Rumor – Pakistan allegedly threatened to launch a nuclear bomb against Israel if it attacked Iran. In response, Benjamin Netanyahu supposedly stated in an interview that Pakistan would be Israel’s next target after Iran.
Analysis
Amid tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran and Israel, an alarming narrative is circulating on social media about Pakistan’s alleged entry into the conflict. Videos and posts claim the country threatened to carry out a nuclear attack on Israel if it launched an offensive against Iran.
As part of this narrative, an interview with Benjamin Netanyahu is used to claim that he said Pakistan would be Israel’s next target.
These posts present various versions of the alleged warning: sometimes Pakistan supposedly informed the U.S. about its willingness to launch a nuclear attack; sometimes Netanyahu is quoted as saying, “If Iran falls, Pakistan will be next.” Here’s the circulating text:
Version 1: Pakistan informed the United States 🇺🇸 that if there is a nuclear attack on Iran, the response will be a nuclear attack on Israel 🇮🇱. Also, if any country intervenes directly in the Iran-Israel conflict, the Pakistani army will join Iran against Israel. In an old video (reposted here), Netanyahu said, “We must first stop Iran and then Pakistan from having nuclear weapons. If Iran falls, Pakistan will be next.”
Version 2: The terrorist and war criminal Netanyahu said in an interview that Pakistan is the next target after Iran. Version 3: An old interview with Netanyahu in which he says Pakistan is the next target of IsraHELL after Iran.
Fact-check
This story is being used to claim an imminent escalation between nations, but it’s false. The viral content raises three main questions: 1) Did Netanyahu say that Pakistan would be Israel’s next target? 2) What is the context of Netanyahu’s statement? 3) Did the Pakistani government make a nuclear threat against Israel?
Did Netanyahu say that Pakistan would be Israel’s next target?
No. The quote attributed to Benjamin Netanyahu is out of context. It was taken from an old 2011 interview, available on Channel 2 Israel’s YouTube channel.
At the time, Netanyahu expressed concern over the possibility of the Taliban taking control of Pakistan, a country with nuclear weapons. As the part mentioning the Taliban was cut, it falsely appears that he was referring to Pakistan’s government.
At no point did he declare Pakistan to be a military “next target” of Israel. The fact-checking site Soch Fact Check debunked the manipulation.
What is the context of Netanyahu’s statement?
In the 2011 interview, Netanyahu discussed geopolitical risks involving Iran and Pakistan. He mentioned that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons and warned about the danger of Pakistan—already a nuclear power—falling into extremist hands. His remarks do not suggest any Israeli attack intentions.
Did the Pakistani government make a nuclear threat against Israel?
No. The claims that Pakistan communicated a nuclear threat to the U.S. or the international community were officially denied by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement reads:
“Pakistan is a signatory to all international nuclear norms. Our nuclear capability is for the benefit of our people and the defense of our country against the hostile designs of our enemies.”
Conclusion
The claims that Pakistan threatened Israel with a nuclear attack and that Netanyahu said Pakistan would be Israel’s next target are false. Netanyahu’s quote is old, taken out of context, and used to spread misinformation amid real tensions. The Pakistani government has denied any such threat.
Fake news ❌
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