Hezbollah's Naeem Qassem Calls for Ceasefire and Warns of Continued Conflict with Israel
October 15, 2024, 3:41 pm

Hezbollah's Naeem Qassem Calls for Ceasefire and Warns of Continued Conflict with Israel

نعيم قاسم

Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General, Naeem Qassem, stated on Tuesday that the solution to the tense situation between Lebanon and Israel is a ceasefire.

In his third speech via screen since the death of the party's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, on September 27, Qassem said, "I tell the Israeli home front that the solution is a ceasefire."

He added that "after the ceasefire, according to the indirect agreement, the settlers will return to the north, and the other steps will be outlined."

Qassem explained, "If Israel rejects the ceasefire, we will continue the war, and as it continues, more uninhabited settlements will increase, putting more than two million people at risk."

He asserted that "we have the right to target any point in Israel, whether in the center, north, or south, and we will choose the point we see fit."

He revealed that "Hezbollah has shifted from support to confrontation with Israel since the Bijar bombing on September 17 and the assassination of the party’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, on September 27."

He noted that "Hezbollah has regained its strength, repaired its capabilities, and established alternatives; there is no vacant leadership position in it, and there is an alternative leadership in every center."

The Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah stated that "Israel has lost 25 killed and 150 wounded in the first week (of ground operations)."

He indicated that Hezbollah has decided on "the equation of inflicting pain on the enemy so that the missiles reach Haifa and beyond Haifa."

He considered that "Israel is trying to create a new Middle East in its own way, with Lebanon being part of the Israeli expansionist project."

He emphasized that Israel wants "to shape Lebanon in a way that satisfies the Israeli and American interests, managing it as they wish by striking the leadership and military capabilities, aiming to end Hezbollah's existence, but they have not succeeded in achieving the first step."

Regarding Gaza, Qassem stated, "The Al-Aqsa Flood is a process aimed at expelling the occupier after 75 years of occupation, and what they are doing is a legitimate right, and we support them in liberating their land and protecting ours."

He stressed that what is happening "is not an Iranian project but a Palestinian project supported by Iran, Yemen, Iraq, and others."

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.