Iran cites Ben Gvir’s call to ‘burn all of Lebanon’ as proof of Israel’s ‘genocidal’ intent

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s call “to burn all of Lebanon” has sparked international condemnation, with Iran latching on to the comment as proof that Israel is a “genocidal death cult” that seeks “constant war.”

In Israel there was silence from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar over the incendiary call, while former prime minister Naftali Bennett tried to allay criticism by dismissing the ultra-nationalist leader as a “clown” with no real impact on policy.

Ben Gvir published his comments on X on Friday after the Israel Defense Forces announced that four soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, where the IDF is battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.

“All of Lebanon needs to burn!” Ben Gvir had posted to his X feed.

“For every teardrop of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers need to cry,” he wrote, and noted that he gave the same message to Netanyahu during meetings they held.

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“Our supreme duty is to protect Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers, and that duty comes before all other considerations.”

“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 up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn,” Ben Gvir said.

He continued that in the Middle East, wars are not won with “measured and constrained” responses.

“You go berserk. To obliterate. To crush the terror,” he asserted.

Ben Gvir’s call came as Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire aimed at halting months of fighting that began when the terror group attacked northern Israel in support of Iran.

Iran insisted that Lebanon be included in the truce reached between Tehran and Washington last week, but though an end to the fighting in Lebanon was mentioned in the memorandum of understanding, clashes continued in southern Lebanon, even after Friday’s ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Another soldier was killed and over a dozen were injured on Saturday. Dozens of Lebanese have reportedly been killed in Israeli strikes on Hezbollah over the past few days.

Iran seized on Ben Gvir’s remarks as proof of Israel’s intentions in Lebanon.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted a screenshot of Ben Gvir’s post, tagged US President Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, and accused Israel of wanting “permanent war.”

“This is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It’s a public post by the national security minister of the Israeli regime. The genocidal death cult headquartered in Tel Aviv is a threat to all of humanity. It threatens all humans. Its only interest is permanent war,” Araghchi wrote on X.

Israel’s allies also condemned the post.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper denounced Ben Gvir’s statement as well, calling on Israel and Hezbollah “to comply with the agreed ceasefire, and ensure that all civilians are protected.”

The X social media platform flagged Ben Gvir’s post as a violation.

“This post violated the X Rules,” it wrote in a message that concealed the original post. “However, X has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Post to remain accessible.”

Users were still able to view the post.

על כל דמעה של אמא ישראלית, אלף אמהות לבנוניות צריכות לבכות. לבנון כולה צריכה לבעור!

עם כל הכבוד לאמריקאים, ישראל חייבת להבהיר לעולם כולו שדם בנינו וביטחון אזרחנו איננו הפקר. לבנון כולה צריכה לבעור. חובתנו העליונה היא להגן על אזרחי ישראל ועל חיילי צה״ל, והמחויבות הזו קודמת לכל…

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) June 19, 2026

There was no response from Netanyahu or Sa’ar, both of whom have in the past chastised Ben Gvir for provocations that drew international attention.

Bennett, who hopes to unseat Netanyahu in the coming October elections, dismissed Ben Gvir as a “clown” who should be ignored, while defending Israel’s operations in Lebanon.

Bennett was responding to UK commentator and media personality Piers Morgan, who posted on X, “How can anyone still support this Israeli govt when psychopathic monsters like Ben Gvir are ministers in it, advocating genocide in Lebanon? Disgusting.”

“Pay no attention to Ben Gvir,” Bennett wrote back. “He’s a clown who represents neither Israel’s values nor its actions. “He’s just spewing nonsense.”

In a follow-up post, Bennett again called Ben Gvir a “noisy and incompetent clown” and asserted that the minister “doesn’t command the IDF.”

Last week, Vance criticized Ben Gvir and fellow far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for their opposition to the MOU reached with Iran, accusing them of lacking appreciation for American support.

Meanwhile, Vance arrived Sunday in Switzerland for what he has said will likely be a couple of days of talks on implementing the US-Iran agreement to end the war.

Ben Gvir has repeatedly caused uproar with provocative actions. Last month, there was an international outcry after he posted a video showing him taunting and humiliating dozens of bound and kneeling flotilla activists that Israel had detained after intercepting their ship, which aimed to break the naval blockade on Gaza. Netanyahu and  Sa’ar both also condemned him.