News Digest — 6/25/25
IDF Soldiers Killed By Roadside Bomb In Gaza
Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in a single incident in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced in a statement on Wednesday (25th), after an explosive device was planted on the armored personnel carrier in which they were traveling.
The IDF identified six of the fallen soldiers as Lt. Matan Shai Yashinovski, 21, from Kfar Yona; Staff Sgt. Ronel Ben-Moshe, 20, from Rehovot; Staff Sgt. Niv Radia, 20, from Elyakhin; Sgt. Ronen Shapiro, 19, from Mazkeret Batya; Sgt. Shahar Manoav, 21, from Ashkelon; and Sgy.Maayan Baruch Pearlstein, 20,from Eshbar.
The name of the seventh soldier who was killed in the incident has not yet been made public.
An initial IDF probe found that a terrorist attached an explosive device on their APC, which was either detonated remotely or triggered to explode while the soldiers were driving through Khan Younis.
The seven soldiers’ deaths on Tuesday (24th) marks the deadliest incident in the Strip in the last year.
The tragedy comes following a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran ending the conflict which broke out in mid-June.
Home Front Command Lifts All Restrictions On Civilians, Schools Open Wednesday
Schools across Israel were given the green light to reopen on Wednesday (25th) for the first time since fighting broke out with Iran, as the IDF’s Home Front Command announced on Tuesday evening (24th) that it was removing all restrictions imposed on citizens throughout the conflict.
The decision to lift all restrictions came following a fresh Home Front Command assessment, some 12 hours after the start of a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
There will be no restrictions on gatherings in most areas of the country, workplaces can open, and schools may resume, the Home Front Command said.
In some communities on the Gaza border, gatherings will remain limited to 2,000, a restriction that was in place before the conflict with Iran due to the ongoing war with Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.
Classrooms have been shuttered nationwide since the conflict began on June 13, and Iranian missile fire has hit multiple educational institutions across the country. A directive from the Home Front Command had instructed schools to stay closed, along with nonessential businesses.
In addition to approval by the Home Front Command, the Education Ministry said any decision to open school would be subject to security checks at the educational institutions themselves, Hebrew media reported on Tuesday (24th).
Local authorities must also approve the decision, and schools damaged by Iranian fire, or in areas with damage from a direct impact, wouldn’t be forced to reopen.
The ministry said in a statement that it was “prepared for any scenario.”
Although the school year is over and summer sessions have yet to begin, the Education Ministry hopes to have students return to schools to receive report cards and check in with their teachers.
Camps, daycares and other institutions that are active for the summer are expected to open July 1 as usual, and high school students are expected to be able to sit for the bagrut matriculation exams (Israel’s exams for high school graduation and entrance into college) in the coming weeks.
Netanyahu Hails Israel’s Victory Over Iran In Televised Speech
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Israel’s victory over Iran in a televised speech Tuesday night (24th), saying it was of historic proportions and would be remembered for generations.
“We destroyed Iran’s missile manufacturing industry – just minutes before the deadly missiles were set to be launched at Israel. Iran’s malicious intent to threaten Israel has been eradicated,” he said.
As the 12-day air campaign against Iran came to a close, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and took the opportunity to express his gratitude to US President Donald Trump, whom he called Israel’s “greatest friend” in the White House.
“We eliminated many senior officials and attacked Revolutionary Guard bases. We struck a decisive blow to the ayatollah regime , marking the hardest blow in history. We eliminated hundreds of regime operatives in a crushing attack.”
Netanyahu also extended his appreciation to Israel’s military and intelligence leaders, as well as the airmen, women and ground crews who achieved the strategic victory.
Additionally, he issued a stern warning to Iran’s leadership, vowing that Israel would not hesitate to strike against any attempt to resume nuclear ambitions.
The prime minister also reflected on his recent visits to cities that had been severely impacted by missile strikes, reassuring the residents: “I promised them, we will rebuild.”
Despite Israel’s overwhelming success against Iran, Netanyahu acknowledged that the threat from Hamas remains, especially with the ongoing hostage situation in Gaza.
He emphasized that Israel’s efforts to ensure the return of the hostages have not ceased and will continue relentlessly until the mission is complete. “Our heroes have not relented, and without their tremendous achievements we would not have been able to reach Tehran.”
Looking to the future, Netanyahu expressed hope that the defeat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions would pave the way for greater prosperity in the region.
Chief Of Staff : Campaign Against Iran Not Over, Focus Shifting Back To Gaza
Tuesday (24th), Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir conducted a situational assessment with members of the General Staff Forum, following the ceasefire with Iran.
Zamir stated: “We have concluded a significant phase, but the campaign against Iran is not over. We are entering a new phase based on the achievements of the current one. We’ve set Iran’s nuclear project back by years, and the same applies to its missile program.
“The IDF performed at its best – the Intelligence Directorate delivered unprecedented intelligence achievements. IAF pilots operated with courage, while putting their lives at risk, thousands of kilometers from Israeli territory and struck and destroyed military targets. The Aerial Defense Array and communication units operated with their unique operational capabilities to protect the home front. Home Front Command performed and acted with ingenuity to save lives – all coordinated under the Operations Directorate. Every command, directorate, and branch contributed to the success of the operation – whether through direct participation in the Iran operation or through robust defense in their respective arenas,” he said.
“Despite the phenomenal achievements – we must keep our feet on the ground. Many challenges still lie ahead. We must stay focused. There’s no time to rest on our laurels.”
Now the focus shifts back to Gaza – to bring the hostages home and to dismantle the Hamas regime. I am proud to have the privilege to command the organization through this period,” Zamir concluded.
The Cyrus Cylinder: Archeological Treasure That Connects Ancient Persia And The Jewish People
The Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient artifact dating back to the 5th century BCE, has long been hailed as a symbol of tolerance, religious freedom, and the intersection of cultures.
The inscribed clay cylinder, discovered in the ruins of Babylon (modern day Iraq) in 1879, is not only a key piece of Persian history but also holds significant cultural and religious importance to the Jewish people, marking a remarkable chapter in Jewish history.
The Cyrus Cylinder is often considered the first charter of human rights, inscribed with the words of King Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire.
After conquering Babylon in 539 BCE, Cyrus issued a decree that allowed displaced peoples, including the Jewish exiles, to return to their homelands and rebuild their sacred temples.
The Cylinder itself records how Cyrus allowed the people of Babylon to return to their native lands and restore their places of worship, to rebuild their temple, which had been destroyed during earlier conquests.
His decree was life-changing for the Jews. The Babylonian Exile, a traumatic and critical period in Jewish history, saw thousands of Jews deported to Babylon following the conquest of Judah by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II.
During the 70 year captivity , the Jewish people faced tremendous hardships, and their connection to their homeland seemed distant, both physically and spiritually.
The Book of Ezra provides a detailed account of Cyrus’ decree and its impact on the Jewish people. The text describes how King Cyrus issued an edict allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of Solomon, which had been destroyed in 586 BCE.
The event is seen as a moment of divine intervention, where the Persian King is portrayed as an instrument of God’s will in restoring the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland.
The phrase “Thus says Cyrus King of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah” in the Book of Ezra depicts a connection between the Jewish people and Cyrus, suggesting that the Persian king’s actions were guided by Divine Authority.
This passage, paralleled by the words on the Cyrus Cylinder, offers a profound link between ancient Persia and the Jewish people, demonstrating the king’s role in their return to Jerusalem.
The Cyrus Cylinder’s significance extends beyond the Jewish connection. It is often seen as an example of the Persian King’s enlightened governance, who is praised for his respect for local cultures and religious practices.
The Cylinder emphasizes the king’s policy of allowing various peoples within his empire to maintain their religious beliefs and cultural traditions. By allowing the Jewish people to return to their land and restore their temple, Cyrus acted as a model of tolerance and coexistence that resonated across civilizations.
The United Nations has referred to the Cyrus Cylinder as a foundational document for human rights illustrating its enduring impact on global nations of justice and freedom today. The Cyrus Cylinder is housed in the British Museum.
For the Jewish people, the Cyrus Cylinder is a tangible link to a time of hope and renewal in their history. It marks a pivotal moment when the fate of the Jewish people was irrevocably changed by divine intervention of a foreign ruler.
In Jewish reflection, the Cyrus Cylinder remains a symbol of the potential for cooperation and respect between cultures, even in the face of hardship.
The Nuclear Threat That Loomed Over Israel Has Been Eliminated – Amit Segal (X)
• History will remember these 12 days as one of the greatest diplomatic and military achievements in Israel’s history.
• The murder on Tuesday (24th) of four civilians in Beersheba leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, just as the murder of 25 other peaceful civilians who paid with their lives, and the thousands left homeless or severely affected, does.
• But in terms of results, the nuclear threat that loomed over Israel – one that would have certainly led to the Jewish state’s destruction – has been eliminated.
• A regime willing to target civilians with conventional explosives would have done so without hesitation using a nuclear missile. And it was accomplished without a single aircraft being downed, with all our planes returning safely to base – contrary to all forecasts.
• The number of casualties on the home front was 97% lower than initial estimates, thanks to the practical dismantling of the ballistic missile system, which will take years to rebuild.
• Those who experience a miracle don’t always recognize it as such, especially not in the hours when survivors are still being searched for under the rubble. But with time, the historical significance of what happened here will become clear. And so will the fact that Israel stood firm on the Begin Doctrine: never to allow any hostile country to acquire nuclear weapons.
The writer is the political commentator of Israel’s Channel 12 News.
(x.com)
Iran’s Feeble Retaliation Shows How Damaged The Khamenei Regime Is – Editorial
Iran fired 14 ballistic missiles at US troops in Qatar on Monday (23rd) and in typical fashion claimed to have “destroyed the American air base” in retaliation for US strikes on three nuclear sites. Here on Planet Earth, the base was already substantially evacuated and the missiles were intercepted with no casualties reported. All sides said Iran gave advance notice that the attacks were coming.
This was a Persian-Kabuki-theater, and it would be laughable if real missiles weren’t aimed at Americans. It’s also no small matter to fire on Qatar, the friendliest state to Iran in the region, or at US Central Command’s regional headquarters.
For all the predictions that a strike on Iran would almost certainly result in thousands of American deaths and set off World War III, Iran strongly signaled it doesn’t want the fight. Israel has aggressively targeted Iran’s missile launchers, and Iranian salvos shrink each day.
Iran appears to have lost its nuclear enrichment and weaponization facilities, its leading military commanders and nuclear scientists, and much of its missile production and launch capacity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that Israel won’t return to a status quo in which Iran or its proxy militias endanger its existence. Israel is signaling it is prepared to strike again if Iran insists on rebuilding its missile and nuclear capabilities. (Wall Street Journal)
(wsj.com)
