Middle East latest: Israel claims it has no connection to exploding pagers; Al Jazeera’s West Bank closure ‘threatens press freedom’

Israel’s president Isaac Herzog spoke to Sky News’ Trevor Phillips this morning, where he answered questions about the current state of the conflict in the Middle East.

Mr Herzog rejected claims Israel was involved in this week’s exploding pager and walkie-talkie attacks in Lebanon, and insisted Israel did not want a full-scale war with its northern neighbour.

He also answered questions about Israel’s relationship with Britain and Sir Keir Starmer, plus spoke about both Iran and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Here’s all the key things the president said this morning:

On fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon

With increased fighting ongoing between Israel and the Iran-backed, Lebanon-based Hezbollah group this week, Mr Herzog admitted that there was a chance of the situation “escalating dramatically”.

He said Israel “is not interested” in being at war with Lebanon, but that the country had been hijacked by Hezbollah and Israel is fighting “for the entire free world.”

Mr Herzog then showed an image showing Hezbollah’s military commanders, highlighting those that have been killed by Friday’s Israeli airstrike on Beirut.

The president also denied Israel’s involvement in this week’s exploding pager and walkie-talkie attacks, which saw thousands of people injured across Lebanon.

The Israeli president said he “rejects out of hand any connection to this or that source of operation”, adding that Hezbollah has “many enemies”.

Iran’s ’empire of evil’

Mr Herzog said Hezbollah were “armed to its teeth by the Iranian empire of evil” and claimed that Iran wants to “conquer the Middle East and move into Europe and the rest of the world”.

Asked whether Israel would launch missile attacks on Iran, he said his country “has always made clear” that it will defend its people and “remove any threats that are existential to the state of Israel”.

‘Disappointment’ in Israel over UK

Mr Herzog was asked if he is disappointed in the way that the British government has acted in the last few weeks towards Israel.

The UK has suspended arms export licences to the country for use in military operations in Gaza, following a review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.

“We have outstanding relations with the people of Britain,” he said. “I have personally a very close affinity with His Majesty’s government and with Britain at large.

“But you also have to understand that between friends, we expect friends and allies to be there for us all the time as we are for them.

“And clearly, yes, it’s true there is a sense of disappointment in Israel.”

Working with Netanyahu

Asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the right person to bring back Israel’s hostages from Gaza, Mr Herzog said it was an “unfortunate question”.

He said he works closely with the PM and that he will “work with any government and any prime minister”, adding that Mr Netanyahu was the third prime minister he had worked with during his time as president.

Instead, Mr Herzog said that in order to end the war and bring hostages back, Yahya Sinwar, commander of Hamas, had to take responsibility.