During a recent visit to Washington, D.C., Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented President Trump with an unusual gift: a gold-plated pager.

This gift alluded to a covert operation, widely believed to be orchestrated by Israel’s Mossad, targeting Hezbollah on September 17, 2024. Thousands of pagers, along with similar communication devices, were detonated simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria at approximately 3:30 p.m.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office to Digital explained, “The pager symbolizes the prime minister’s pivotal decision that marked a turning point in the war and initiated Hezbollah’s strategic decline.”

“This strategic operation showcases Israel’s strength, technological prowess, and tactical ingenuity.”

An image obtained by Digital displayed the pager affixed to a wooden plaque. The pager bore the inscription “Press with both hands,” accompanied by a double downward arrow – the same message preceding the devices’ detonation.

The plaque also included a message for Trump, hailing him as Israel’s “greatest friend and ally.”

This statement appears to be the first official acknowledgment from Israel regarding the strike against the terrorist network.

While the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah operatives, they also resulted in civilian casualties, including at least two children. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported 32 fatalities and 3,250 injuries.

UN human rights experts condemned the operation, characterizing the indiscriminate nature of the attacks as “war crimes.”

“These attacks violate the human right to life, absent any indication that the victims posed an imminent lethal threat,” stated one expert. “Such attacks necessitate prompt, independent investigation to ascertain the truth and ensure accountability for the crime of murder.”

Despite the limited number of terrorists killed, Israeli officials have touted the operation as a significant psychological victory against Hezbollah.

Although Israel was immediately suspected of involvement, Jerusalem had refrained from publicly confirming its role until later.

However, by November 2024, leaked Israeli Cabinet meeting transcripts revealed Netanyahu stating, “The pager operation and the elimination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah were executed despite opposition from senior defense officials and their political counterparts.”

This remark seemed to be a pointed criticism of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, dismissed weeks earlier due to disagreements concerning the war and Hezbollah.

Neither the White House nor the UN responded immediately to Digital’s requests for comment.

Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.