UK's Cooper Condemns Ben-Gvir's 'Lebanon Must Burn' Remarks After 4 Israeli Soldiers Killed
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 20
UK's Cooper Condemns Ben-Gvir's 'Lebanon Must Burn' Remarks After 4 Israeli Soldiers Killed
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 20
Summary
Yvette Cooper called Itamar Ben-Gvir’s post “horrendous and abhorrent” after the Israeli minister wrote that “all of Lebanon must burn” following a Hezbollah attack that killed four Israeli soldiers.
Ben-Gvir also said a thousand Lebanese mothers should weep for every Israeli mother, urged Israel not to withdraw from captured territory and rejected the US-Iran peace agreement.
The rhetoric widened on Friday as Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said 200,000 displaced residents in southern Lebanon would never be allowed home, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for “opening the gates of hell” in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Ben-Gvir’s post showed a broader threat from Israel’s leadership, not an isolated outburst.
Since Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah began on March 2, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced and more than 1,200 killed in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities.
When ministers call for a nation to 'burn,' where does the world draw the line between rhetoric and incitement to genocide?
As Israel vows permanent occupation in southern Lebanon, is the international border being permanently redrawn by force?
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Unravels: 1.2 Million Displaced Amid Political and Humanitarian Turmoil
Overview
On June 19, 2026, renewed violence erupted along the Israel-Lebanon border despite recent diplomatic efforts, including a US-Iran memorandum of understanding that called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. While former US President Trump expressed hope for peace, Israeli military actions continued, fueling skepticism and a sense of déjà vu among Lebanese residents who doubted the effectiveness of any truce. This ongoing conflict, marked by inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli officials and deepening political divisions, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, with over a million people displaced and little sign of lasting de-escalation.