Families of Captive Servicemen Say State Only Authorized to Negotiate Jihadists
The families of the kidnapped soldiers and policemen stressed on Thursday that the Lebanese state is the only side authorized to negotiate with jihadists the release of their loved ones.
“The state is our only representative and voice as we are all under its authority,” the relatives of the hostages said in a statement.
The statement warned the state and the cabinet's crisis cell from stalling negotiations, reiterating calls for a swift and bold decision that would ensure the safe release of their sons.
“We will escalate our endeavors,” the relatives vowed a day after they warned the authorities from escalatory measures starting Friday morning.
“We apologize from the citizens that our endeavors might harm and call on them to support our case as the abductees are the sons of all the Lebanese people,” the statement added.
On Wednesday, the relatives warned they will block all of Beirut's entrances starting Friday as a female protester appealed for Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to bring home the captives the same way he did with the Hizbullah hostage.
The families were angered by Hizbullah's success in releasing one of its fighters who had been in the custody of Syrian groups in the mountains of the Qalamun region near Lebanon's border.
Imad Ayyad was released in exchange for two gunmen who were in Hizbullah custody, the party announced on Tuesday.
The soldiers and policemen were abducted by Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front that briefly overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August. Three of the hostages have already been executed.
The relatives of the captured men have erected a protest camp near the Grand Serail to press the release of the captives.
H.K.
G.K.
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