Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stern warning to Hezbollah, calling on the group to carefully consider the consequences of engaging in a full-scale conflict with Israel.

"Hezbollah has to consider the consequences of attacking Israel and opening a wider war with it," Netanyahu said in an interview with Time Magazine. “If they're contemplating it, they should think twice."

The interview highlighted the broader regional threats Israel is currently facing, with Netanyahu making it clear that the conflict extends beyond just Hamas.

"We're facing not merely Hamas," he explained. "We're facing the broader Iran terror axis that includes Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, the Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq, and also the efforts that they're trying to do to create another front in... the West Bank, in Judea and Samaria."

Asked whether a conflict with Hezbollah is inevitable, Netanyahu remained cautious but firm.

"Nothing is predetermined," he said. "I think the stronger you are, the stronger your alliances are, the less likely you'll have to take military action, but...if you want peace, prepare for war."

Netanyahu expressed concern that failing to address Hezbollah now could lead to a situation similar to what Israel experienced with Hamas—where the group's strength and capabilities could grow unchecked, potentially catching Israel off guard in the future.

"It’s very much on our minds, especially after October 7th," he noted. "We're facing a full-fledged Iranian axis, and we understand that we have to organize ourselves for a broader defense, which affects not only us but every country in the region."

The Prime Minister also addressed the situation in northern Israel, where around 60,000 residents have been evacuated due to security concerns. While he couldn't provide a specific timeline for their return, Netanyahu assured that their safety remains a top priority.

"One of our main goals is to make sure that the 60,000 or so Israelis who have evacuated their homes can come back and live in their communities in peace and security."

When questioned about the international pressure to end the war in Gaza, Netanyahu expressed his willingness to cease hostilities under certain conditions.

 "I want to end the war. I’d end the war tomorrow, if I could. And by the way, if Hamas laid down its arms, surrendered, went into exile, the war would be over immediately."

He emphasized the need to eliminate Hamas's threat, given its proximity to Tel Aviv and its ties to the broader Iranian terror axis.

"To leave them in place not only means that they would have the ability to repeat the savagery of October 7, but go well beyond that."

Regarding the long-term resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Netanyahu reiterated his longstanding stance against the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state. Instead, he advocated for a solution that grants Palestinians "all the powers to govern themselves but none of the powers to threaten us."

He argued that Israel must retain overall security control to prevent the rise of hostile entities, as seen with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

"We have to have the capacity to ensure overall security by Israel," he stated, underscoring the importance of a security-first approach in any future arrangement with the Palestinians.