A post shared on X claims that Maronite bishop Youssef Yacoub called Hezbollah “troglodytes.”

When Hezbollah called Christians in Israel ‘traitors’, this is how the Maronite bishop of Haifa, Yosef Yacoub, responded:

“Mind your business, terrorists. We Christians are loyal citizens of Israel and grateful we don’t share a country with troglodytes stuck in the 7th century… pic.twitter.com/G21w2rOakh

— Dr. Maalouf ‏ (@realMaalouf) September 19, 2024

Verdict: False

There is no evidence for this claim. Fr. Yakoub is a priest, not a bishop. He also denied the claim.

Fact Check:

Israel struck Lebanon with several airstrikes Sept. 23, with the Lebanese Health Ministry saying the strikes killed at least 350 people, according to NPR. Israel says it was striking Hezbollah, the outlet reported.

Social media users are claiming that a Maronite bishop in Haifa, Israel, said that Hezbollah are “troglodytes” and that Christians in Israel are loyal citizens.

“When Hezbollah called Christians in Israel’ traitors’, this is how the Maronite bishop of Haifa, Yosef Yacoub, responded: ‘Mind your business, terrorists. We Christians are loyal citizens of Israel and grateful we don’t share a country with troglodytes stuck in the 7th century like you.’ BASED!” one user wrote.

There is no evidence for this claim. First, Yakoub is a priest, not a bishop. The Archbishop of Haifa is Moussa El-Hage, who is the head of Maronite Archbishopric of Haifa and the Holy Land, according to the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. Yakoub is the pastor of St. Louis the King, per the website.

Check Your Fact conducted an internet search and could not find any media outlets reporting on this claim. The origin of this claim appears to be from a single social media account that does not provide a source for this claim.

Fr. Yakoub told Check Your Fact in an email that he was “surprised” by the claim. He further said that the claim “is absolutely a fake news.” (RELATED: Media Outlets Claim Trump Falsely Accused Harris Of Wanting ‘Transgender Operations’ On Imprisoned ‘Illegal Aliens’)

The Maronite Church is an Eastern Catholic church that is in full communion with Rome, according to the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn’s website. Archbishop Hage was criticized by Lebanese politicians, Hamas and Hezbollah for meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to L’Orient Today.