Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disregard pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding military actions in Lebanon. Ben-Gvir's comments followed Trump's influence on Netanyahu to halt attacks against Beirut, which has sparked outrage among right-wing members of Netanyahu's coalition. In a post on X, Ben-Gvir stated, "Now is the time to do what is required and necessary to strike Hezbollah, to unleash the hands of our fighters, and to restore security to the north."
While Ben-Gvir was the only high-ranking official to openly criticize Trump, other ministers in Netanyahu's government have remained silent. The Israeli political landscape is generally united in its stance against Hezbollah, viewed as a significant threat.
Trump announced on Truth Social that he had discussions with both Netanyahu and Hezbollah, leading to a pledge from both sides to avoid attacks. However, Netanyahu clarified that Israel would continue operations against Hezbollah if necessary. A ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since last month, but Hezbollah has reportedly violated it, leading to continued tensions. A recent call between Trump and Netanyahu was described as hostile, with Trump expressing frustration over Netanyahu's handling of the situation.