At the beginning of his speech, Hamadeh affirmed that the martyrs are “alive with their Lord, being provided for,” noting that talking about them “does not end, for they are the ones who preserve our future, and through their memory, we revive ourselves and our values.”
In his speech, he touched on the political dimension of the resistance, explaining that the existence of the resistance “is what protected Lebanon,” rejecting claims that it defends a particular sect or region. He added: “Whoever imagines that we are defending a sect or region is mistaken. We are defending Lebanon, all of Lebanon, and all Lebanese people without scrutinizing anyone’s identity, while they were the ones who scrutinized our identity.”
Hamadeh criticized the current political situation on the occasion of Independence Day, pointing to the contradiction between celebrating the anniversary and the continuation of occupation and attacks. He said: “We celebrate independence and our land is occupied, and our skies are violated in the Bekaa and the South, and there are those who still boast about sovereignty and independence. What is the meaning of independence when the decisions of some factions are linked to our enemy?”
He called for a unified Lebanese position in the face of challenges, stressing that “The danger we face is not a danger to the Shiites alone, but an existential danger to the entire entity.” He added: “Whoever lives in his ivory tower must return to our history, for we are a people who cannot be defeated, we have always emerged from the depths of the earth despite all that has been committed against us.”
He addressed a message to those who promote the idea of a “new Lebanon,” saying: “We are the ones who created sovereignty for this country, and we are the ones who protected your existence until this moment. And if it weren’t for Mohammad and his fellow martyrs, there would be no chair for you to sit on.” He affirmed the rejection of any attempt to impose an unfair settlement or negotiation, stressing: “There will be no new negotiation from a position of weakness, and the enemy is deluded if he believes that he will roam freely in our land without accountability.”
Hamadeh stressed adherence to the option of resistance, considering weapons a national defense line that cannot be compromised, and said: “We will not throw down our weapons, and we will fight our enemy and win. Imam Musa al-Sadr said: Peace without power in the world of beasts is humiliation and surrender. There are those who want to take us to negotiate with the world of beasts without power, to inflict humiliation upon us, but they do not realize that we were raised on ‘Far from us is humiliation’.”
He concluded by affirming that the strength of the resistance is constant, and that its position does not need anyone’s approval, considering that “Self-defense is a right recognized by all laws,” and that the resistance will remain ready to defend the land, the people, and the national identity.
