Netanyahu gifts Trump controversial item that helped turned tide in war against Hezbollah

A statement from Netanyahu's office to Fox News Digital said, "The pager symbolizes the prime minister's decision that led to a turning point in the war and marked the beginning of Hezbollah's strategic collapse.

The plaque also came with a message to Trump calling him Israel's "greatest friend and ally."

Though the attacks were intended to target Hezbollah terrorists, the explosions also injured, maimed and killed civilians, including at least two children. In total, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that 32 people were killed and 3,250 others were injured. 

U.N. Human Rights experts condemned the operation and said the indiscriminate nature of the attacks amounted to "war crimes."

Despite the limited number of terrorists killed in the widespread attacks, Israeli officials have championed the operation as a successful psychological blow to Hezbollah.

However, by November 2024, Israeli reports revealed comments leaked from a Cabinet meeting in which Netanyahu was quoted as saying, "The pager operation and the elimination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah were carried out despite the opposition of senior officials in the defense establishment and those responsible for them in the political echelon."

Neither the White House nor the U.N. immediately responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.