Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a silver pager to Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Wednesday as a thank-you reward for his assist of Israel.
Fetterman, who has been a vocal supporter of Israel, obtained the reward throughout a go to together with his spouse, Gisele, to the prime minister’s workplace in Jerusalem. Netanyahu’s spouse, Sara, was additionally current.
The pager is an ode to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Syria in September 2024, during which Israel triggered explosions of lots of of pagers and walkie-talkies utilized by the militant group referred to as Hezbollah. The assault killed 13 folks, a few of whom had been kids, and injured hundreds extra.
“In the course of the heat and pleasant assembly, the Prime Minister and his spouse thanked Senator Fetterman and his spouse for his or her constant assist of Israel for the reason that outbreak of the conflict,” the Prime Minister’s Workplace mentioned in a statement. “Prime Minister Netanyahu gave Senator Fetterman a silver pager, impressed by ‘Operation Pager’, which modified the face of the conflict in Lebanon.”
Netanyahu also gifted a golden pager to President Donald Trump throughout a go to to the White Home final month. Trump called the attacks a “nice operation” after receiving the reward.
This week, Israeli strikes in Lebanon threatened a fragile ceasefire deal there. In the meantime, Israel embarked on a ground operation and terminated the ceasefire in Gaza, killing lots of of Palestinians. Netanyahu said Tuesday the assault was “solely the start.”
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In response to the damaged ceasefire, Fetterman posted on X on Tuesday saying, “I unapologetically, 100% stand with Israel, and demand the discharge of all remaining hostages. Sending this from Israel.”
Israel has unleashed an unrelenting bombardment of assaults on Gaza, a area it has occupied for many years, since October 2023, when Hamas militants attacked and kidnapped greater than 200 folks, holding them hostage. Roughly two dozen individuals are believed to nonetheless be held alive by Hamas.
For the reason that begin of the conflict, 48,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials, and along with navy motion, Israel’s choice to cut off the entry of food, drugs, gasoline and different provides has put extra lives in danger. A number of entities, together with the United Nations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have mentioned that Israel’s assaults on Gaza are in step with genocide.