Israel Weekly News Roundup: June 13, 2025
5 Things you need to know
Israel at War - Day 615
1. Israel Launches Massive Attack Against Iran
Early Friday morning Israel's air force launched an air strike against targets all over Iran. During this attack, Israeli forces managed to kill top officials of the Iranian army, top nuclear scientists, and killed the Iranian military chain of command. In addition, Israeli forces targeted nuclear facilities and ballistic missile sites across the country. The attack was planned for a long time, and was based on very accurate intelligence which identified the locations of the targets. Israeli sources said that the airstrike targeted a bunker where top Iranian army commanders were holding a meeting.
Israeli homeland security sent voice push messages at 3am Friday morning to all Israeli smartphones, through a special technology, to alert people to prepare for an Iranian retaliation attack. A few hours later Iran launched a drone attack on Israel, which were all intercepted by Israel. Israeli homeland security alerted people to stay near safe rooms and shelters, all activities were cancelled, including schools and work where a ban was placed on crowd assembly. Later some of those restrictions were lifted. All airports were closed and there are no flights going in or out of Israel until Sunday morning at the least. Many international airlines have already announced they will halt their service to and from Israel for the time being. PM Netanyahu and the army chain of command are following the operation closely from the operation room.
Sources said that President Trump was informed and he thought that this attack may force the Iranians to return to the negotiating table. All the signs were there, but Israel and the Trump administration spread misleading signs to confuse the Iranians and create more favorable ground for the surprise attack. As of Friday afternoon Israeli time, it is still unknown how long this operation will last, what will be the consequences on both sides, and what damage the Israeli attack caused on the nuclear facilities and military capabilities in Iran.
2. A Political Crisis, or Political Spin, Was Prevented Early Thursday Morning
PM Netanyahu’s coalition needs to pass a bill that would enable the drafting of Yeshiva students to the army, so there will be equality in the draft between ultra orthodox and other Jewish men of conscription age. The story of the draft for the Haredim has been on the table of the political arena for decades, but it seems that now it has reached a critical tipping point and the government must introduce a bill that will solve the complexity and create equity among all Israeli aged 18 years old who are subject to the mandatory draft law. The need for more soldiers has intensified due to the length of the war in Gaza. The Haredi parties in the coalition reject the implementation of the mandatory draft on all 18 years old, and claim that Yeshiva studies protect Israel no less than a traditional army. They call their yeshivah studies the army of God. They are deeply convinced that studying Torah all day creates a protective shield for the state of Israel. On the other hand the non-haredim who serve in the army have a heavy burden imposed on their lives, especially reservists who have had to serve months in the war.
The current coalition has failed - thus far - to introduce a bill that would be acceptable to the Haredi on the one hand and the rest of the coalition on the other hand. The Haredi parties implemented sanctions on the coalition, threatened to vote against the government, join the opposition’s vote to dissolve the Knesset before the scheduled end of its current term, and go for elections. Eventually they did not vote against the coalition but this crisis is far from reaching a solution.
3. IDF Recovers Bodies of Two Hostages as Concern for Those Still Held Captive Exacerbates
Earlier this week, Hamas released a new photo of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, accompanied by a harsh warning. They claimed he’s located in a besieged area of Khan Younis and stated that if IDF forces attempt a rescue, he will be killed and Israel will be held responsible. The image shows Zangauker lying on his side, his lower body covered by a blanket, with an IV drip visible. The media reported that his physical and mental state is deteriorating.
Also, this week, the family of Israeli soldier Matan Angrest has released newly surfaced and more graphic footage of his October 7 abduction. The video shows him unconscious, being dragged from his tank in Nahal Oz, violently beaten by a crowd before being thrown off the tank. According to released hostages and medical experts, he has sustained severe injuries: his chronic asthma was exacerbated during torture, he has electric shocks, festering burns and infections on his hands (limiting finger movement), swollen infected wounds, fractured cheekbones and jaw, high fever, eye swelling, and possible vision issues. Matan’s mother described the footage as “devastating” and confirmed they “had no choice but to release another clip” to alert the public to his dire condition.
Earlier this week, the IDF recovered the body of Yair Yaacov and another unnamed hostage, following an operation based on precise intelligence provided by army intelligence and the Shin Bet. Yaacov was abducted to Gaza by Hamas militants along with his partner and two teenage sons. He was killed shortly after his abduction, and his sons were released in the first ceasefire/hostage deal in November 2023. Upon receiving the news of the recovery of his father’s body, his son, Yagil, 14, said: “Dad … I knew this day would come. Thank you to the IDF and Shin Bet… I’m already waiting for your funeral”.
4. The UK Imposed Sanctions on Israeli Ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Betzalel Smotritch
Deterioration in the status of Israel continues in the international community.
The UK decided to impose economic sanctions on two Israeli ministers and members of PM Netanyahu’s coalition: Minister of Finance, Betzalel Smotritch and Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, both are leaders of the far-right parties - Religious Zionists and Jewish Power. The sanctions include confiscating any assets or bank accounts and bans from traveling to the UK. The sanctions were applied due to their positions regarding the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and their stance regarding the need to deport them from Gaza, and their stance that there are no innocent people in Gaza.
The UK joined Canada, Norway, New Zealand and other countries which have also implemented similar sanctions. Some of the countries have also recognized a Palestinian State - Norway and Ireland for example. Israels foreign ministry decided to close the Israeli embassy in Ireland and recall the Israeli ambassador from Oslo, as a retaliatory stance.
President Trump held a tough conversation with PM Netanyahu in which he pressured him to end the war in Gaza. The two leaders also discussed the situation with Iran. It seems like the talks between the US and Iran have reached a deadlock and the US is making preparations for a military attack soon. The US called on all its citizens and diplomats in the region to leave. PM Netanyahu informed President Trump that Israel is ready to launch an attack.
5. Israeli Military Forces Seized Humanitarian Boat Heading Towards Gaza With International Activists
Israeli forces boarded and seized a small sailboat with a dozen international activists who were trying to reach the shores of Gaza, deliver some humanitarian aid, and raise world attention for the humanitarian crisis there. On board were Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environment world-renowned activist, a French member of the EU parliament, a French journalist and other activists. Israel's Defense Minister Katz, declared the attempt to reach Gaza a hostile act, and ordered Israeli forces to prevent the boat from reaching Gazan shores. Israeli marines seized the boat outside the territorial waters of Israel and towed it to the nearest Israeli port. Security forces detained all the passengers and deported them from Israel. The Minister of Defense and other members of the coalition, together with the heads of local municipalities ridiculed Greta Thunberg, as if she was the most dangerous enemy of the State of Israel. They mocked her disability as a person with autism, and posted photos of her adding jokes and creating memes. They mocked her veganism and the fact that she avoids air travel to demonstrate her leadership on climate change issues and dedication to the environment.
The Minister of Defense declared that the activists were antisemites, he especially referred to Greta Thunberg. And he ordered the security forces to make them watch an hourlong video which depicts the horrors of October 7th, with explicit footage of murders, slaughter, violent abduction of Israeli citizens from their bedrooms and homes. Most of this footage was obtained from Hamas militants live posts on social media on October 7th. This video was edited by the Israel Defense Force mainly to use it for the international community to make people understand what happened and to support Israel in the war against Hamad It is important to say in this context that most of the Israeli ministers refused to watch this video.
