'Turkiye-Qatar-Pakistan axis is worrying,' says Israeli cabinet minister

The "Türkiye-Qatar-Pakistan axis is worrying" for Tel Aviv, an Israeli cabinet minister said on Wednesday.

"What we are witnessing is the rise of a new axis," Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said in remarks to Israel's 103 FM radio, adding that the three countries helped shape the recently announced deal between the US and Iran.

“The emerging agreement is concerning, and the least of my concerns is the rehabilitation of the Iranian economy,” he added.

His comments came amid sharp criticism in Israel of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposition figures accuse of failure, saying that US President Donald Trump excluded him from negotiations with Iran on ending the war.

Washington and Tehran reached a temporary truce on April 8 through Pakistani mediation before announcing a framework agreement on Monday to end the conflict. The accord is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.

Israeli government ministers have publicly expressed their opposition to the agreement.

There was no immediate response from Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan to Chikli's remarks.

The three countries have supported diplomatic solutions to settle the US-Iran conflict and efforts to promote regional stability.

Iran-US deal 'bad for Israel,' says Israeli finance minister

The US-Iran agreement reached under Pakistani mediation is "bad for Israel and the entire free world," claimed Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday.

"The joint campaign had many achievements in weakening Iran, and they will not go to waste,” he said on the US social media company X.

"We will have to continue the campaign to topple the regime ourselves and in creative ways, and ensure that Iran will never have nuclear weapons," he added.

Claiming that Tel Aviv will be tested in Lebanon, Smotrich said he will "continue to act" to give the Israeli army "full freedom of action to continue pushing Hezbollah away."

US President Donald Trump declared Sunday that a peace agreement with Iran had been completed. The deal includes halting war on all fronts, including Lebanon, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the end of a US naval blockade on Iran.

Despite the announcement, the Israeli army continued to launch airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Monday.

The Israeli attacks have killed over 3,700 people, wounded nearly 11,500, and displaced over 1.5 million since March 2, according to Lebanese officials.