Where this was said
Lebanon: The Ceasefire That Isn't and Trump's Call With Netanyahu
At 42:18 · chapter starts 38:00
A voice note from Al Jazeera journalist Justin Solhany delivers the starkest data point of the episode: UNIFIL counted 683 Israeli trajectories northward into Lebanon on May 31st, against 61 from Hezbollah, with Israel's weekly average over 300 and Hezbollah's in the double digits. Ben Rhodes argues that calling this a ceasefire is a fiction that serves political interests — Israel is occupying nearly 20% of Lebanese territory, has displaced a million residents, and has killed 3,400 people while losing 27 soldiers. The Lebanon front has become the clearest pressure point between the US and Israel in the broader Iran negotiations, with Iran demanding the fighting end everywhere and Israel refusing. Axios reported that Trump called Netanyahu and screamed 'you'd be in prison if it weren't for me; everybody hates you,' a claim an Israeli analyst known as 'Bibi's shofar' denied, though the Wall Street Journal confirmed a second call where Trump talked trash. A reported agreement to halt Beirut airstrikes in exchange for no attacks seems fragile, while Israel captures the ancient Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon — a site it last held during its previous occupation 25 years ago, raising fears of a protracted new one. [1] — Justin Solhany "UNIFIL data shows that on the single most intense day in late May 2025, Israel fired 683 projectiles northward into Lebanon while Hezbollah…" 38:50 [2] — Justin Solhany "683 vs 61 Israeli to Hezbollah projectiles: On the most intense day in late May 2025, UNIFIL counted 683 Israeli trajectories into Lebanon …" 39:43
UNIFIL data shows that on the single most intense day in late May 2025, Israel fired 683 projectiles northward into Lebanon while Hezbollah fired 61 southward. Israel has occupied nearly 20% of Lebanese territory and displaced a million residents. Calling this a ceasefire, as most US media does, is a fiction that serves Israeli and US political interests.
On the most intense day in late May 2025, UNIFIL counted 683 Israeli trajectories into Lebanon versus 61 from Hezbollah or other groups — a ratio of more than 11 to 1.
The overall death toll from the renewed Israeli military campaign in Lebanon has reached 3,400 Lebanese killed, with 27 Israeli soldiers killed.
