The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, received a delegation of representatives and mayors in the Jezzine district, and said: “The steadfastness of the southerners in their regions and villages, and the reception of the displaced who arrived from neighboring villages and towns, is an embodiment of the extent of the unity of the Lebanese people and their solidarity with each other, which constitutes a source of strength, awareness, and faith in this country.” President Aoun affirmed, “We continue to work with international bodies and social and humanitarian institutions to increase the aid allocated to southerners, both displaced and hosts,” pointing to “the necessity of concerted efforts between the army, security forces, municipalities, and residents, to consolidate security stability and remove the assumption of self-security, which carries many risks, at a time when the state is working to establish security and end the war.” He added: "Diplomacy is a war without blood, while war is the shedding of blood, destruction and devastation. Therefore, the decision was to engage in negotiations between opponents, with an emphasis on preserving rights, and the most important thing first is to stop the attacks, the Israeli withdrawal and the return of prisoners, in order to search for peace after decades and long years of wars, death and destruction." He also stressed that "negotiations do not mean concession or surrender, but rather they are about solving problems, and it is important that the Lebanese stand by their state in this particular circumstance, and they are tired of these wars. It is my duty and responsibility to do everything necessary to achieve security and peace for Lebanon."