Hezbollah’s Mohammed Raad Demands Withdrawal from ‘Shameful’ Direct Peace Talks with Israel

Hezbollah’s Mohammed Raad calls for Lebanon’s immediate withdrawal from "shameful" direct talks with Israel, labeling the U.S.-backed process a deception.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 9:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

A Denunciation of Direct Diplomatic Engagement

In a sharply worded statement released on Friday, April 24, 2026, Mohammed Raad criticized the Lebanese authorities for engaging in what he described as "shameful" direct negotiations with the "Zionist enemy." The veteran lawmaker’s comments come as the administration of President Joseph Aoun continues high-level diplomatic talks in Washington D.C., aimed at establishing a permanent peace framework. Raad argued that the mere act of sitting across from Israeli officials represents a "massive downfall" for the Lebanese state and an abandonment of the resistance principles that have historically defined the country’s stance against Israeli occupation.

Rejecting the Framework of the Ten-Day Truce

The Hezbollah lawmaker specifically targeted the terms of the current 10-day ceasefire, which was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 16. Raad characterized the truce as a "devious deception" designed to "dupe" the Lebanese public while granting the Israeli military a "special exemption" to continue operations under the guise of security enforcement. According to Raad, a true ceasefire must be comprehensive and absolute, rather than a tactical pause that allows the IDF to maintain its presence up to the Litani River while the Lebanese government offers "victory photos" to its adversaries in Washington.

The Absence of National Consensus

Central to Raad’s argument is the claim that the current diplomatic track does not represent the collective will of the Lebanese people. He asserted that any official contact or meeting between the two sides "will in no way enjoy Lebanese national consensus," effectively signaling that Hezbollah and its allies will not feel bound by any resulting treaties. This position was echoed by other bloc members, including MP Hassan Fadlallah, who accused the government of "begging for approval" from the United States while failing to protect the dignity of the residents in southern Lebanon who have bore the brunt of the recent conflict.