Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Thursday that Lebanon would not give up any part of its territory, responding to Israeli officials who said their forces would remain in southern Lebanon until what they described as the “Hezbollah threat” is removed.

Aoun said the direct negotiations with Israel are intended to secure Lebanon’s rights and ensure an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, stressing that “negotiations are not betrayal, but a diplomatic battle without bloodshed.”

He added that the government chose this path because it is “the safest and least costly option” after the losses suffered by Lebanon, reaffirming that the country “will not give up a single inch of its land.”