As Lebanon faces growing instability amid escalating regional tensions, Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel on Thursday met with MPs Wael Abou Faour and Raji El Saad to discuss the urgent need for national unity and an immediate ceasefire. The lawmakers underscored the importance of halting the ongoing violence, returning the displaced to their homes, and charting a path forward through cooperation among Lebanon’s diverse political factions.

Gemayel’s Call for Ceasefire and Shared Responsibility

Speaking following the meeting held in Bikfaya, Gemayel emphasized that the primary focus should be on halting the violence and preventing further Israeli ground incursions. He called on the Lebanese state and Hezbollah to work together to bring an end to the current hostilities.

“The priority today is to enforce a ceasefire and stop the Israeli ground incursion,” Gemayel declared, stressing that Hezbollah must cooperate with the government and allow the Lebanese army to deploy across all of Lebanon. He underscored the state’s responsibility in maintaining security, while urging Hezbollah to respond to the state's initiative for a peaceful solution.

Gemayel also highlighted the importance of national unity during these critical times, calling on all Lebanese factions to embrace each other and understand that no one can resolve the crisis alone.

“The issue of the de facto forces remains, but the priority is to stop the killing and destruction,” Gemayel said. “The Lebanese people are displaced and are victims of the situation—they are suffering, and so is all of Lebanon. What matters most to us is ending the war and allowing people to return to their homes.”

“For the sake of all Lebanese, from all sects and regions, this stage requires national unity. No one should feel broken or defeated. Our experience has shown us that whenever a segment of Lebanese society is excluded or marginalized, there is always a winner and a loser,” he said, adding that it is essential to embrace each other and recognize that no one can resolve the country’s challenges alone.

“This country must be built through partnership, and the time has come to recognize the sacrifices made by all.”

Gemayel also addressed the recent tripartite meeting between Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat. Though he noted that the format of the meeting was not ideal, he acknowledged its importance.

“We were informed about the tripartite meeting, which, though it wasn’t ideal in form, was significant in content,” Gemayel noted. “The state acknowledged for the first time the separation of Lebanon’s situation from Gaza, and it committed to the ceasefire and the implementation of Resolution 1701, which is a very important development. This now stands as the state's official position, which had been unclear in previous phases.”

The Kataeb chief further urged the country’s leadership to learn from Lebanon’s past and to ensure the current crisis does not repeat itself.

“After everything that has happened, we cannot return to the situation as it was before October 7,” he warned, stressing that Lebanon’s future must be built on genuine “partnership and equality.” 

"It is time to adopt new foundations for national governance," he stated. 

Looking toward the future, Gemayel expressed concern over Lebanon’s political trajectory, particularly regarding the presidential election, and emphasized that after the recent events, the country cannot revert to the pre-October 7 status quo.

“The presidential election is a key issue,” he noted, “but after everything that has happened, the situation cannot revert to how it was before October 7. It is unacceptable for anyone to drag the country into a war or crises like the one Lebanon is currently facing.”

Abou Faour’s Roadmap for National Recovery

For his part, MP Wael Abou Faour, who partook in the recent meeting at Ain al-Tineh alongside Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, presented his perspective on Lebanon’s path forward as he laid out a detailed roadmap to address the ongoing crisis and restore peace.

“The roadmap includes the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the deployment of the Lebanese army to the south, and an immediate ceasefire,” Abou Faour explained, clarifying that the resolution of Lebanon's current challenges requires a strong and unified stance from all political factions.

The lawmaker rejected any notion of the Ain al-Tineh meeting being an attempt to create a new political alignment.

“If the idea of the Ain al-Tineh meeting had been to create a new political alignment, I would not have taken part in it,” Abou Faour stated. “Our goal is to establish a foundation for national consensus.”

Abou Faour also addressed the issue of Lebanese civilians displaced by the conflict, emphasizing that their return to their homes should be a national priority.

“The displaced Lebanese are innocent victims in this crisis. We must do everything in our power to ensure their swift return home.”

Moreover, Abou Faour stressed the importance of maintaining unity and respect among Lebanon’s diverse political factions, reassuring that the aim of ongoing discussions is to foster cooperation rather than division.

“There is no intention to exclude anyone,” he affirmed, noting that the presence of himself and MP Raji Saad in Bikfaya was a clear signal of the desire for national consensus.