Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose tenure over the past three years alone wreaked havoc on the region and shed the blood of over 80,000 civilians, has threatened to invade Lebanon “if necessary” during a recent address on the latest regional developments.
Netanyahu claimed that the recent agreement signed with Lebanon in Washington, which he said is a “historic accomplishment” for “Israel”, would enable the end of the war, yet stated that Israeli forces would continue occupying parts of Lebanon and “freely operating” on its grounds, referencing the continuation of killings and assassinations.
He alleged that the United States and Lebanon both agreed to “Israel’s” presence on Lebanese sovereign lands, and that two so-called pilot zones were agreed on, “where Hezbollah’s disarmament,” which the Resistance vowed to thwart, would be tested. He also revealed that the buffer zone will remain occupied with Washington’s full awareness and green light.
Regarding the Israeli withdrawal, Netanyahu said Israeli occupation forces would begin the retreat from pilot areas in Zawtar al-Gharbiya and Froun, which, in reality, have no Israeli presence on their grounds, exposing the endless Israeli lies regarding Lebanon.
While claiming the Lebanese government wants peace with “Israel” in what he termed a “fundamental change”, Netanyahu also threatened to invade Lebanon. “If it becomes necessary for us to enter Lebanon, we will do so,” he said.
Netanyahu described the agreement as a major strategic achievement for the occupation regime and a setback for Iran, which he accused of seeking to force an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon through military pressure, thanking the Lebanese government for its “courage”.
On Gaza, the two-state solution, and Israeli affairs
Netanyahu, who is wanted by the ICC for war crimes in the Gaza Strip, also boasted about the occupation of almost 70% of the besieged enclave despite the October 2025 ceasefire, which “Israel” has consistently breached daily since its signing. He also reiterated rejection of the two-state solution in occupied Palestine.
He also said that “Israel” aims to “build a broad-based government founded on the widest possible consensus,” as recent polling shows that more than half of the Israeli settler population wants him to step down.
People of Lebanon rise against framework
The United States Department of State on Friday released a trilateral framework agreed upon by the United States, “Israel, and Lebanon, outlining a roadmap aimed at establishing what the parties described as “lasting peace and security” between Lebanon and the occupation entity.
According to the document, both Lebanon and “Israel” declared their ambition to formally conclude the state of war between them, ensure the sovereignty and security of both parties, and establish peaceful “neighbourly” relations through future agreements and direct bilateral negotiations mediated by Washington.
The agreement followed multiple rounds of direct negotiations, which were vehemently rejected by the Lebanese people. In this context, Beirut witnessed widespread protests and road blockages on Friday night in rejection of the Lebanese authorities’ announcement of a US-sponsored “framework agreement” with the Israeli occupation.
Demonstrators gathered in multiple areas, including Ramlet al-Bayda and near government headquarters in Beirut, voicing anger over the agreement and condemning the move toward direct negotiations.
Protesters blocked major roads in the Salim Salam area, setting tyres on fire as part of escalating anger over the government’s policy on South Lebanon. Similar gatherings were reported in the Msharafiyeh area and other parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Sit-ins were also held in several locations, where participants rejected the framework agreement and called for its cancellation, warning against any diplomatic engagement with the Israeli occupation.
