Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared that “all of Lebanon must burn” following the military’s announcement that four soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon.
“For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep,” Ben-Gvir posted on X.
The Israel Defense Forces stated the soldiers died in combat when their tank was struck during an operation near Kfar Tebnit. The military identified one victim as 32-year-old Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade.
The incident occurs days after U.S. and Iranian leaders reached a preliminary agreement to halt the Iran conflict. Under the provisional terms, both nations and their allies must suspend all military operations, including those in Lebanon.
“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit,” Ben-Gvir wrote Friday.
The minister previously drew criticism in May after posting video footage showing him taunting detained activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla who attempted to deliver aid to Gaza. The video depicted Ben-Gvir berating the detainees and waving a large Israeli flag as they were forced to kneel with hands bound behind their backs.
“Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords,” he says in the footage.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded at the time that Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms.”