Netanyahu's office condemns Pakistan's defense minister for calling Israel 'evil' after heavy bombing of Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Thursday condemned Pakistan's defense minister for describing Israel as "evil" and a "curse for humanity" in response to heavy Israeli bombardment on Wednesday which killed at least 256 people in Lebanon and injured hundreds more.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on the US social media company X's platform that Israel was continuing to kill civilians in Lebanon while negotiations were underway in Islamabad.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity," Asif wrote.

Genocide was being committed in Lebanon, and innocent civilians were being killed by Israel, he said, adding: “First Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated.”

Asif also said he hoped those who created Israel on Palestinian land "burn in hell."

In response, Netanyahu’s office said Asif’s remarks amounted to a call for Israel’s destruction.

"Pakistan Defense Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous," Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

"This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," it added.

The exchange came as Israeli attacks on Lebanon intensified despite ongoing diplomatic efforts linked to a two-week ceasefire announced Tuesday by the United States and Iran and brokered by Pakistan.

While Pakistani mediators and Tehran said the truce also covered Lebanon, Washington and Tel Aviv denied that.

The Israeli army has intensified attacks across Lebanon since Wednesday, killing at least 303 people and injuring 1,150 others, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense.

The expanded Israeli offensive on Lebanon since March 2 has killed 1,888 people and wounded 6,092 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.