Hezbollah Calls on Egypt to Open Rafah Crossing

Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Kassem delivered Hezbollah’s speech during the massive protests to support Gaza in Beirut’s southern suburb. Sheikh Kassem called on Egypt and its leaders to take a historic step in solidarity with the Palestinian people adding that there is no justification for any Arab or Islamic side to stay silent.

His eminence said: “Peace be upon you Palestine, Jerusalem and resistance fighters in Lebanon and Palestine. We salute you from the land of resistance, from Lebanon and we send our greetings to free Gaza. We stand by our brothers in defiant and steadfast Palestine and we have come here today in response to the call by Arab and Islamic Conferences and the Conference of Arab Parties as well as to the call of Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah to stand up for Palestine. Palestine is the central cause and we are responsible, as all Arabs and Muslims are, to work on liberating it completely while adhering to the word of Allah who promised to defend those who believe in Him.

Why is Gaza under siege? Because Gazans and all of Palestine has rejected humiliating political choices and chose resistance. Gaza has the right to choose what it wants. The Gazans have elected their representatives and chose their rulers, so why is Gaza under siege? They do no want them (Gazans) to decide their own fate, so they blockaded it to alter its political choice. The colluding Security Council that participated in the siege as well as major countries and Arab countries stand witness on hunger and the lack of medicine.

O cowards of the world, Gaza cannot be treated this way. The child of Gaza is more honorable than you and your positions and he shall triumph God willing. Is there a bigger crime than this humanitarian carnage? The Security Council convenes upon a US request to state that the Annapolis path is ongoing and that the international resolutions are being respected. They only gathered to give a positive image of the US administration and to make the world forget this blockade at a time they should have met to see how they would end the siege and stop Israeli hegemony. However their meeting will not change the way we view their standing. Our nation knows very well that the US administration is the spearhead of terrorism; this is why we shout: Death to America. The Palestinian people is an example of free men and a shining source of pride as they sacrifice their flesh and blood for the sake of liberating Palestine. Palestine will stay. We will not accept that cause of Palestine be undermined through a fragile truce and we will not accept that Palestine be turned into just another secure refugee camp. Your (Palestinians) cause requires all nations to interfere and protect you from this unjust plot. Disgrace to those who stood against you and conspired on you. We have been hearing statements here and there about the just Palestinian cause.. what do you understand of this cause and what have you done to support it? Why don’t you shout in Israel’s face? Why don’t we hear Arab leaderships shout and denounce? Gaza will remain the theme and unlike the conspirators, the people of Gaza cannot be defeated. To the people of Gaza we say: We stand by your just cause and we in Hezbollah will never abandon this cause until every grain of sand is liberated. We are against unworthy and unjust settlements but we are with resistance until liberation.

What are you (Arab regimes) waiting for? A settlement? Listen to what Livni has said; even the 1.5 million Palestinians in lands occupied in 1948 have no place in their own homes? What justice is this? I ask the Arabs: have you heard what the Israelis said about some Arab leaders who praised the Israeli stance and encouraged the Zionist entity to crush Hamas? We will not accuse anyone, but won’t you at least raise your voice to say that you are not the ones intended? It is your responsibility to support the cause of Palestine with money, arms and position. Why don’t you take a brave position that will see your people stand behind you…you will be strong and Israel and the US will yield. But to keep silent and just watch…this is humiliating. No Arab or Muslim official or popular side is justified to sit down and silently watch Gaza’s blockade. Silence is blockade in itself and participation in occupation.

We call on Egypt and its leaders to take a historic position and stand by the besieged Palestinian people. Egypt has every religious, political, humanitarian, legal and ethical reason to support Gaza. The Arab and Islamic worlds will eventually back you.