News Digest — 7/2/25
IDF Intercepts Missile From Yemen, Two From Gaza After Sirens Blare Across Israel
The Israeli Air Force intercepted three missiles launched from Yemen and Gaza on Tuesday night (1st), after sirens sent people across the country to seek shelter.
Sirens sounded in multiple areas, including most of Jerusalem, Ben Gurion Airport, Modiin, Rishon Lezion and some West Bank settlements as Yemen’s Houthis fired a single ballistic missile. No injuries or damage were reported.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted the airport.
A short time earlier, sirens also sounded in the Gaza envelope after two rockets were launched from southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said those rockets were also intercepted and likewise caused no injuries. Rocket fire from Gaza has become rare after 20 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
The Houthis, whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews” are an Iranian proxy that began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre.
The Houthis have launched more than 50 ballistic missiles and at least 13 drones at Israel – several of the missiles have fallen short.
The Houthis last fired a missile on Saturday (6/28), days after Iran and Israel reached a ceasefire in their 12-day war. After Tuesday’s (1st) missile fire, Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a warning to the Yemeni terror group.
“Yemen will be treated like Tehran. After striking the head of the snake in Tehran, we will also strike the Houthis in Yemen,” he said, adding, “Whoever raises a hand against Israel – that hand will be cut off.”
Netanyahu Announces US Trip After Operation Rising Lion Victory
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting by announcing his upcoming trip to the United States, where he is scheduled to hold high-level discussions following Israel’s recent success in Operation Rising Lion.
“I am due to leave next week for meetings in the US with US President Donald Trump,” Netanyahu said, adding that he also would meet with Vice President Vance, Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and the President’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Discussions will also be held with the US Commerce secretary, Congressional and Senate leaders, and various American security officials.
Netanyahu emphasized that several key issues remain to be finalized ahead of a prospective trade agreement, and he noted that other topics would be addressed in the meetings, though some security-related discussions would not be publicly detailed.
“These come in the wake of the great victory that we achieved in Operation Rising Lion,” he said. “Taking advantage of the success is no less an important part of achieving the success.”
The prime minister thanked the Cabinet ministers for their ongoing contributions, particularly in efforts related to national rebuilding. “You have done, and are doing, critical work to realize these achievements,” he stressed, calling for an expedited rebuilding process involving nearly all ministries.
Highlighting unity within the government, Netanyahu also acknowledged the support shown by much of the opposition during recent national challenges. “This is important and I hope that it will be preserved as a compass for the future,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Netanyahu expressed his appreciation: “Each and everyone of you has my gratitude for the exceptional cooperation and for the excellent work. Thank you very much.”
Mossad To Tehran: “We already Know Your ‘Secret’ War Commander”
Israel’s Mossad intensified its online campaign against Tehran on Tuesday (1st), seizing on a Tasnim News Agency report that the Islamic Republic would not reveal the name of the newly appointed commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, and declaring it on its Persian language X account.
“We know exactly who he is and know him well. Unfortunately, such basic information is hidden from the Iranian people. Please send us your guesses about his name.”
The Khatam al-Anbiya post–Mossad’s second major tweet of the day–came minutes after Tasnim said the regime was withholding the commander’s identity “for his protection,” following the killings of his two predecessors in Israeli strikes last month.
Earlier on Tuesday (1st), the same Mossad account asserted that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had “surrendered” and approved negotiations with both the US and Israel, calling the move “the beginning of the end of the Islamic Republic,” and proclaiming that “the countdown has begun.”
The twin messages are the latest salvoes in a Farsi-language influence campaign Mossad launched last month. Initial posts mocked senior Iranian officials for secretly following the feed, offered VPN tips, and warned ordinary Iranians not to like or share content to avoid detection by security services.
Europe Slams Israel, Then Buys Its Weapons – Opinion – Ilan Mor
Across European capitals, a familiar duality is taking shape. In official statements and international forums, EU governments harshly criticize Israel’s conduct in Gaza, invoking humanitarian concerns and calling for restraint.
Yet, within security establishments and strategic circles, these same governments quietly seek out Israel’s battle-proven expertise and defense cooperation.
This paradox is more than political optics. It reflects a deeper tension between public posturing and strategic necessity. As global threats rise and European structures face increasing strain especially along NATO’s eastern flank, many capitals have come to depend on the capabilities developed by Israel, not through theory or simulation, but through sustained operational experience.
Israel’s defense ecosystem is shaped by necessity and refined by real-time confrontation with persistent threats. This unique context produces groundbreaking technology alongside – and more importantly – a depth of institutional knowledge and operational agility that European states, many of which lack comparable combat exposure, increasingly find indispensable.
The appeal of a defense partnership with Israel lies in its demonstrated ability to adapt swiftly, integrate intelligence with operational planning, and respond decisively under pressure. These attributes resonate strongly in an era where geopolitical certainties are eroding and traditional deterrents are being tested.
Yet, despite this growing appeal, much of Europe’s defense engagement with Israel remains discreet. At defense expos, Israeli firms may be present but not prominently featured. Strategic dialogues unfold quietly. Procurement decisions are pursued with minimal publicity. It is a calculated posture: benefit from Israeli know-how, while minimizing public association amid political sensitivities.
This contradiction has sharpened in recent months. The war in Gaza has inflamed European public opinion, prompting calls for sanctions and reevaluation of bilateral ties. Still, behind the scenes, defense cooperation continues. Governments are navigating a fine line, condemning Israel in public while embracing its capabilities in private.
At its core, this is not a matter of public relations. It is a test of Europe’s strategic coherence and moral clarity. European leaders must ask themselves: is Israel a partner facing real, ongoing threats, or merely a convenient repository of military expertise? The current approach, drawing on Israel’s experience while withholding solidarity, amounts to a form of strategic opportunism.
Such a framework is unsustainable. Partnerships grounded in quiet reliance and overt political distancing are inherently unstable. If Europe acknowledges the value of Israel’s contributions, and its consistent actions suggest that it does, then that recognition must be reflected not only in policy but in rhetoric and diplomacy.
Except for a few high-profile deals, including Germany’s acquisition of the Arrow missile defense system, most transactions with Israel’s defense industry remain under the radar. This discrepancy, between private reliance and public hesitation, creates a contradiction that undermines Europe’s strategic coherence and weakens mutual trust.
Recognition must go beyond a transactional view of technology; it demands an open acknowledgment of Israel’s status as a democracy with a legitimate right to self-defense. While the European Union affirms this right, it simultaneously insists on strict compliance with international law and the laws of armed conflict. This legal framework, though vital, subjects Israel to disproportionate scrutiny [even hypocrisy] as it confronts immediate and complex security threats. Navigating these demands while safeguarding its citizens remains a constant challenge for Israel.
In an era of rapidly evolving threats, effective defense requires more than advanced technology. It calls for proven operational experience. With all due respect to political considerations, the imperative to protect civilian lives is real, and Israel has consistently demonstrated its reliability in doing so.
Amb. Huckabee Gives Thanks At The Western Wall
Ahead of US Independence Day, United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Western Wall Tuesday (1st) together with his wife Janet, for a special visit and prayer.
The ambassador began his visit with a prayer of thanksgiving together with the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, and the director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Mordechai Eilav, thanking God for the miracles granted to the people and State of Israel during Operation Rising Lion.
They then offered a special prayer for the well-being and success of the President of the United States Donald Trump, and for peace and security for the State of Israel and the United States.
Following the prayer, the ambassador held an extended private conversation with the rabbi of the Western Wall in his office. During the meeting, the rabbi expressed his gratitude for the ambassador’s warm and clear support – as well as that of President Trump – for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, especially throughout the operation.
The rabbi presented the ambassador with a personal letter of thanks and appreciation to the President of the United States and concluded by inviting him for an official visit to the Western Wall in the near future.
At the end of the visit, the ambassador toured the archaeological sites in the Western Wall Tunnels, a visit which left a deep impression on him regarding the historical and spiritual roots of the Jewish people and of Jerusalem.
“Obliterating” Iran’s Nuclear Sites Is Not Enough – Khaled Abu Toameh
The U.S. and Israel have “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear installations, but the continuing rule of Iran and its terror proxies remains a major threat to security and stability in the Middle East. Iran’s regime may have lost its nuclear sites, but it has not lost its appetite to kill Jews and wipe Israel off the map.
The Israeli and American military operations against Iran should be followed by a massive campaign to end the rule of Iran’s current regime. Would the Allied forces have left the Nazi Party as the rulers of Germany after World War II? Allowing Iran’s mullahs to stay in power means allowing their terror proxies to continue jihad (holy war) against Israel. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis have not given up their dream of destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamic terror state.
The goal of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies is to destroy Israel and the U.S. It is a goal they are evidently determined to pursue, with or without nuclear weapons. It is time for the U.S. and its Western allies to understand that there can be no genuine deals or compromises with either Sunni or Shiite jihadists. When your enemies say they want to eliminate you, you have every right to eliminate them first.
The writer, a veteran Israeli journalist, is a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. (Gatestone Institute)
The Sight Of Hundreds In England Chanting For “Death To The IDF” Crossed The Line – Hen Mazzig
This year, the Glastonbury Music Festival in southwest England offered a disturbing new performance – a chant: “Death to the IDF” – broadcast to millions by the BBC. For anyone with a mordicum of historical awareness, this wasn’t protest music. It was a chilling echo of a hatred as old as Europe itself. Some will say it’s just a slogan, just theater. But history has taught us that these words are never “just words.”
If this were simply about holding armies to account for harming innocents, where are the chants for “Death to the U.S. Army” for Iraq and Afghanistan, or “Death to the British Army” for the legacy of empires and more recent wars? No one at Glastonbury, or any British festival, would ever dream of it. The armies of these countries have killed far more civilians, yet are not reduced to symbols of existential evil in polite society. This rage, this fury is reserved only for the world’s only Jewish army.
The IDF is the fragile buffer between Jews and the abyss of history. We are not paranoid, the world has turned a blind eye to our genocide in living memory, and remind us today they would do it again. This is not an abstract fear. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists massacred hundreds at the Nova Music festival in Israel while simultaneously targeting Jewish families in their homes. The IDF was all that stood between my family and absolute annihilation planned by Hamas.
Ultimately, these protests, these chants make Israelis feel like the entire world is against them, that any concession towards peace will inevitably come at the expense of their security, because the world will never support them. The message is unmistakable: You are alone, so you must fend for yourself. And so we will. (Jewish Chronicle – UK)
