Israel Katz issued a sharp warning to United Nations representatives in Lebanon, stating that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem is “playing with fire,” while Lebanon’s leadership is “gambling with the country’s future.”

Katz stressed that Israel will not accept a situation in which a ceasefire exists on paper while attacks continue against Israeli forces and communities in the Galilee. He revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to respond with full force to any violation, attack, or threat.

He warned that continued Hezbollah aggression would lead to devastating consequences, saying the fire ignited by Hezbollah would ultimately consume both the group and Lebanon itself. Katz added that if the Lebanese government continues to provide cover for Hezbollah, the escalation could spread widely, endangering the entire country.