Social media users accuse the former Israeli PM of ‘fabricating’ claims that Hezbollah is paying Lebanese families to store rockets to justify the deadly bombing campaign
Israel’s former prime minister, Naftali Bennett, is facing a fierce backlash and accusations of spreading “propaganda” to legitimise attacks on civilians after alleging that Lebanese households are being used to hide rocket launchers for Hezbollah.
“Many Shiites in Lebanon have a unique revenue stream. In their home, they have a special ‘Rocket Launcher Room’. They’re paid monthly rent by Hezbollah to host this launcher and be prepared to shoot rockets at Israel communities on demand,” Naftali Bennett claimedon Monday in a post on X, without providing evidence.
“The IDF [Israeli army] is now systematically destroying these death machines. Anyone man who turns his home into a death launch pad puts his family in severe danger, and only he is responsible for the consequences,” he continued.
Bennett’s post comes as Israel continues its bombing campaign on residential areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, which has killed at least 558 people, including 50 children.
Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah military assets, but dozens of civilians have been killed in the strikes.
Tens of thousands of people have also been forced to flee north in search of safety.