Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing members of the country’s Druze minority in the Galilee village of Julus on Thursday, sharply criticised Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and jihadist commander Abu Mohammad al-Jolani over recent violence against Druze communities in Syria. Standing before a banner reading “Druze Lives Matter,” Netanyahu said, “I’m not naïve; I know who we’re dealing with,” adding that Israel had used force and diplomatic channels to draw international attention to the reported killings of Druze civilians. The remarks highlight Israel’s increasing reliance on humanitarian arguments to justify cross-border strikes in Syria, where it says it is acting both to contain Iranian entrenchment and to protect vulnerable minorities.