Beirut – Sheikh Ali Damoush, Head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, delivered a wide-ranging address on Monday in which he reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the resistance, sharply criticised Lebanese authorities for what he described as their abandonment of national sovereignty, and unveiled a new housing assistance programme for families whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.
Renewing the Pledge
Opening his remarks, Sheikh Damoush said the gathering served to “renew our pledge to the Master of the Martyrs of the Nation,” to Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, and to what he called “our loyal, self-sacrificing, and steadfast people.”
“We pledge to them all, and renew our commitment to continue along this path, which we have pursued in defence of our people and our country, whatever the sacrifices may be,” he stated.
He stressed that the resistance remains “deeply rooted in the people,” describing it as “their very spirit and a safeguard for their present and future in confronting occupation and Zionist ambitions.” He insisted that the enemy’s occupation of certain positions “does not mean that it can establish itself on our land,” adding that the resistance’s role “differs from that of regular armies: it works to wear down the occupation until it is driven out.”
Sharp Criticism of the State
Sheikh Damoush levelled pointed criticism at the Lebanese authorities, accusing them of having “signed away the land and entrenched the occupation in the south.” He said the state had “taken unjust measures against the people, showing no regard for their sacrifices,” and had “offered nothing to soothe these wounds.”
He called on the authorities to “put an end to the series of gratuitous concessions and violations of the Constitution and the National Charter,” urging them not to “place their hopes in external forces” and to “return to the embrace of their people.”
He also appealed to all Lebanese to “adopt the language of reconciliation and dialogue instead of incitement and hatred,” warning against rhetoric that “exacerbates division and widens the distance between the components of society.”
Housing Assistance Programme Announced
The centrepiece of the address was the announcement of a housing assistance programme for those displaced by the destruction of their homes.
The programme covers owners of residential units that have been completely or partially destroyed, as well as those in buildings designated for demolition, based on assessments carried out by Hezbollah’s specialised committees using a standardised survey form prepared by Maamar Company.
Under the scheme:
Beirut and its southern suburbs: US$14,000 per eligible unit, including a US$6,000 rental allowance.
Outside Beirut and its southern suburbs: US$12,000 per eligible unit, including a US$4,000 rental allowance.
First instalment: US$3,500 for Beirut and the southern suburbs; US$3,000 for all other areas.
Sheikh Damoush noted that those who own an alternative home are expected to forgo the housing allowance, though they will still receive the furniture allocation. He confirmed that assistance will be disbursed “in all Lebanese areas that have been subjected to aggression,” regardless of political affiliation.
Regarding cheques issued in connection with the 2024 aggression, he said housing allowances would be disbursed while repair and restoration assistance would be postponed. Beneficiaries were directed to newly established centres in each area to obtain the relevant promissory notes.
State Absence and Popular Solidarity
Sheikh Damoush contrasted Hezbollah’s efforts with what he described as the government’s failure to act.
“The government has yet to introduce a programme providing direct assistance to those affected,” he said, noting that measures such as clearing rubble “fall within the framework of rehabilitating infrastructure and do not directly reach those affected.”
He called the decisive factor in addressing displacement “popular solidarity and mutual support,” and urged the resistance community to show “the highest possible degree of solidarity with the displaced.” He also warned against landlords raising rents “on the pretext that Hezbollah is providing a housing allowance.”
Defiance and Forward Outlook
Addressing external pressure, Sheikh Damoush said: “We are not concerned with what the US administration says, nor with the debate surrounding what has been announced in the media. We will continue working to serve our people.”
He acknowledged that sanctions and attempts to tighten the siege had sought to prevent assistance from reaching those affected, but insisted: “All these attempts collapsed before the will of our people.”
He confirmed that the housing phase is the first of several planned stages, with remaining phases to be announced: “when circumstances permit.”
“To all those who wagered that Hezbollah would be incapable of tending to people’s wounds, we say: your wager is lost,” he concluded. “Here is Hezbollah, once again, declaring its support for our self-sacrificing people, who have not abandoned the resistance, and whom the resistance has not abandoned.”
Reference: Zeinab Al Saffar | The Lines