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Why Nasrallah’s Speech Wasn’t Useless. Friday, November 3rd, 3:00PM.
November 4, 2023
Judy El Baba
Opinion Article
On the 3rd of November, Friday at 3:00 PM, the chief of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, made his first appearance to the public after the surprising attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7. This was done 5 days after the release of a so-called 11-second "teaser video," where he walks in front of Hezbollah's flag with suspenseful music in the background. Since its release, the video caused 5 million Lebanese people to become 5 million political analysts. Upon the end of the speech, critics claimed that Nasrallah had said “everything but nothing.”
“Friday Will Be My Last Day.”
After the release of the video, populations were waiting for Nasrallah to speak, with many assuming the declaration of a war with the inclusion of Lebanon. Application for visas had begun. Because the speech did not reach a ground-breaking, devastating conclusion, many assumed it was useless. This article breaks down why it was a needed speech, in spite of one’s stance towards the Resistance Movement.
The Honouring of Martyrs
The speech had begun with a salute to the families of those who have been martyred, in Lebanon and in Palestine. As a political leader of the Resistance, Nasrallah needed to acknowledge those who died in its service. To honour those fighting against the occupation is a responsibility very few leaders had taken upon themselves. Families and fighters had received validation that their belief in liberation is not in vain.
Clarification on the October Attack and the Involvement of Hezbollah
Such clarification is important so that words of random individuals are not put in his mouth. Nasrallah clarified that the attack was a surprise for the Lebanese Resistance Front as well. He mentioned that the “operation was 100 percent Palestinian in terms of both decision and execution,” and that the element of secrecy allowed it to succeed. It was also mentioned that it is independent of Iranian involvement, inferring that it is unrelated to any regional or international relations.
For those calling for Hezbollah’s interference and the Lebanese Front, Nasrallah has clarified that their involvement had begun on October 8. This was important as they have allegedly drawn the attention of two-thirds of the IDF from Gaza to the disputed border between Lebanon and the Israeli settlements. This low-level involvement is a fair balance between anti-imperialist causes and Lebanese security. He reestablished the civilian for civilian equation, linking the escalation on the Lebanese border to Hamas’s performance in Gaza.
The chief of Hezbollah as well mentioned that a large-scale war, which would although be a devastating resort, is always an option, yet not currently in the making. This statement was needed not only for transparency towards the Lebanese population but also to ensure that the imperialist threat is not met with submission.
"Today, the United States is entirely responsible for the war in Gaza, and Israel is only an instrument to carry it out."
— Chief of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah
Unlike that of some Arab leaders, Hassan Nasrallah’s speech rebuilt an epitome of resistance against neocolonialism and its allies. Openly threatening the United States, this persistent attitude is one of the few in the MENA region, establishing and affirming the adversarial relationship between the Resistance and those remaining silent, despite the exposure of “images of thousands of babies and children torn apart in Gaza as a result of the Israeli missiles.”
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Some say that the speech was nothing, but that is because Nasrallah’s words were well-spoken and careful. No matter the content, it was the duty of Nasrallah to address the Lebanese nation and those watching. Merely because there was no specific phrase stated to anger the sympathisers of anti-Resistance, many have assumed that it was “useless” because he didn’t adhere to countless of war theories that sparked up before his speech. No matter one’s stance towards the Resistance, to say that the speech was useless is to disregard the impact of the key takeaways mentioned.
