The post published on Thursday caused outrage in Israel, which said it calls into question Pakistan's ability to mediate between the U.S. and Iran. In the later-deleted post, Asif wrote that while peace talks are ongoing in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran, and now Lebanon, the bloodshed continues unabated. "I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land remove the European Jews and burn in hell," Asif stated. The Prime Minister's Office: Pakistan Defence Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the remarks, calling them blatant antisemitic blood libel.