Iran confirms 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin prison; top prosecutor among the dead
Iran's judiciary has confirmed that at least 71 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tehran's Evin prison last week, a notorious facility long criticised for its treatment of political prisoners and foreign detainees.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The death toll was revealed seven days after the June 23 attack, amid growing scrutiny over Israel's bombing campaign during the 12-day war with Iran.
The judiciary spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, said the victims included prison guards, staff, inmates, visiting family members and civilians living near the site. The strike reportedly destroyed several sections of the prison complex, including the administrative wing, the medical centre and visitor areas.
Images released by the judiciary showed collapsed ceilings, shattered walls and debris-strewn halls inside the facility.
While Israel has not directly acknowledged responsibility for the Evin prison attack, it had confirmed conducting multiple airstrikes on military targets in Tehran. The strike triggered international alarm, with human rights groups and families of prisoners expressing fears for the safety of those inside.
Noemie Kohler, the sister of French detainee Cecile Kohler held in Evin, called the attack 'completely irresponsible,' adding, 'We don't know if they are still alive — we're panicking.
'
Evin, located in northern Tehran, is operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and houses many political dissidents and dual nationals. Among its detainees are French citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, held since 2022 on espionage charges their families deny.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Iranian authorities have since transferred an unspecified number of inmates from the facility.
The judiciary also confirmed the death of top prosecutor Ali Ghanaatkar, known for his role in jailing dissidents including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. He is set to be buried at a shrine in Qom.
The prison strike came as part of Israel's broader campaign aimed at crippling Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, launched on June 13. Over the 12-day conflict, more than 1,000 people were killed in Iran, including at least 417 civilians. Iran responded by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, intensifying fears of regional escalation before a ceasefire was reached on Tuesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Trump urges Israel and Hamas to reach accord in Gaza conflict
Trump has urged Israel and Hamas to put an end to the conflict in Gaza on several occasions. An eight-week truce was established earlier this year, shortly before Trump took office, but since then, efforts to move the parties towards a new deal have not succeeded. read more People take part in a protest demanding the end of the war and immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, Israel. AP As Israel and Hamas seemed to be getting closer to an accord, US President Donald Trump appealed on Sunday for progress in ceasefire negotiations in the battle in Gaza, demanding a settlement that would put an end to the fighting in the 20-month-long conflict. According to an Israeli official, Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was scheduled to visit Washington this week for ceasefire negotiations. According to the official, preparations are also underway for Netanyahu to visit Washington in the upcoming weeks, which might indicate that a new agreement is being worked up. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss arrangements that were still in the planning stages and declined to reveal the visit's topic. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!' Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social early Sunday between posts about a Senate vote on his tax and spending cuts bill. Trump raised expectations Friday for a deal, saying there could be a ceasefire agreement within the next week. Taking questions from reporters, he said, 'We're working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of.' Trump has urged Israel and Hamas to put an end to the conflict in Gaza on several occasions. An eight-week truce was established earlier this year, shortly before Trump took office, but since then, efforts to move the parties towards a new deal have not succeeded. Trump post slams Netanyahu corruption trial The Gaza message wasn't the only Middle East-related post by Trump. On Saturday evening, he doubled down on his criticism of the legal proceedings against Netanyahu, who is on trial for alleged corruption, calling it 'a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure.' In the post on Truth Social, he said the trial interfered with talks on a Gaza ceasefire. '(Netanyahu) is right now in the process of negotiating a Deal with Hamas, which will include getting the Hostages back. How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to sit in a Courtroom all day long, over NOTHING,' Trump wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The post echoed similar remarks Trump made last week when he called for the trial to be cancelled. It was a dramatic interference by an international ally in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state. And it unnerved many in Israel, despite Trump's popularity in the country. The trial has repeatedly been postponed at the request of Netanyahu, citing security and diplomatic developments. On Sunday, the court agreed to call off two more days of testimony by Netanyahu scheduled this week. A sticking point over how the war ends Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over one major sticking point, whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi accused Netanyahu of stalling progress on a deal, saying in remarks on the Telegram messaging app that the Israeli leader insists on a temporary agreement that would free just 10 of the hostages. Netanyahu spokesperson Omer Dostri said 'Hamas was the only obstacle to ending the war,' without addressing Merdawi's claim. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hamas says it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war. Israel rejects that offer, saying it will agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something the group refuses. The war in Gaza began with Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas in which militants killed 1,200 people and took roughly 250 hostage, about 50 of whom remain captive with less than half believed to be alive. Gaza's Health Ministry on Sunday said an additional 88 people were killed by Israeli fire over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 56,500 in over 20 months of fighting. The ministry, part of the Hamas government, does not distinguish between militants and civilians in their count but says more than half of the dead are women and children. The war has set off a humanitarian catastrophe, displaced most of Gaza's population, often multiple times, and obliterated much of the territory's urban landscape. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli military orders new evacuations in northern Gaza The Israeli military on Sunday ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians in large swaths of northern Gaza, an early target of the war that has been severely damaged by multiple rounds of fighting. Col. Avichay Adraee, a military spokesperson, posted the order on social media. It includes multiple neighbourhoods in eastern and northern Gaza City, as well as the Jabaliya refugee camp. The military will expand its escalating attacks to the city's northern section, calling for people to move southward to the Muwasi area in southern Gaza, Adraee said. After being all but emptied earlier in the war, hundreds of thousands of people are in northern Gaza following their return during a ceasefire earlier this year. An Israeli military offensive currently underway aims to move Palestinians to southern Gaza so forces can more freely operate to combat militants. Rights groups say their movement would amount to forcible displacement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Israeli court postpones Netanyahu appearance in graft trial
An Israeli court on Sunday (June 29, 2025) postponed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's testimony in his corruption trial after he requested a delay with the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, in a ruling published by the premier's party. "Following the explanations given... we partially accept the request and cancel at this stage Mr. Netanyahu's hearings scheduled" for this week, the Jerusalem district court said in its ruling, published online by the Likud party. Mr. Netanyahu's lawyers had asked the court to excuse him from testifying over the next two weeks so he could focus on security issues following a ceasefire with Iran and amid ongoing fighting in Gaza where Israeli hostages are held. Also Read | Court rejects Netanyahu's call to postpone graft trial hearings They had submitted Mr. Netanyahu's schedule to the court to demonstrate "the national need for the Prime Minister to devote all his time and energy to the political, national and security issues at hand". The court initially rejected the lawyers' request but said in its ruling on Sunday that it had changed its judgement after hearing arguments from the prime minister, the head of military intelligence and the chief of the Mossad spy agency. Mr. Trump on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) described the case against Mr. Netanyahu as a "witch hunt", saying the trial "should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero". He added in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday (June 28, 2025) that the United States was "not going to stand" for the continued prosecution, prompting Netanyahu to thank him in a message on X. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Thursday (June 26, 2025) criticised Mr. Trump, saying he "should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country". Mr. Netanyahu has thanked Mr. Trump for his support in Israel's brief war against Iran, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24. Mr. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and his supporters have described the long-running trial as politically motivated. In a first case, he and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours. In two other cases, Mr. Netanyahu is accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage from two Israeli media outlets. During his current term, which started in late 2022, Mr. Netanyahu's government has proposed a series of far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say were designed to weaken the courts. Mr. Netanyahu has requested multiple postponements in the trial since it began in May 2020.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Israeli court postpones Netanyahu appearance in graft trial
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel An Israeli court on Sunday postponed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's testimony in his corruption trial after he requested a delay with the suppport of US President Donald Trump, in a ruling published by the premier's party."Following the explanations given... we partially accept the request and cancel at this stage Mr Netanyahu's hearings scheduled" for this week, the Jerusalem district court said in its ruling, published online by the Likud lawyers had asked the court to excuse him from testifying over the next two weeks so he could focus on security issues following a ceasefire with Iran and amid ongoing fighting in Gaza where Israeli hostages are had submitted Netanyahu's schedule to the court to demonstrate "the national need for the prime minister to devote all his time and energy to the political, national and security issues at hand".The court initially rejected the lawyers' request but said in its ruling on Sunday that it had changed its judgement after hearing arguments from the prime minister, the head of military intelligence and the chief of the Mossad spy on Wednesday described the case against Netanyahu as a "witch hunt", saying the trial "should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero".He added in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that the United States was "not going to stand" for the continued prosecution, prompting Netanyahu to thank him in a message on opposition leader Yair Lapid on Thursday criticised Trump, saying he "should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country".Netanyahu has thanked Trump for his support in Israel's brief war against Iran, which ended with a ceasefire on June has denied any wrongdoing and his supporters have described the long-running trial as politically a first case, he and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political two other cases, Netanyahu is accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage from two Israeli media his current term, which started in late 2022, Netanyahu's government has proposed a series of far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say were designed to weaken the has requested multiple postponements in the trial since it began in May 2020.
