s pocket.”

He emphasized that negotiations would not come at the expense of national rights.

“Talks do not mean giving up anything,” he said. “I will not allow any Lebanese to die for the interests of others.”

Aoun said he was prepared to take full responsibility for the path forward.

“I am ready to bear full responsibility for these choices and to go wherever necessary to liberate our land, protect our people, and secure our country’s future,” he said, adding that the goal of any agreement remains “clear: Israeli withdrawal and the extension of state authority.”

In a direct message to those he accused of endangering Lebanon’s future, Aoun said: “Enough is enough!”