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BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday urged citizens to “safeguard the sacrifices made by our people” as the country marked the first anniversary of the deaths of Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.

The militant group held a memorial event where an Iranian delegation, led by the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, was present alongside large numbers of Hezbollah supporters waving the organization’s flags with Lebanese, Iranian and Palestinian banners.

The ceremony followed days of political friction, during which time Hezbollah projected images of the slain leaders, who were assassinated during the group’s war with Israel, onto Raouche Rock without authorization.

The move prompted protests from lawmakers in Beirut and a government directive from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam requiring official approval for such displays.

Just back from the UN General Assembly in New York, Aoun called for cohesion in honoring the legacy of victims of the war and urged the Lebanese people to “rally around a unified, strong and just state.”

His statements came as the government seeks to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state organizations.

“Today’s threats to Lebanon, whether security related, political or economic, can only be addressed through national unity while rejecting division,” he said.

He stressed the need for “one state, one army and constitutional institutions that uphold sovereignty and dignity.”

Lebanese authorities restricted Iranian participation at the event by refusing landing permits to two aircraft carrying would-be attendees — a decision influenced by Israeli warnings against Iranian flights to Beirut during the recent hostilities.

In a meeting with Larijani, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Salam stressed the need to respect Lebanese sovereignty.

“Lebanese-Iranian relations must be built on mutual respect for both nations’ sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs,” Salam said.

Larijani did not respond to Salam’s comments but after talks with Berri — a Hezbollah ally — expressed Tehran’s desire for “all regional nations to be strong and independent.”

He urged countries in the region to work closely together amid “Israeli conspiracies.”

“Even if past disagreements existed, (countries) should minimize these differences and base their relationships on cooperation,” he said.

“Lebanon, despite its small geographical area, is distinguished by the greatness and strength of its people and is today considered an impregnable trench against the Israeli entity.”

When asked about the threat of an Israeli military strike against Iran, Larijani said Tehran was prepared for all possibilities.

“I do not believe the Israelis would act so foolishly. However, if they do, they will face a strong response,” he said.

CAIRO/RAMALLAH: Hamas has not received US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, the Palestinian group which runs the enclave said on Saturday as Israeli forces expanded their assault on Gaza City.
The comments came after Israeli newspaper Haaretz cited sources saying Hamas had agreed in principle to release all the Israeli hostages it holds in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops under Trump’s plan.
Also included in the proposal were the end of Hamas rule in Gaza, and Israel agreeing not to annex the territory and drive out Palestinians living there, Haaretz reported.
“Hamas has not been presented with any plan,” a Hamas official who asked not to be named told Reuters.
In his comments to reporters on Friday in which he said “it’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza,” Trump offered no details of its contents and gave no timetable. Israel has not yet made any public response to Trump’s comments.

TRUMP DUE TO MEET NETANYAHU
Trump is due on Monday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads a hard-right governing coalition opposed to ending the Gaza war until Hamas is destroyed.
Trump also said on Friday talks on Gaza with Middle Eastern nations were intense and would continue as long as required.
His special envoy Steve Witkoff said the US president had presented proposals to the leaders of multiple Muslim-majority countries this week that included a 21-point Middle East peace plan.
In Gaza meanwhile, the fighting continued.
The Israeli military said its aircraft struck 120 targets across the strip over the past day as troops pressed deeper into Gaza City. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 74 people were killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours.
In a post on social media platform X, the military’s Arabic spokesman repeated calls for Gaza City residents to evacuate.
The UN World Food Programme estimates that some 350,000-400,000 Palestinians have left since Israel began its expanded ground offensive in Gaza City a couple of weeks ago, but hundreds of thousands remain.

MEDICAL FACILITIES CLOSED
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres said late on Friday it had been forced to suspend its medical activities in Gaza City because its clinics were encircled by Israeli forces.
The group said the move was the “last thing” it wanted, saying that vulnerable people such as infants in neonatal care and people with life-threatening illnesses are unable to move and are in grave danger.
Four health facilities in Gaza City have shut down so far this month, according to the World Health Organization, and the UN says some malnutrition centers have also closed.
Israel began its assault on Gaza nearly two years ago after an attack led by Hamas killed about 1,200 people, with 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 65,000 Palestinians in the enclave, according to Gaza’s health authorities, displaced the entire population, and crippled the territory’s health system.
A global hunger monitor says famine has taken hold in parts of Gaza, while multiple rights experts say Israel’s conduct in the war amounts to genocide.
Israel strongly denies this, saying the war is in self-defense.