Thousands of Israelis demonstrate for new hostage deal
Thousands of Israelis staged renewed protests across the country on Saturday in favour of a new deal with Hamas for the release of hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli media, several thousand people attended a number of rallies in just the coastal city of Tel Aviv.
Some protests were explicitly directed against the right-wing government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The organizers of one rally spoke of tens of thousands of participants.
Iair Horn, who was released from captivity in Gaza in mid-February, criticized the renewed military operations in the coastal territory in a speech.
The fighting endangered all hostages, Horn said: "I was there, I heard tanks pass overhead, I walked through tunnels during the bombardments."
He also demanded the release of all persons still being held by Hamas, including his younger brother.
Footage from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum showed several former captives in the crowd at the protest in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square.
There were also demonstrations in other places in the country, including Haifa and Jerusalem, in favour of a Gaza agreement with Hamas.
According to media reports, more than 100,000 people gathered throughout Israel last Saturday for demonstrations, some of which were critical of the government.
Further large protests took place over the course of the week, particularly in Jerusalem.
Israel's leadership is currently pushing ahead with another controversial reorganization of the country's judiciary, angering many Israelis in the process.
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Newsweek
41 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Israel Says Goal Is Not Iran Regime Change as Trump Vetoes Ayatollah Strike
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said in an interview with CNN on Sunday said that his country's goal is not regime change even as Israel's forces expand their strikes in Iran. The admission follows the revelation that President Donald Trump had vetoed Israel's plan to target Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Reuters. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of State for comment outside of normal business hours through submission form. Why It Matters Israel struck Iran with a wave of airstrikes overnight on Thursday U.S. time, which it described as a "preemptive" offensive based on "high-quality intelligence" that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. The strikes hit a variety of Iranian targets, including military personnel and nuclear scientists, in what Israeli leadership has called "Operation Rising Lion." Israel's strikes have killed at least 406 people in Iran and wounded another 654, according to a human rights group that has long tracked the country, Washington-based Human Rights Activists. Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures. Israel has said 14 people have been killed since Friday and 390 have been wounded, the Associated Press reported. Khamenei condemned the attacks and promised to retaliate, saying Israel had "sealed for itself a bitter and painful destiny." Iran's military vowed a "crushing response," according to the state-run IRNA news agency, and fired salvos of missiles and drones at sites and cities across Israel. Iranian officials have always denied seeking a nuclear weapon. The United States and Iran have held five rounds of negotiations regarding the country's nuclear program, with a sixth round scheduled for Sunday that ultimately did not happen as Israel and Iran each continue to carry out attacks on each other. Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on June 15. Inset: Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei during the Friday prayer... Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on June 15. Inset: Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei during the Friday prayer ceremony on October 4, 2024, in Tehran, Iran. More Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images // Iranian Leader's Press Office - Handout/Getty Images What To Know Speaking with CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga, Sa'ar insisted that his country's goal is not to force regime change in Iran, saying, "The security Cabinet had decided on the objectives," and that regime change "was not one of the objectives." "This is for the Iranian people to decide," Sa'ar said. "We, Israel, don't see the Iranian people as our enemies. We had great relations with Iran until 1979 until the Islamic Revolution, when a very fanatic and barbaric regime came to power. And these are the people that chant 'Death to America,' 'Death to Israel.' And they put as an objective to eliminate the State of Israel." "It's not for us to decide: That's for the Iranian people to act or to do what they want to do," Sa'ar added. "We took as an objective the nuclear program, the ballistic missiles program, the elimination program. It's all things we must stop and create the conditions for moves afterwards that also will able to achieve these objectives." When asked about what kind of advanced notice the U.S. had about the attack, Sa'ar said Israel had informed the Trump administration that "we are going to act," which occurred after the U.S. and Iran had an opportunity to reach a diplomatic solution. He accused Iran of wanting to just "waste time and continue" pushing forward their nuclear plans "even during negotiations." "Iran is in a situation of non-compliance. They breach everything they were committed to," Sa'ar said, noting that Iran's foreign minister had cancelled his interview with CNN, which would have immediately followed Sa'ar's own. "After all other options are gone, we must take care of our security and of our existence. Of course, we informed the US as friends and allies that we are going to operate," he said. Meanwhile, Trump wrote in a Saturday social media post that the U.S. "had not nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight." Iran has said it believes the U.S. is involved. Israeli officials have reportedly asked the Trump administration to join in on efforts to attack Iran, with Iran's nuclear program having long been a focal point of U.S. and Israeli concern. Trump talked to ABC News' Rachel Scott on Sunday about the matter, saying, "We're not involved in it. It's possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved." Trump Rejected Israeli Plan to Kill Khamenei Reports on Sunday from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters revealed that Israel had attempted to execute a plan to take out Khamenei, but that Trump put a stop to it. Both outlets cited unnamed senior U.S. administration officials. One of the sources told Reuters: "Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership," underscoring the U.S. desire to keep distance from the conflict. An unnamed U.S. official on Sunday told CNN that Trump did indeed reject the plan to assassinate Khamenei. Israel had the chance to kill Khamenei, but Trump opposed the plan, which prevented Israel from pursuing the opportunity. A second source told the outlet that Trump's opposition comes from a desire to avoid another protracted and involved war in the Middle East. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview on Sunday with Fox News said: "There's so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I'm not going to get into that." He added: "But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we'll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States." Photo taken after an explosion in downtown Tehran amid Israel's two-day campaign of strikes against Iran on June 15. Photo taken after an explosion in downtown Tehran amid Israel's two-day campaign of strikes against Iran on June 15. Khoshiran/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP! Also, during my first term, Serbia and Kosovo were going at it hot and heavy, as they have for many decades, and this long time conflict was ready to break out into WAR. I stopped it (Biden has hurt the longer term prospects with some very stupid decisions, but I will fix it, again!). Another case is Egypt and Ethiopia, and their fight over a massive dam that is having an effect on the magnificent Nile River. There is peace, at least for now, because of my intervention, and it will stay that way! Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that's OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address on Friday: "More is on the [Tehran] regime doesn't know what hit them. They don't know [what] will hit them." What Happens Next? Israel and Iran have shown no indication of decreasing their exchange of missiles, with more to follow as the U.S. seeks de-escalation and an end to the current conflict. This article included reporting by The Associated Press.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
‘Never again' must also mean ‘Not in my name'
At this moment, the world is witnessing the mass killing and starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Western governments, especially in Europe and North America, continue to provide military, political, and economic support to the Israeli government responsible for this devastation. While some rhetoric has recently shifted — with growing condemnation of Israel's conduct — material support, including arms shipments and intelligence sharing, persists. To Jews around the world, this should be profoundly alarming. The phrase 'never again' emerged from the ashes of the Holocaust, a moral declaration rooted in Jewish suffering. Today, that phrase risks losing its universal meaning. When governments tolerate ethnic cleansing, rationalize the killing of children, and remain silent in the face of state-sanctioned cruelty — all while claiming to uphold Jewish safety — it not only endangers Palestinians but also erodes the moral credibility of those invoking that principle. Western support for Israel's current leadership may be softening in tone, but not in substance. Despite growing public criticism, there are still no arms embargoes, financial sanctions, or diplomatic consequences imposed on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. This inaction stems from unresolved historical guilt, political calculations, and fear of accusations of antisemitism. But verbal disapproval without accountability amounts to complicity. If I were Jewish, I would be deeply disturbed. If this horror is justified once, what's to stop it from happening again? And who might be the next victims? Many of us believed the 21st century would be defined by shared humanity and the hard lessons of history. Yet Netanyahu and his extremist allies have taken the region in the opposite direction. Over two decades, he has tried to dismantle any realistic path to a two-state solution, empowered Hamas by weakening Palestinian moderates, and misled not only his own citizens but also the international community. These were not policy missteps. They were deliberate decisions to consolidate personal power at the expense of peace. If Israelis are serious about defeating Hamas, they must also confront those who empowered it — Netanyahu chief among them. His divide-and-rule strategy fragmented Palestinians, allowing Israel to claim there was 'no partner for peace.' That cynicism only deepened the crisis. In 2016, I wrote about how Israel could contribute to Saudi Vision 2030. I envisioned a future of integration and cooperation. But such integration must be rooted in justice. A viable Palestinian state is not an obstacle to peace — it is its foundation. Just days ago, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met in Amman with his Jordanian, Egyptian, Bahraini, and Palestinian counterparts to coordinate efforts to end the war and revive a two-state solution. Israel refused to allow that meeting to take place in Ramallah — a decision that reflects the current Israeli government's contempt for diplomacy. Netanyahu, Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have adopted a zero-sum strategy that endangers both regional stability and Israel's own long-term security. Saudi Arabia and its Arab partners remain firmly committed to a just and lasting peace. Today, 147 countries recognize the State of Palestine. Last year, Norway, Spain, and Ireland joined them. France and others may soon follow. These efforts seek to end the cycle of violence and build peace on two essential pillars: Palestinian statehood and Israeli security. Netanyahu argues that a two-state solution would threaten Israel. The opposite is true. It is the only credible path to peace — precisely why it is opposed by both Netanyahu and Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei. These two strange bedfellows are united in their desire to kill the two-state dream. In fact, one of Netanyahu's major goals has been to rebrand the two-state solution as the 'two-state delusion' — a slogan designed to undermine both hope and diplomacy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has expressed a bold vision: 'I don't want to leave this world before seeing the Middle East transformed into a leading global region — into the new Europe.' That cannot happen without a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If Saudi Arabia normalizes ties with Israel, more than 50 Muslim-majority countries could follow. The resulting trade, diplomacy, and development could be historic. But that vision must include dignity, statehood, and justice for Palestinians. Jewish communities in the West should be disturbed if their governments support Netanyahu's regime. Instead, let us unite two essential principles: 'Never again' and 'Not in my name.' Together, they reject genocide and collective punishment while affirming justice and humanity. The world is waking up. Consciences are stirring. It's not too late to stand on the right side of history. Salman Al-Ansari is an writer and researcher based in Saudi Arabia.
an hour ago
Israel-Iran live updates: Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, per US officials
The Israeli Police said Sunday there had been "multiple confirmed fatalities." 4:24 Aerial attacks between Israel and Iran continued overnight into Sunday, marking a third day of strikes following Israel's Friday attack. That surprise strike hit the heart of the Iran's nuclear program, killing several nuclear scientists as well as high-ranking military leaders, according to Israeli officials. The U.S. did not provide any military assistance or have any involvement in Israel's Friday strike, a U.S. official told ABC News. 60 Updates Jun 13, 2025, 1:06 PM EDT Delta cancels all flights from New York-JFK to Tel Aviv through August Delta Air lines has paused flights to Tel Aviv from New York-JFK through August 31 in response to the ongoing conflict in the region. "Customers impacted by flight cancellations will receive notifications via the Fly Delta app and contact information listed in their reservation as these cancellations are processed in Delta's system and may contact Delta or their travel agent for rebooking options," Delta airlines said in a statement. A travel waiver has been issued for all customers to and from Tel Aviv through Aug. 31. -ABC News' Sam Sweeney Jun 13, 2025, 12:45 PM EDT Israeli attacks in Iran are ongoing Israeli forces' attacks on Iran are ongoing, according to the Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. "We are continuing with full force and at a high pace in order to meet the goals we have set for ourselves," Zamir said in a statement Friday evening local time. "We are continuing with the two main efforts we set for ourselves – the defensive effort and the offensive effort," Zamir said. "I remind everyone that we are facing a dangerous and complex enemy, and we must maintain a very high level of readiness." -ABC News' Jordana Miller Israel preparing for more possible Iranian retaliation, Netanyahu says The Israeli attack "created a state of chaos in Iran," but Israel needs to assume "there will be an attack against us," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement Friday evening local time. "It could be an attack in very severe waves," Netanyahu said, in a statement made in Hebrew. Israel is preparing for more potential Iranian retaliation, he said. "Citizens of Israel, you need to understand, do not be euphoric," Netanyahu said. "We informed the Americans in advance. They knew about the attack. What the U.S. will do now I leave to the president. Trump makes decisions independently," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu said he targeted Iran's nuclear facilities because "if Iran has nuclear weapons, we won't be able to be here, so that's the first target." Netanyahu said he gave his military the directive to attack Iran after former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Lebanon in September 2024. Netanyahu originally set the date of the attack for the end of April, but said it was "postponed" for "various reasons." Netanyahu said he wanted to attack Iran twice before but was unable to get a political majority to support the attack. -ABC News' Jordana Miller Jun 13, 2025, 12:17 PM EDT State Dept. warns of missiles, drones or rockets over Iraqi airspace The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is warning Americans of potential missiles, drones or rockets flying over Iraqi airspace, instructing them to "maintain maximum awareness" and seek cover in the event of an incident. This alert is similar to another the State Department pushed out earlier this morning warning embassy personnel to shelter in place, which has since been canceled. The department has also reissued an alert telling Americans not to travel to Iran, but Iran has long been a level 4 country -- meaning Americans should not travel there under any circumstances and the State Department has repeatedly stressed this well in advance of last night's strikes.
