Overview
- Khawaja Asif called Benjamin Netanyahu the “worst criminal of humanity” and urged Washington to abduct him and bring him to trial, repeatedly citing ICC arrest warrants from 2024 and referencing the Maduro operation.
- Asif agreed on air that Turkey could also detain Netanyahu, saying Pakistanis would support such a move, during an interview on Geo TV.
- Anchor Hamid Mir cut the segment after Asif hinted at punishing Netanyahu’s supporters, cautioning viewers that some might interpret the comments as a reference to President Donald Trump.
- Clips of the interview circulated widely on social media, with some outlets reporting they could not independently verify the video even as multiple reports carried direct quotes from the broadcast.
- No immediate official reactions from Israel, the United States, or Turkey were reported, as analysts warned the remarks could strain Pakistan’s limited ties with Israel and complicate relations with Western partners; separately, Israel’s envoy to India said Israel would be uncomfortable with Pakistani troops in a proposed Gaza stabilisation force.