Lebanon will not achieve lasting peace as long as Israeli forces remain on its territory and Hezbollah retains its weapons, Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel said, warning that the country faces a prolonged period of instability despite a fragile ceasefire.

“You will not have peace if the Israelis are still occupying Lebanon, and you will not have peace if Hezbollah is still armed," Gemayel told Newsweek.

Gemayel described Israel’s campaign in southern Lebanon as an “invasion,” accusing it of leveling entire communities and rendering them uninhabitable.

“What we don’t understand is the actions of Israel by destroying entire villages and making sure that these regions are not inhabitable anymore,” he said. “This is not acceptable because at the end of the day we want to reach a place where people can return to their homes and where Lebanon can live again peacefully.”

He warned that the scale of destruction could complicate any future diplomatic settlement, noting the immense cost and time required to rebuild devastated areas.

“Our problem with Israel is the invasion. It's the fact that Israel is violating the airspace and violating the borders of Lebanon,” Gemayel said. “War should never be eternal. It's not destiny. Destiny should be stability and peace.”

At the same time, Gemayel stressed that Hezbollah’s continued armed presence—and the influence of Iran—remain major obstacles to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and stability. Although the group was weakened during the 2024 war, including the killing of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, it continues to operate inside Lebanon and maintains its hostility toward Israel.

Gemayel outlined two possible scenarios for Hezbollah’s disarmament. The first involves a diplomatic breakthrough in which Iran agrees to dismantle its regional proxy networks.

“Hezbollah will have absolutely no other choice but to totally disarm. And it will happen very quickly. It will happen very peacefully,” he said, describing this as the “best-case scenario.”

The alternative, he warned, could lead to broader conflict.

“Hezbollah will fight back. And in that sense, we believe that we will not have any other choice but to face this threat. Because we cannot continue to live in hostage mode. We are hostages, and no one can accept to live as hostages,” he said.

In such a scenario, Gemayel said, the Lebanese Army would be required to intervene, despite facing constraints including limited funding and outdated equipment.

While a vocal critic of Hezbollah, Gemayel said the group could retain a role in Lebanon’s political system if it disarms and transforms itself.

“They will disarm, and they will transform into a political party. I think that they will have to change the name and rebrand in terms of politics, because you know, Hezbollah was created to be an armed group, not a political group,” he said.

“So I think they will have to recreate a new structure with new name that will enable them to be part of the political life in Lebanon.”

Gemayel also expressed conditional support for the approach taken by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, particularly their engagement in negotiations and efforts to de-escalate tensions, though he urged faster action.

“We certainly want them to do much more than what they're doing, but they are in the right place,” he said.

“They are in a slow-motion mode, which we don't agree with. We want the government to be able to do more and the army to be much more engaging, but they are in the right place, and they are pushing in the direction. It's just a matter of speed. And our difference between us and the prime minister and the president, it's a matter of speed, not a matter of principle.”

Asked about the prospects for normalization or a potential peace agreement with Israel, Gemayel said public acceptance would depend on how such a deal is implemented and whether Israel follows through on its commitments.

“It depends on how it is done, and it depends on how the Israelis are willing to actually be true to what they are saying,” he said.

 If Israel withdraws and limits its objectives to border security, he added, “I think we can reach this.”

“We need to end the state of war,” he said.

Gemayel also voiced support for U.S. efforts against Iran, expressing hope that Washington could curb Tehran’s regional influence.

“I hope that once and for all this administration will be able to achieve something,” he said.