Netanyahu Threatens Lebanese People with ‘Destruction and Suffering Like We See in Gaza’ If They Don’t Overthrow Hezbollah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese people to overthrow Hezbollah or experience “destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza,” in a video address published on Tuesday.

“This is a message to the people of Lebanon,” said Netanyahu in the message . “Israel withdrew from Lebanon 25 years ago, but the country that has actually conquered Lebanon is not Israel, it’s Iran. Iran, which finances and arms Hezbollah to serve Iran’s interests at Lebanon’s expense.”

Referencing Hezbollah’s missile attacks against Israel since October 7, 2023, Netanyahu declared:

Israel has decided to put an end to this. We’ve decided to do whatever is necessary to return our people safely to their homes. Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel also has a right to win, and Israel will win. We’ve degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself, and Nasrallah’s replacement, and the replacement of his replacement. Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it’s been for many, many years. Now, you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroad. It is your choice. 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.

He continued, “All of you are suffering because of Hezbollah’s futile war against Israel. Today, I ask every mother and every father in Lebanon a simple question: Is it worth it? Because it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Netanyahu then issued an ultimatum to the people of Lebanon:

Don’t let these terrorists destroy your future any more than they’ve already done. Stand up and take your country back. You have an opportunity that hasn’t existed in decades. An opportunity to take care of the future of your children and grandchildren. You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza. It doesn’t have to be that way. Each of you can take a step for your future, even a small step. You can make a difference. I say to you, the people of Lebanon, free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end.

Netanyahu’s message received criticism on social media, with critics describing it as a threat and a serious escalation in the ongoing conflict.

“Outrageous and ominous,” reacted The Atlantic contributing writer and Financial Times editor Kim Ghattas . “First, his supposed goal was to push Hezbollah away from border so Israelis could return home. Now goal is for the Lebanese to ‘free themselves from Hezbollah’ or face ‘abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza.'”

“Remember when Netanyahu said Iraqis would welcome America invading their country? Now he’s saying Lebanese will welcome Israel invading theirs (again),” weighed in Jewish Currents editor-at-large Peter Beinart .

In a Fox Nation documentary this week, Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst documented the extent of the destruction in Gaza since the beginning of Israel’s military offensive more than one year ago.

“There are so many neighborhoods that are flattened. Palestinians that are internally displaced will simply have no homes to return to,” he said. “And while we get a firsthand look at the destruction here, it’s important to remember that Palestinian journalists do not have this access. They have been pushed to the south. Dozens have been killed.”

Watch above via Benjamin Netanyahu.