Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: I Am in Contact with Hezbollah, My Agreement with Nasrallah Still Stands

Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan (C) shakes hands with Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah parliament Speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a meeting that brought together parties from across Lebanon's fractious political spectrum, in Beirut on March 3, 2006. (AFP)
Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan (C) shakes hands with Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah parliament Speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a meeting that brought together parties from across Lebanon's fractious political spectrum, in Beirut on March 3, 2006. (AFP)
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Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: I Am in Contact with Hezbollah, My Agreement with Nasrallah Still Stands

Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan (C) shakes hands with Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah parliament Speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a meeting that brought together parties from across Lebanon's fractious political spectrum, in Beirut on March 3, 2006. (AFP)
Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan (C) shakes hands with Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah parliament Speaker Nabih Berri looks on during a meeting that brought together parties from across Lebanon's fractious political spectrum, in Beirut on March 3, 2006. (AFP)

Lebanon’s parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that Beirut was still committed to the agreement reached with US envoy Amos Hochstein on a path that leads to a ceasefire with Israel and implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he categorically rejected tying the ceasefire to the presidential election in Lebanon.

“No one has anything to do with the election of a president and no one has the right to interfere in this issue. This is a sovereign affair,” he stressed.

“Even though we welcome any initiative to help us, we reject any meddling or dictates,” he added.

Berri held a series of meetings with various officials, including visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and army commander Jean Qahwaji.

“We informed the French minister of Lebanon’s position that is committed to a ceasefire and the immediate implementation of resolution 1701 in line with the agreement reached with the US envoy,” Berri said.

He revealed that he is in contact with Hezbollah and that its views “are not far off from our position.”

“I had previously made this initiative and had reached an agreement on it with Hassan Nasrallah. This agreement still stands,” he stated.

During his meeting with Barrot, Berri expressed his gratitude to France and President Emmanuel Macron on their “keenness and support to Lebanon, especially during this critical time with the ongoing Israeli attacks and siege that are preventing it from sending humanitarian aid to the displaced.”



US Says Israel Must Improve Gaza's Humanitarian Situation or Risk Aid

 People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
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US Says Israel Must Improve Gaza's Humanitarian Situation or Risk Aid

 People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Israel must take urgent steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza to avoid legal action involving US military aid, according to news reports on Tuesday.

"We are writing now to underscore the US government's deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and seek urgent and sustained actions by your government this month to reverse this trajectory," they wrote in an Oct. 13 letter to their Israeli counterparts, posted by an Axios reporter on X, according to Reuters.

The State Department and Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Israel's government also could not be immediately reached for comment.

The report comes as Israeli forces expand operations into northern Gaza amid ongoing concerns about access to humanitarian aid throughout the enclave and civilians' access to food, water and medicine.

US officials earlier this year said Israel may have violated international humanitarian law using US-supplied weapons during its military operation in Gaza.

This week's letter cited Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, which restricts (prohibits) military aid to countries that impede delivery of US humanitarian assistance.

It also cited a National Security Memorandum that US President Joe Biden issued in February that requires the State Department to report to Congress on whether it finds credible Israel's assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.