In a recent statement, the Israeli government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, criticized Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s virtual speech, characterizing it as “boring” and claiming that he was “hiding in a bunker like a coward.”
Nasrallah’s speech took place after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, during which he made a reference to the Jewish nation. In response, Levy voiced his discontent with Nasrallah’s speech, stating, “We listened to Hassan Nasrallah’s long and rambling speech. I admit it was so tedious that I don’t know whether his speechwriter was eliminated in recent IDF (Israel Defence Forces) strikes on Hezbollah in the north.”
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Levy added, “I would note that despite the large crowds, Nasrallah himself was not on stage. He was hiding in a bunker like a coward. If I were giving an hour-long speech defending the actions of Hamas, I would be afraid to show my face in public as well.”
During his extensive virtual address, Nasrallah praised the Hamas attack from four weeks ago when terrorists targeted farming villages, towns, and military posts in southern Israel, resulting in more than 1,400 casualties.
He stated, “This great, large-scale operation was purely the result of Palestinian planning and implementation,” implying that his militia had no involvement in the attack. He also criticized Israel’s inability to achieve any significant progress in the ongoing conflict.
Nasrallah also expressed disapproval of the strong U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, where more than 9,000 people, mainly civilians, have lost their lives. The United States has now called for a ‘humanitarian pause’ in the conflict.
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Nasrallah’s speech had been eagerly anticipated as an indicator of whether the Israel-Hamas conflict would escalate into a regional war. Hamas leaders have urged Hezbollah to expand its role in the war, with the two groups meeting to discuss the situation.
Since the conflict began, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have clashed along the border, raising concerns about a further escalation.