Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba Thursday following the morning Iranian missile strike that damaged the hospital, the largest in the south. During his visit, he addressed reporters and answered questions about Israel's response to the attack as Operation Rising Lion to rid Iran of its nuclear capabilities continues.
"The Israeli people are paying a tremendous price and bearing it magnificently," Netanyahu stated. "There are personal costs involved, people have been injured, and sadly some have been killed. Families have lost their beloved ones, and I deeply value their sacrifice. Each of us carries a personal burden – this hasn't spared my own family, as this marks the second time my son Avner has had to cancel his wedding." The prime minister also referenced his wife Sara Netanyahu, noting she has "carried a personal burden for years" as he spearheads Israel's campaign against Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Netanyahu highlighted the contrast between Israeli and Iranian targeting methods, explaining "we can see the complete difference – we strike with precision against military objectives while they target hospitals where patients cannot even evacuate. This represents the fundamental distinction between a democracy operating under legal constraints to protect itself and these killers. It speaks volumes."
When questioned whether Khamenei should be considered "a dead man," Netanyahu declined to dismiss the possibility of elimination. "Nobody enjoys immunity," the prime minister declared. "Every option remains open, though I would rather not discuss such matters publicly and allow our actions to communicate our intentions." He emphasized that "during wartime, words must be selected with great care – and actions executed with absolute precision." He appeared to walk back the statement made by Defense Minister Israel Katz a short while earlier that Khamenei should not be allowed to exit. Netanyahu said Israel's operation had only two direct goals: To rid the threat posed by Iran's nuclear capabilities and to deny it the possibility of attacking Israel with ballistic missiles, thus appearing to exclude regime change but without explicitly rejecting Katz's comments.
Katz's comments on potentially targeting Khamenei were made when he visited the missile impact zone in Holon, where he issued the war's first explicit elimination threat against Khamenei. "Any dictator like Khamenei, who leads Iran while proclaiming Israel's destruction as his banner – simply cannot be permitted to continue existing," he declared.
On potential American involvement in future operations, Netanyahu commented "that decision rests with President Donald Trump, who understands the dynamics at play." He also addressed speculation about regime change in Iran, drawing historical parallels by noting "twenty-five centuries ago, Cyrus liberated the Jewish people – today the Jewish people are assisting the Persian people in achieving their freedom."
He said Iran had the chance to dismantle its nuclear program through talks, but they squandered that opportunity by not reaching a deal with the US.
"He [President Trump] gave them the chance to do it through negotiations, they strung them along. You don't string along Donald Trump, you know, he knows the game, and I think that we're both committed to making sure that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon and they won't."
