A controversial social media post by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has ignited an international firestorm, drawing more than 17 million views on X and prompting Iranian officials to use his comments as ammunition in their campaign against Israel following the deaths of four IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon.
The post came in the wake of a devastating incident in southern Lebanon in which four Israeli soldiers were killed, including Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Shimon, commander of the 52nd Armored Battalion. The attack is considered one of the deadliest events on the northern front since hostilities resumed.
At the time Ben Gvir made his remarks, the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation. According to reports, Ben Shimon and three fellow armored corps soldiers were killed during operations in southern Lebanon, and the IDF continues to examine exactly what transpired.
Reacting to the tragedy, Ben Gvir wrote on X: “For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers should cry. All of Lebanon should burn.” He later said he had told Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu that “in the Middle East, victories are not achieved through measured responses and restraint,” and called for Israel to “defeat terrorism.”
The comments quickly spread across international media outlets and generated fierce reactions both in Israel and abroad.
X determined that the post violated the platform’s rules but chose not to remove it, citing its public significance and news value. Instead, the platform restricted visibility, requiring users to click through a warning screen before viewing the post.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was among the first foreign officials to capitalize on the controversy. He shared a screenshot of Ben Gvir’s post and argued that the statement was not the view of a fringe figure but that of a senior member of the Israeli government.
Araghchi accused Israel of pursuing a policy of “perpetual war,” using Ben Gvir’s remarks to support Tehran’s narrative against the Jewish state. His response highlighted how a domestic political controversy rapidly became part of a broader international propaganda battle amid escalating regional tensions.
{Matzav.com}
It’s also time to completely take out the regime in Iran. There was always be collateral damage. That will be the Iranian Mullahs fault and Qatar.
He should not have written that. He needs to realize that he is feeding into the enemies hands, giving them more propaganda. Every word on social media spreads all over the world. Not everything said in private should be said in public.
Get rid of the fake Bibi and bring security back to Israel.
The most important thing that should take place in Israel politics is everyone should once and for all shut up with all their meaningless, useless and pointless statements and just do what has to be done. The world hates Jews so don’t propagandize it wont help. JUST DO WHAT needs to get done and stop worrying about what anybody thinks because they will hate us no matter what.
Chazal already told us how to relate to the other nations.
This is the opposite. It’s not going to lead to a good outcome.
BTW, Ben Gvir’s campaign (and therefore, much of what he has done since 2022) is being managed by a secular Leftist. In other words, his responses and behavior are manufactured.