Beirut MPs gathered on Thursday under the banner “Beirut, a Safe City Free of Weapons,” in a conference held at the InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut Hotel and attended by 14 lawmakers from the capital alongside economic, social and public affairs figures.

Opening the event, Kataeb MP Nadim Gemayel said the meeting was meant to reaffirm support for government decisions “from the August 5 and 7 resolutions to the March 2 decision banning Hezbollah’s security activities, and up to the latest decision declaring Beirut a safe city free of weapons.”

Gemayel said Lebanon was “at a crossroads,” adding that it was no longer “a bargaining chip in the hands of the Syrian regime or Iran,” but rather a State “deciding its own fate and sitting at the negotiation table to make its voice heard.”

He called for the Lebanese army to be deployed nationwide as it is in Beirut, warning that residents of the capital remain anxious.

“Our people in Beirut are anxious, having been taken hostage by Hezbollah and the Iranian regime,” he said, urging the army to reassure citizens across the country.

Makhzoumi: Beirut must not be held hostage

MP Fouad Makhzoumi stressed that Beirut would remain a city that “embraces everyone,” saying lawmakers were committed to supporting the government and protecting the capital.

“We believe the capital deserves to be protected together. It has always been and will remain a city that embraces everyone,” he said, addressing displaced residents: “You are our people and you belong here.”

He warned that the “Black Wednesday,” during which a wave of Israeli strikes hit several areas in Beirut, represented a serious alarm about continued threats to stability, adding that “Beirut’s security cannot remain vulnerable to any disruption.”

Makhzoumi rejected any return to violence or state collapse.

“We will not accept Beirut being destroyed again or taken hostage,” he said, calling for full disarmament of all non-state actors, including Hezbollah. He also urged expanded army deployment across the capital, establishment of legal checkpoints, and stronger state oversight, not excluding the possibility of declaring general mobilization if required.

Hasbani calls for “general mobilization”

MP Ghassan Hasbani praised the positions of President Joseph Aoun and the prime minister, backing cabinet decisions on restricting weapons to the state and deploying the army in Beirut.

He said residents’ fears were justified given Lebanon’s experience in past conflicts “entered into by decisions outside state authority.”

Hasbani called on the government to implement all necessary measures, including declaring general mobilization under the National Defense Law, to ensure security and protect the city and its infrastructure.

Other MPs warn against instability

MP Nicolas Sehnaoui called for an inclusive national approach, rejecting Lebanon’s involvement in external wars and stressing that protection of citizens must come through a strong, fair state.

MP Faysal Sayegh described Lebanon’s current moment as “historic and decisive,” urging adherence to the Taif Agreement and the ceasefire framework with Israel, alongside implementation of government decisions and the presidential oath.

MP Adnan Traboulsi called for an immediate ceasefire and the extension of state authority across all Lebanese territory, urging reconstruction efforts and condemning incitement and unrest. He called for a full security deployment by the army and internal security forces.

MP Edgard Traboulsi said Beirut required unity “without exclusion or marginalization,” warning against extremist rhetoric and calls of treason, and urging protection of state sovereignty from all forms of pressure.

Calls for a weapons-free Beirut

MP Paula Yacoubian said Beirut must be free of weapons to safeguard both freedom and civilians, praising what she described as a “national” prime minister prioritizing the public interest.

MP Melhem Khalaf said, “Beirut is the responsibility of the state in enforcing the law, and we want it safe and free of weapons.”

MP Ibrahim Mneimneh said Hezbollah had drawn Lebanon into a war “it had no connection to,” arguing that Beirut and other regions were paying the price in security and stability. He warned against leaving the city exposed to “security hotspots or parallel authorities outside the state.”

MP Nabil Badr, in a recorded message, said the call for a weapons-free Beirut was not a slogan but a national choice.

MP Waddah Sadek questioned “who benefits from a fragmented capital,” calling for a unified state monopoly on arms and urging support for government decisions. He said that while direct negotiations with Israel may be difficult for some, President Joseph Aoun was acting to protect the country, stressing the importance of deploying the army.

The conference concluded with renewed calls from participating MPs for strengthening State authority, expanding military deployment, and ensuring Beirut remains free of weapons and fully under State control.