Benjamin Netanyahu's gift for Donald Trump might bring back grim memories for thousands in West Asia

When Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Washington in early February, he became the first world leader to visit the U.S. after Trump took the Oval office in January.

While the duo's joint press conference made global headlines, what people didn't know about as prominently were the gifts the two leaders exchanged after their meeting.

To commemorate his visit to the United States, Netayahu gifted Donald Trump a golden and a normal pager-in what is said to be a reminder of Israel's deadly pager attacks on Lebanon in September, 2024.


A report by the Jerusalem Post revealed that Trump took a liking to the gift, and hailed Israel's operations, which were reportedly to target Hezbollah militants, in Lebanon. The pager attacks by Israel killed at least 39 people and left more than 3000 citizens injured.

"That was a great operation," Trump was quoted as saying to the Israeli Prime Minister.

Moreover, Trump's gift to Netanyahu was a picture of the two leaders with an inscription that read: "To Bibi, a great leader".

Israel's pager attacks on Lebanon

In September 2024, reports that thousands in Lebanon were being injured due to 'explosions' gained momentum. A more clearer view of the incidents suggested that several pagers went off in the city, home to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, killing at least 39 people.

At least 3000 people were reported injured in the aftermath of the deadly attacks, with Israel not immediately commenting on the news.

Two months later, Netanyahu confirmed that it was indeed Israel that had authorised the 'operation'. According to reports in international media, Israel's intelligence agency, Mosad, had embedded explosives inside pagers purportedly ordered by members of Hezbollah.

Israel fought a two-front war in West Asia against Hamas and Hezbollah between 2023 and 2024, as the two outfits attacked the nation after its continued bombardments on war-torn Gaza, which resulted in the killing of more than 40,000 Palestinians.

In January 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a breakthrough when they agreed to a ceasefire, mainly brokered by Qatar.