Israeli PM Netanyahu gifts US President Trump a golden pager

Israeli PM Netanyahu with US President Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gifted US President Donald Trump a “golden pager” – an apparent nod to the ones used in attack on Hezbollah last year.
The presentation occurred during their significant meeting earlier this week, as reported by the Times of Israel.
This gifting followed several months after an incident where pagers belonging to Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon detonated unexpectedly, resulting in several fatalities and injuries to thousands of others on September 17, last year.
“That was a great operation,” Trump remarked during the exchange, as per the report.
As a reciprocal gesture, Trump presented Netanyahu with their photograph from the visit, inscribed: “To Bibi, a great leader.”
Meanwhile, clarifying his stance over Gaza, Trump stated that it would be turned over to the US by Israel after fighting concludes, with Palestinians resettled in safer communities. Trump emphasized no US soldiers would be involved, aiming to develop Gaza into a prosperous region. Trump’s takeover statement led to a major pushback from Arab leaders while White House clarified that Trump did not mean a military takeover.

The Pager attack on Hezbollah

The September incident primarily affected individuals associated with Hezbollah.
The explosive events extended to the following day, when hundreds of walkie-talkies also detonated. The devices reportedly heated up and exploded whilst being carried, triggered by incoming message alerts.
Months after the attack, Israeli intelligence agents spoke anonymously to CBS’s “60 Minutes”, in December, to reveal details of a decade-long Mossad operation targeting Hezbollah.
Beginning in 2013, Mossad infiltrated Hezbollah’s supply chain using shell companies, secretly embedding explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies. By 2022, Hezbollah unknowingly procured these modified devices from a Taiwanese firm, according to the details revealed by the agents.
On September 17, 2024, Mossad remotely detonated 5,000 pagers, killing about 30 militants and injuring many more.
The next day, rigged walkie-talkies exploded, further spreading fear. The operation reportedly aimed to weaken Hezbollah psychologically, making them feel vulnerable.
The attacks occurred amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict following Hamas’ October 2023 assault. In the aftermath, Israel launched airstrikes across Lebanon, killing thousands, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.