Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement yesterday in which he threatened the people of Lebanon with Gaza-like genocide if they don’t “free” themselves from Hezbollah. He claimed that Israel’s four invasions of Lebanon—1978, 1982, 2006 and now 2024—were nothing compared to the damage Hezbollah has allegedly done to Lebanon. Netanyahu claimed that Hezbollah went to war against Israel on Oct. 8, 2023 without provocation. Behind Hezbollah, of course, stands Iran, he stated. “Israel withdrew from Lebanon 25 years ago,” he said. “But the country that actually conquered Lebanon is not Israel. It’s Iran. Iran, which finances and arms Hezbollah to serve Iran’s interests at Lebanon’s expense.”
Hezbollah, Netanyahu claimed, has been weakened by Israel’s military campaign and now the people of Lebanon have a chance to free themselves. “It is your choice,” he said. “You can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity. If you don’t, Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense. It doesn’t care if Lebanon is dragged into a wider war.”
