• Lebanese Christian border villages in southern Lebanon deny Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's claim that they have requested annexation by Israel for protection from Hezbollah.
• Mayor of Rmeish, Hanna Al-Amil, refutes Netanyahu's statement, calling it "completely false" and stating that no southern town has made such a request, with 15 Christian border towns issuing a joint statement rejecting the claims and reaffirming their commitment to Lebanon.
• The Christian villages emphasize their patriotism, attachment to the land, and Lebanese identity, asserting their pride in their Lebanese nationality and rejection of any attempts to exploit their suffering for political agendas.

Lebanese Christian border villages in southern Lebanon have rejected claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that local Christian leaders had sought the annexation of their villages by Israel and requested Israeli citizenship.

"Some Christian villages in Lebanon have actually asked to be annexed by Israel," Netanyahu told the US broadcaster Fox News on Sunday. According to Netanyahu, they are seeking protection from Hezbollah.

Hanna Al-Amil, mayor of Rmeish - one of the towns closest to the border - dismissed Netanyahu's remarks in comments to dpa, calling them "completely false" and saying no southern town had made such a request.

He said the idea was "absolutely unthinkable," noting that 15 Christian border towns had issued a statement rejecting the claims.

Al-Amil added that the towns are "the beating heart of Lebanon," defined by their patriotism, attachment to the land and Lebanese identity.

The joint statement said the Christian villages had remained committed to the Lebanese state and its legitimacy throughout the war, coordinating with Lebanese authorities, religious leaders and international actors to keep humanitarian corridors open and maintain links with state institutions.

The statement stressed that residents were proud of their Lebanese identity, regard Lebanon as their final homeland and reject any attempts to misrepresent their national position or exploit their suffering for unrelated political agendas.