As the conflict between Israel and Iran entered its seventh day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a series of bold and uncompromising remarks during a visit to Soroka Hospital on Thursday, praising U.S. President Donald Trump and warning of further military escalation.
Netanyahu acknowledged U.S. involvement in defending Israel amid the ongoing war but stressed that whether the U.S. formally joins the conflict remains a decision for President Trump. “He will do what is good for America, and I will do what’s good for Israel,” Netanyahu said, adding, “President Trump knows the game.”
The Israeli leader thanked the United States for its support so far, stating that Israel values American assistance but is prepared to complete its military objectives independently if necessary. “At the end of this operation, there will be no nuclear threat on Israel, and there won’t be a ballistic threat,” Netanyahu declared. “We are committed to destroying the nuclear threat, the threat of nuclear annihilation against Israel.”
In a striking personal note, the Prime Minister revealed that his family, like many others, has been directly impacted by the war. “We are all paying a personal price. That hasn’t missed my family either — my son canceled a wedding,” he shared.
Netanyahu also refused to rule out direct strikes against Iran’s top leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “No one is immune,” he said when asked about a potential assassination. “All the options are open. It’s best not to speak about this in the press.”
The current round of fighting was sparked by a wave of Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last week, which Israel claims were aimed at crippling Tehran’s weapons development capability. Iran responded with retaliatory missile attacks, escalating into a broader conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives on both sides.
