Kataeb Lawmaker Elias Hankach, stressed that “we cannot be neutral about Gaza scenes”.

"As a father, I sympathize with the parents and children who are affected by Israel-Hamas war. As a Christian, I cannot turn a blind eye to the killing and criminality that are taking place in Gaza,” Hankach said in an interview with MTV.

“Yet, we cannot risk Lebanon and the Lebanese, as the decision on war today is not in the hands of the state, but rather in the hands of a party linked to an axis that takes the Lebanese hostage," Hankach noted.

“Today, every five people who lost in the elections form a militia. The question is: Who controls these matters? Who decides the future of our children, and how can our children decide their future?” he wondered.

“We must all be responsible for any decision, even the decision of war,” he affirmed.

He deemed Hezbollah’s illegal weapons the country’s problem.

“If these illegal weapons are used in a comprehensive war, they will destroy the country. If they are not used abroad, they will be used in Lebanon, as was case in Kahale and Ain Remeneh,” Hankach stated.

“We do not speak behind closed doors, but rather in public. Any war against anyone will destroy Lebanon. We must choose whether Lebanon is a paradise or a platform for launching missiles,” he stressed.

Hankach considered that Remas, Taleen and Layan and their grandmother who were killed by an israeli strike in southern Lebanon, were martyred on behalf of all the Lebanese, asking: “If we were distracting the Israeli army as Hezbollah claims and 60 young men died, then what happens if we enter the war?”

"Enough biddings. Enough distrusting the people. We all want to live in our country and decide our future,” he noted.

“Enough biddings and interpretation of the term’s enemy and non-enemy. Today there are two mentalities: The Kataeb Party’s mentality, which refuses to expose the country and its future to destruction, and the mentality of those who want to make Lebanon a platform for launching missiles,” he explained.

"My cause is not Palestinian but Lebanese,” Hankach affirmed.

Hankach recalled the warning of Kataeb Leader Samy Gemayel against divorce with Hezbollah, noting that there is a party that wants to take risks and endanger the Lebanese while 70% of the people reject war and Lebanon being a platform for launching missiles.

“We refuse being dragged into war. We seek a developed and prosperous country as the UAE which is the model of modernity,” he said.

Regarding the comments of Iranian Foreign Minister on the expansion of war, Hankach asked: “Can the Lebanese refuse the war and decide their fate?”

Regarding the extension of the army commander’s term, he explained that the Kataeb Party is against appointments and legislation in the absence of a president, pointing out that the issue of extending the army commander’s term will be discussed during Kataeb Political Bureau’s meeting on Monday.

He went on saying that the Minister of Defense must postpone the dismissal of the army commander, stressing that there should not be a political fight on this issue.

“The military institution is the only stronghold that still enjoys the trust of the Lebanese,” he emphasized.

Hankach affirmed that Fadi Bejjani was martyred in Kahale in front of his house as was the case of all the martyrs of the Lebanese resistance who were defending their houses just like in Chouwaya and Ain Remeneh.

“Destabilizing and desecrating people’s homes is rejected,” he pointed out.

 "Some people reject Hezbollah’s actions as it acts superiorly, does not abide by the constitution, and destroys the state so that it remains the only decision-maker. We reject this matter,” Hankach added.

Hankach stressed that the Kataeb Party aims to rebuild the state that was destroyed by militias, saying that the Lebanese people are the ones who should decide their fate and future.

He deemed 2024 budget fake, saying that it encourages smuggling, uncontrolled borders and tax evasion.

 “We are heading towards a deteriorated situation because we are punishing citizens who comply with the law and the Constitution and we are aware of those who do not do so,” Hankach concluded.