Kataeb MP Nadim Gemayel called for a unified and fair approach from the Lebanese Army in enforcing the newly brokered ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, stressing the importance of extending the Army Commander's term to ensure institutional continuity during Lebanon’s current crisis.

“The extension of the Army Commander’s term is critical to guarantee stability within our military leadership, particularly in these challenging times,” Gemayel told Lebanon Debate on the sidelines of the parliamentary legislative session held earlier on Thursday.

Highlighting the Army’s central role in implementing the ceasefire, Gemayel underscored the immense responsibilities placed upon it.

“The government’s unanimous approval of the ceasefire agreement places significant duties on the Lebanese Army, which is the primary guarantor of its execution,” he said.

Gemayel noted that the agreement assigns the Army two critical tasks: “The first is ensuring a sustained ceasefire along the Lebanon-Israel border. The second is dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons and military infrastructure within Lebanon and preventing the flow of arms from Syria into our territory.”

Gemayel raised concerns about how the Army will manage these responsibilities, particularly in treating all Lebanese citizens equally.

“The greatest challenge for the Army lies in how it handles this agreement and interacts with all Lebanese,” he remarked.

He was critical of past inconsistencies in military deployment, saying that the Army must now have the authority to enter all regions, from Khiyam to Marjayoun, and “even the southern suburbs of Beirut.”

“Will the Army deal with Lebanese citizens equitably, or will it continue the selective approach that has been adopted over the past 15 years, where certain areas have been off-limits while others are accessible?”

When asked about potential internal strife arising from these developments, Gemayel was unequivocal: “We are not asking Hezbollah to do anything that hasn’t already been done by other local factions. After the Taif Agreement, all Lebanese parties handed over their weapons to the state. Therefore, we are simply asking Hezbollah to follow the same rules that were applied to everyone else.”

“Hezbollah voted for this agreement, which requires it to begin dismantling its military infrastructure and stop smuggling arms from Syria and Iran into Lebanon,” Gemayel stated. “They must now bear the responsibility for implementing it.”

Gemayel also warned against fostering divisions among Lebanese citizens.

“We can no longer have first-class and second-class citizens,” he asserted. “The Lebanese Army must act equally in Tripoli, Metn, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and Baalbek. If the current situation persists, it will push all Lebanese to take up arms, thus threatening a civil war.”

“Today, there is a significant responsibility on the Army, and we must ensure it acts in a manner that brings all Lebanese together. We need to sit down at the dialogue table and reach a consensus on building a strong, sovereign state,” he urged.