Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel protects Christians and that some Christian villages in Lebanon have sought annexation for protection. He made the remarks during an interview on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing, asserting that Israel safeguards its friends, particularly Christians in the Middle East, from Hezbollah. His comments came amid reports of Israeli strikes on churches and Christian sites in Lebanon, sparking new controversy.

Analysts noted that Netanyahu’s statements contradict reports from international human rights groups and media outlets documenting Israeli attacks that damaged or destroyed churches, convents, and other Christian religious institutions in Lebanon. In May, a French organization reported that Israeli forces demolished a convent in Yaroun, while videos circulated in April showed Israeli soldiers desecrating Christian symbols. The destruction of a church in Deir Dghaya village last year was also cited.

The remarks followed a recent statement by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who wrote that all of Lebanon should burn. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.