Lebanon's Aoun defends Israel talks: Negotiation is not treason

“Treason is committed by those who drag their country into war to serve external interests,” he said.

He emphasised that Beirut’s goal is to stop the fighting and restore stability, but warned that he would never accept what he called a “humiliating” agreement.

His remarks came shortly after Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem renewed the group’s “categorical rejection” of direct negotiations with Israel.

Qassem accused Lebanese authorities of offering what he described as an unnecessary and humiliating concession.

“In this atmosphere of sacrifice and dignity and the defeat of the enemy, the authority rushed into a humiliating and unnecessary free concession,” he said.

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Fragile ceasefire under pressure

Lebanon and Israel entered a 10-day ceasefire on April 17 after months of deadly fighting that had killed more than 2,500 people and displaced over 1.6 million across Lebanon, according to official figures.

Israel has repeatedly violated the truce, Lebanese officials say, while Hezbollah has continued drone attacks targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel in response.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that both sides had agreed to extend the truce by three more weeks following a second round of talks in Washington.

Despite the extension, tensions remain high as Lebanon faces deep internal divisions over how to handle future negotiations with Israel—and whether diplomacy can hold where war has repeatedly returned.