Pro-resistance media outlets promote rights of Palestinians, humanitarian values: Nasrallah

The secretary general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement says pro-resistance media outlets promote the rights of Palestinians as well as humanitarian values, condemning the US government’s decision to seize and block dozens of website domains connected to Iranian and regional networks.

“It is necessary to develop media influence in parallel with beefing up our military might. Media can play a key role with regards to the fight against [Israeli] occupation of Palestine. Pro-resistance media outlets break news on victories notched up by resistance fighters,” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech on Monday.

He added, “The discourse of pro-resistance media pivots on righteousness, and promotion of Palestinians’ rights as well as humanitarian values. They should primarily focus on national demands in Palestine and elsewhere in the [Middle East] region.”

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The Hezbollah chief went on to say that outlets supporting the resistance front have substantially contributed to the victories of resistance forces through reliance on facts, studies and researches, and they have built new realities in the region.

“In our campaign against anti-resistance psychological warfare, we would neither count on illusions nor fabrications. Among the most important points of strength that the resistance front enjoys is honesty in reporting news and developments,” Nasrallah pointed out.

He went on to say that pro-resistance networks can mobilize the world public opinion in support of Palestine, emphasizing they must honor honesty to build further credibility.

“Pro-resistance media have developed remarkably in recent decades ... The outlets have exposed the true face of the [Israeli] enemy, which claimed to be invincible,” the Hezbollah leader noted.

Nasrallah said, “The enemy takes some satellite channels off the air and seizes pro-resistance news website domains, because of its fear of the latter’s influence. We have to exchange our expertise in the field of media, and take advantage of social media platforms.”

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Nasrallah underlined that billions of dollars are being allocated with the main goal of tarnishing the resistance front.

“A media plan needs to be devised to confront fabrications and fake reports being published by some networks, especially regarding the Palestinian cause and the Israeli-occupied holy city of al-Quds. When Palestinians were displaying their victories in Operation al-Quds Sword [against the Israeli regime last May], some Arab satellite channels were concentrating on shortages in the Gaza Strip,” the Hezbollah leader said.

Hezbollah, Iraqi anti-terror group slam US seizure of website domains tied to pro-resistance media

Hezbollah and Iraqi anti-terror Asa

He highlighted that mainstream Western news media seek to defame the resistance front among regional nations, and resort to lies in order to distort facts.

On June 22, the US seized the websites of Press TV and al-Alam, Iran’s English-language and Arabic-language newscasters, as well as al-Masirah TV of Yemen.

Other web domains, including Palestine al-Youm, a Palestinian-directed broadcaster, Karbala TV – the official television of the Imam Hussein (PBUH) shrine in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala, Iraqi Afaq TV, Asia TV and al-Naeem TV satellite television channels, as well as Nabaa TV which reports the latest stories about Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries, were also seized.

Bahrain’s LuaLua TV, a channel run by opposition groups with offices in London and Beirut, was also closed, according to AFP.

Press TV website was back online within hours with the new .ir domain address. Al-Alam TV also quickly announced that its website was available on .ir domain.

Al-Masirah TV established a new website, using its name but swapping the .net domain for .com.

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The US Justice Department said it had seized 33 media websites used by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU), as well as three of the Iraqi anti-terror Kata’ib Hezbollah group, which it said were hosted on US-owned domains in violation of sanctions.

Over the past years, the United States has for several times taken similar measures against Iranian media outlets.

‘US hegemony not separate from Israeli occupation’

Elsewhere in his remarks, Nasrallah noted that there is no separation between the US hegemony in the region and the Israeli regime’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

“When confronting the Israeli Occupation and the American hegemony, one should not separate them. The Zionist entity’s existence and arrogance depends entirely on the US support. The US hegemony has utilized all regional resources in favor of the Israeli enemy's interests,” the Hezbollah chief said.

He described the presence of American military forces on the Iraqi soil as occupation, stressing, “The deterrence power of the resistance front has changed the rules of engagement and combat in recent years.”

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“The resistance front has always stood by its words, and fulfilled its pledges. The obliteration of Israel and liberation of al-Quds are now within reach and can happen closer than ever. When the resistance front vows to obliterate Israel, it relies on established facts and not illusions,” Nasrallah underscored.

He lambasted some Arab states over bids to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, saying such attempts are merely being made out of their fear of the Tel Aviv regime.

Lebanon’s financial crisis

Nasrallah also pointed to Lebanon’s deteriorating economy, arguing that the United States is wielding the threat of sanctions against the Beirut government to prevent it from receiving aids from other countries.

“The United States bans any assistance to solve the crisis in Lebanon. This is to serve the Israeli enemy. Isn't the US administration responsible for preventing Lebanese banks from accessing funds deposited outside the country?” he commented.

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He also slammed some Lebanese figures and politicians over their fear of being blacklisted by the US.

“The main goal of the US blockade is to pit the Lebanese nation against Hezbollah and the resistance front. The main party behind Lebanon’s currency collapse is the US embassy [in Beirut]. There is a systematic crisis in Lebanon, and the political conflict is a reflection of such a fact. There is also rampant corruption, misappropriation of assets and monopoly,” Nasrallah concluded.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir