Latest news with #StateofIsrael
Middle East Eye
21 hours ago
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Israeli officials accused of 'hypocrisy' over Iranian strike that hit hospital
Social media platforms erupted on Thursday, following Israel's condemnation of an Iranian missile strike on Soroka hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel, which the Israeli government labelled a war crime. The Israeli government described the attack as a deliberate violation of international law, citing the targeting of a civilian medical facility. But the condemnation was met with swift backlash online, where many accused Israel of hypocrisy. הקו האדום נחצה. המשטר הדיקטטורי מטהרן עבר את הגבול ופועל כמו ארגון טרור ברברי. הירי למרכז הרפואי ״סורוקה״ ולעבר אוכלוסיה אזרחית הוא פשע מלחמה מתועב. מדינת ישראל, יחד עם שותפינו בעולם החופשי, מחויבים ונחושים לשים לזה סוף אחת ולתמיד. — Uriel Busso-אוריאל בוסו (@BussoUriel) June 19, 2025 Translation: The red line has been crossed. The dictatorial regime in Tehran has crossed the line and is acting like a barbaric terrorist organisation. The shooting at the Soroka Medical Centre and the civilian population is a heinous war crime. The State of Israel, together with our partners in the free world, are committed and determined to put an end to this once and for all. People on social media pointed out that for nearly two years, Israeli forces have systematically dismantled Gaza's healthcare system - bombing hospitals, raiding emergency wards, and forcing medical staff and patients to evacuate under fire. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters For two years, the Israeli Medical Association and its ethics committee have said nothing about Israel's systematic destruction of Gaza's healthcare system, including the annihilation of 35 hospitals, the killing of babies in incubators, and patients in their hospital beds. 1/3 — Ghada Majadli غادة مجادلة (@GMajadli) June 19, 2025 'If attacking a hospital is a war crime, then the radical Jewish extremists are the greatest war criminals. Of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, only 9 remain operational, all the others having been destroyed by Israeli bombing.' Another added, 'If this is a war crime then so are the IDF's actions bombing every hospital in Gaza,' another person wrote. As of May of this year, just 19 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain operational, with at least 94 percent of all hospitals in the besieged enclave damaged or destroyed, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO recorded 697 attacks on healthcare infrastructure by Israel in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. "If this is a war crime then so are the idfs actions bombing every hospital in gaza," another added. 🚨 Reality check: Netanyahu, - You bombed Al-Shifa Hospital, killing patients and doctors. - Flattened Indonesian Hospital, where even ambulances were hit. - Struck Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, where babies died in incubators. - Turned Nasser Medical Complex into rubble. Children… — زماں (@Delhiite_) June 19, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the incident, posting a video from the hospital site. 'We accurately hit nuclear targets and missile targets, and they hit a hospital, where people can't even get up and run away. They are harming not far from here - there is a children's and infants' ward here,' he said. A social media user responded, 'Coming from the war criminal who: Bombed 35 hospitals in Gaza. Bombed 2 hospitals in Iran. Bombed 40 Hospitals in Lebanon. You have no self awareness and also the hospital itself was not bombed by Iran, stop placing military facilities near your hospitals.' It is hypocritical for Benjamin Netanyahu to declare the recent bombing of an Israeli hospital by Iran as a war crime when in the first two months of Israel's bombing of Gaza CNN identified 20 out of 22 hospitals as being damaged or completely destroyed. — Pismo Clam (@WaveRambler) June 19, 2025 Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar said on X that "the evil Iranian regime had crossed all moral lines". One person on X replied, 'You and your equals are the most evil thing that we witness unfortunately. Your evilness can be seen first in Gaza when your evil government destroyed all the hospitals there. Bombing a hospital is evil yes, but look first in the mirror before barking for sympathy…' Many users also took aim at Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, accusing him of hypocrisy after he said "[Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei will be held accountable for his actions'. Others turned their focus to what they perceived as glaring bias in western media coverage, particularly the stark contrast in how outlets report on Israeli versus Palestinian suffering. Many pointed out that while the strike on Soroka hospital was immediately framed as a deliberate attack by Iran, coverage of Israel's repeated bombings of Gaza's hospitals was often muddled with vague qualifiers or unverified framing. Irish journalist Barry Malone wrote, "The difference between the reporting on a hospital being hit in Israel and the reporting on hospitals being hit in Gaza is a such a striking example of Western media bias. Genuinely could be taught in journalism school." The Palestinian writer and journalist Hamza Yusuf also pointed out the difference in tone, posting: 'No 'health officials say'? No 'according to locals'? No 'Likud-run health ministry claims'? Interesting.' Others argued that Israel had itself paved the way for this moment - that the very normalisation of hospital bombings was a direct result of its own military campaign in Gaza.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles: Israel's spy files reveal why Tel Aviv had to attack Iran; 'faced existential threat'
Israel's operation was launched on June 13, and targeted military facilities, key individuals, and infrastructure linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. (Representative image/AI generated) Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar has sent a detailed letter to the United Nations Security Council outlining why the country launched a major military operation, named Operation Rising Lion, against Iran. In the letter, Sa'ar said the strikes were aimed at halting Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which he described as an "existential and imminent threat" to Israel. A report by The Economist also reveals that Israel struck Iran based on intelligence that it claimed showed Iran had reached a "point of no return" in its quest for a nuclear weapon. "In the early hours of Friday, 13 June 2025, the State of Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, aimed to neutralize the existential and imminent threat from Iran's nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs," Sa'ar wrote in his letter. In the letter, dated June 17, Sa'ar accused Iran of actively pursuing nuclear weapons, rapidly enriching uranium, and planning to manufacture thousands of ballistic missiles aimed at Israel. "Operation Rising Lion was launched following a critical development in Iran's nuclear weapons program and aimed also at thwarting the imminent threat of additional Iranian missile and proxy attacks. While Iran rapidly produces highly enriched uranium, reliable intelligence confirmed in recent months that the Iranian regime had significantly accelerated its clandestine efforts to develop nuclear weapons," the Israeli foreign minister wrote in his letter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Israel's operation was launched on June 13, and targeted military facilities, key individuals, and infrastructure linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Sa'ar pointed out in his letter that as recently as last month, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel a "cancerous tumor". "Less than a month ago, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, declared that Israel is 'a cancerous tumor that must be eradicated and it will be'. Israel, as the Jewish homeland, cannot and will not accept the threat of extermination." "Iran's nuclear strategy is clear: achieve nuclear weapons which will be aimed against the State of Israel," the letter stated. The foreign minister also cited Iran's plans to produce 10,000 ballistic missiles in the next three years, calling it an intolerable threat. "Iran had already launched hundreds of ballistic missiles against Israel, in April 2024 and October 2024, targeting Israeli population centers and also in the last few days. Recently, Iran has accelerated its efforts in this regard and planned to produce 10,000 such missiles within the next three years." The letter also accused Iran of supporting a wide network of armed proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. " Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) - which has been designated by several states as a terrorist organization - leads these efforts, inter-alia, by directly attacking Israel and by wielding Iran's proxy network of terrorist armed groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, and others. This is all part of the Iranian war plan to encircle Israel with 'a ring of fire', in pursuit of Israel's annihilation, including through ground invasions into Israel's territory," the letter read. Sa'ar said the strikes were carried out as a last resort after diplomatic efforts failed. "Operation Rising Lion was launched as a measure of last resort. It was prompted by a critical development in lran's covert nuclear weapons program and in response to, and in order to thwart, the threat of imminent Iranian attacks. This was the last window of opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and takes place after diplomacy proved ineffective. Israel is acting to defend its security and very existence." The Bomb files Apart from the Iranian foreign minister's claim of having intelligence inputs of Iran accelerating effort to develop nuclear weapon, a recent report by The Economist also pointed out that Israel carried out its strikes on Iran based on intelligence suggesting that Iran had reached a "point of no return" in its efforts to develop a nuclear weapon. According to the report, Israel also shared this intelligence with the United States and other allies. The report adds that the information presented by Israel includes a detailed description of a renewed and urgent effort by Iranian scientists to move towards "weaponisation", the process of developing an explosive nuclear device. The dossier reportedly contains two main pieces of evidence to support this claim. Some of Israel's intelligence assessments echo some of the details available earlier, too. They claim that a group of Iranian scientists has been engaged in both open and secret research related to nuclear weapons for several years. This activity reportedly traces back to Iran's earlier nuclear weapons program, known as AMAD, which was shut down in 2003, likely due to concerns about a possible US attack. According to Israeli assessments, the Economist report says, the Iranian scientists continued their work under the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, or SPND, using civilian research areas such as Covid-19 vaccine development and laser technology as a cover. One of the few high-ranking officials said to be aware of this ongoing work was Major-General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran's military, who oversaw both the regular armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). However, as per the Economist report, there is also information that appears to be new in the Israeli intelligence dossiers. The documents claim that about six years ago, a group of Iranian scientists created a covert unit called the "Special Progress Group." This group reportedly operated under the direction of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the former head of Iran's AMAD nuclear weapons program. Its purpose was to lay the groundwork for a faster move toward building a nuclear weapon, in case Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, decided to pursue that path. Fakhrizadeh was assassinated by Israel in November 2020. On June 13, at the start of the current conflict, the Israeli government made public some slides that outlined this background. However, officials also shared additional intelligence with allies, suggesting that the Special Progress Group increased its activity at the end of 2024. The assessments claim that Iran had new motivation to push ahead with nuclear weapon development at that time. It was frustrated by the limited impact of its missile attacks on Israel, its air defences had been weakened by Israeli strikes in October 2024, and its proxy forces—Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—were reportedly facing collapse.
India Today
a day ago
- Health
- India Today
Video: Iranian missile strikes 1000-bed Israel hospital, patients rush to safety
Thick smoke plumed from the largest hospital in southern Israel after it was hit by a missile on Thursday morning as Iran launched fresh attack. The Soroka hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba was hit by a ballistic least 47 people have been injured across Israel as a result of Iranian missile strikes, according to a Reuters report citing rescue teams responding to multiple impact sites on from the site showed people running through corridors filled with dust and detritus and doctors standing outside amid wreckage from the building. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following this morning's ballistic missile attack by Iran, which struck a hospital in Beersheba as well as several other population centers in Central Israel. The Soroka Medical Center, targetted by Iran, is the main hospital in Israel's south and has over 1,000 beds and provides services to the approximately 1 million residents of the area.A spokesperson for the hospital reported 'damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas. We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries. We ask the public not to come to the hospital at this time.'Reacting to the fresh attack, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "This morning, Iran's terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheba and at civilians in central Israel. We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran.'advertisementApart from Soroka hospital, Iranian missiles struck other areas including a residential high-rise in Tel Aviv. A Tel Aviv hospital reported receiving 16 wounded individuals, three of whom were seriously injured.'The Iranian regime targeted Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile—hitting a major medical center. We will not stand by. We will continue doing what must be done to defend our people,' posted the official 'State of Israel' account, run by the foreign today, sirens sounded across the country and several loud blasts were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The latest round of airstrikes marks the seventh day of military actions by Israel, which has previously targeted key Iranian nuclear sites, including facilities in Natanz and Isfahan.
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Chaos Erupt As Patients, Staff Run In Panic After Iranian Missile Hit Hospital In Israel
Last Updated: Over 30 people have been injured after Soroka Medical Centre, the largest hospital in Israel's south, was hit amid a series of Iranian strikes across the country. Iran-Israel Conflict: The military conflict between Israel and Iran entered the seventh day on Thursday as both sides continued to attack targets in the two countries. An Iranian missile struck the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel early Thursday, causing significant injuries and 'extensive damage," according to an Israeli government spokesperson. Over 30 people have been injured after Soroka Medical Centre, the largest hospital in Israel's south, was hit amid a series of Iranian strikes across the country. Israeli media broadcasted visuals showing blown-out windows, thick black smoke rising from the facility as chaos ensued inside the building. Israel's deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel shared a video of the destruction inside the hospital. Iran just hit Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva with a ballistic a military base. A hospital. This is the main medical center for Israel's entire Negev region. Deliberate. Criminal. Civilian target. The world must speak out. — Sharren Haskel השכל שרן (@SharrenHaskel) June 19, 2025 In the video, the hospital staff and people can be seen running through smoke-filled corridors, while glass shards litter the floors. Debris from shattered windows, broken benches, and chairs was scattered throughout the area. 'The Iranian regime targeted Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile—hitting a major medical center. We will not stand by. We will continue doing what must be done to defend our people," posted the official 'State of Israel' account, run by the foreign ministry. Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that the main target of this morning's missile strike was a military site next to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, not the hospital itself. According to the IRNA news agency, the attack was aimed at an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) 'command and intelligence (IDF C4i) headquarters" and an army intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park. Netanyahu Vows Revenge For Hospital Attack In a strong response to Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he will retaliate the attack on civilians at Soroka Hospital and other civilians areas in country's central region. Netanyahu indicated that Tehran will have to pay the exact price. 'This morning, Iran's terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at a civilian population in the center of the country. We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran," he wrote on X in Hebrew. הבוקר, רודני הטרור של איראן שיגרו טילים לעבר בית החולים סורוקה בבאר שבע ולעבר אוכלוסייה אזרחית במרכז הארץ.נגבה את מלוא המחיר מהרודנים בטהרן. — Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 19, 2025 Iran-Israel Conflict Tensions escalated in the Middle East due to violent engagement between Iran and Israel for seventh straight day on Thursday with both the sides exchanging strikes. While Iranian missiles hit a prominent medical facility in southern Israel, reports said an area near the heavy water facility of Iran's Khondab nuclear facility was targeted by Israel. Reports said Israel had issued an evacuation warning to the residents of Arak and Khondab in central Iran. (With inputs from agencies)
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli jets hit over 40 missile targets in western Iran, army says
The Israeli army posted on X: 'This morning, Air Force fighter jets completed a wave of strikes against military targets in western Iran, under the direction of the Intelligence Branch.' 'Approximately 25 fighter jets attacked more than 40 missile infrastructures aimed at the State of Israel, missile storage sites, and military operatives of the Iranian regime,' the statement added. The Israeli statement could not be independently be verified.
