Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif called Israel a “Carcinogenic state” published on social media this Thursday (April 9, 2026). The country acts as a mediator between the United States and Iran. After the repercussions, the minister deleted the post.
In the message, Asif wrote that Israel would be “an evil and a curse for humanity” and declared that, while peace talks progress in Islamabad, “a genocide is being committed in Lebanon”. He also stated that “innocent citizens are being killed by Israel” and cited Gaza and Iran when saying that “the bloodshed continues unabated”.
“I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land, to get rid of European Jews, burn in hell,” concluded.
Israel maintains operations in Lebanon and did not include the country in the ceasefire plan announced by the president of the United States, (Republican Party), with Iran. The Israeli government maintains that the actions target Hezbollah and blames the group for the clashes on the border.
The office of the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud, right), reacted to the Pakistani minister’s speech. In a note, he classified the statement as unacceptable. “The Pakistan Defense Minister’s call for the annihilation of Israel is outrageous. It is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially one that claims to act as a neutral mediator for peace.”he stated.
On the ground, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) continues to release updates on operations in southern Lebanon and other areas. According to the military, Maher Qassem Hamdan, described as commander of the Lebanese Resistance Brigades in the Chebaa region, was killed in recent action. The Army claims that he was involved in recruiting, supplying weapons and financing the group.
The IDF also said it had hit members leaving the Chebaa region towards Sidon, in addition to reporting the death of Ali Yusuf Harshi, appointed as personal secretary to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in Beirut. According to the military, crossings used for transporting weapons south of the Litani River were also bombed, as were warehouses, launchers and command centers.
The Lebanese government calls for an end to Israeli attacks on its territory, while Israel maintains the offensive and claims to act against Hezbollah structures. The escalation in Lebanon occurs in parallel with attempts at a ceasefire involving the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, a context in which Asif’s speech increased diplomatic tension.
