Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for Lebanon to be made a "playing field" for the Israeli army. He said that he does not accept “any American restrictions on Israeli military operations in Lebanon,” adding: “If Trump tells Netanyahu to leave Lebanon, the answer must be: Mr. President, no.” Ben Gvir considered that "the distinction between Lebanon as a state and Hezbollah is an artificial approach that cannot be accepted." The extremist minister called for "making the entire Lebanese territory a direct target for Israeli military operations, without any exceptions or restrictions." Ben Gvir added: “A thousand Lebanese mothers may cry, but not a single Israeli mother,” categorically rejecting any humanitarian or moral restrictions on military operations, and stressing that the absolute priority is to protect the Israelis at all costs, even if that is at the expense of Lebanese civilians.