Israel Society

By Sveta Listratov • June 11, 2025

Jerusalem, 11 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday defiantly dismissed sanctions placed on him the previous day by Britain and other Western countries.

“What am I going to do now with all my assets in Britain and bank accounts in New Zealand?” Smotrich said, speaking in the Knesset plenum. “Thank God, I have no assets either in Israel or abroad. I have no interest in visiting these antisemitic countries anyway, so these sanctions don’t concern me.”

Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand  sanctioned Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday over what British Foreign Minister described as “monstrous” rhetoric and policies regarding Gaza, and accusing them of inciting Jewish violence against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. The measures include a travel ban and a freezing of any assets they have in those countries.

“These are not personal sanctions — they’re an attempt to pressure Israel to stop the war, to surrender, to commit suicide by allowing a terror state to rise beside us. We will not allow that. We stand as a fortified wall against this,” Smotrich insisted.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the sanctions “scandalous,” and said Israel would consider an official response next week.

Knesset Deputy Speaker Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit) announced she would reintroduce legislation to block Israeli banks from enforcing foreign sanctions against Israeli citizens who have not broken domestic law.

Smotrich also used the moment to say he would end a waiver allowing Israeli banks to process shekel transfers with Palestinian banks. The waiver allows Israeli banks to process shekel payments for services and salaries associated with the Palestinian Authority without running afoul of laws against terror-funding and money laundering. The banks process PA stipends for imprisoned Palestinian terrorists and their families.

By Pesach Benson • June 11, 2025

Jerusalem, 11 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A renewed push to restore a permanent Israeli military presence at Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem (Nablus) is gaining momentum, with the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee due to discuss the issue on Thursday. The session, initiated by MK Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism), comes amid a counterterror operation in the Palestinian city.

“Restoring the Jewish presence at Joseph’s Tomb is necessary from a security, political and historical perspective,” Sukkot said. “We will work in every way to achieve the goal.”

The committee meeting will focus on whether the Israel Defense Forces should permanently return to the tomb, a highly sensitive site in the heart of Shechem.

The tomb is the burial site of Joseph, the son of the Biblical Patriarch Jacob.

Such a move, however, could potentially trigger an international backlash.

Shechem is located in Area A under the administrative and security jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. However, the Oslo Accords, allowed Israeli forces to remain at the holy site. In 2000, Israel abandoned the grave after a Palestinian mob stormed the compound. A Border Policeman who was shot bled to death when security forces were unable to rescue him. Rioters burnt down the site again in 2015. The tomb has been desecrated and refurbished several times, most recently in 2022.

Since then, Jewish access to the grave is only allowed in coordination with the military and under heavy guard. Once a month, Jews are allowed to visit the holy site to pray under heavy army escort. The visits always take place at night for security reasons.

The latest developments come as the Israel Defense Forces are in the middle of a counterterror operation in Shechem. On Tuesday, a raid in the city’s casbah resulted in the arrest of at least six wanted terror suspects and the search of 250 buildings.

During that operation, four Israeli soldiers were injured in a confrontation with two Palestinians who attempted to grab a soldier’s weapon. During the struggle, the gun discharged injuring one soldier moderately and three others lightly. Troops shot and killed the two Palestinians.

According to the IDF, of the more than 6,000 wanted Palestinian terror suspects arrested in Judea and Samaria since October 7, 2023, more than 40% are affiliated with Hamas.

By Sveta Listratov • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — More than half of the 60,000 residents of northern Israel who were evacuated under the threat of Hezbollah rocket fire are unlikely to return to their communities because the government has failed to provide effective support, said a report released by the State Comptroller’s Office on Tuesday. In response, evacuees told The Press Service of Israel that the government has “left us behind.”

The report, written by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman said “Fifty-four percent of northern evacuees said there’s a high likelihood they won’t return to their homes,” compared to just 13% of evacuees from southern Israel.

The State Comptroller, also known as the State Ombudsman, periodically releases reports auditing Israeli preparedness and the effectiveness of government policies.

According to Tuesday’s report, over 60,000 residents from 40 localities near the Lebanese border were evacuated under Israel Defense Forces’ directives in October 2023 amid daily Hezbollah rocket attacks. Though the government eventually allocated NIS 940 million ($268 million) in May 2024 for immediate recovery, only 65% of the funds had been used by July. In August, instead of disbursing the rest of the money, the government cut back the fund by 14%.

“The impact of the northern front on hundreds of thousands of residents is unprecedented in scale, intensity, and duration,” said Englman. “The government failed to deliver the necessary response… The evacuees deserved better.”

Bureaucratic confusion further hampered the response, with responsibility shifting from the Interior Ministry to the Finance Ministry, then to the Prime Minister’s Office. Despite government orders to act within three months, key steps remained unfulfilled after four.

“The government has abandoned the Galilee without a fight. It promised grand plans, replaced them again and again, but in practice, almost nothing has been implemented,” Assaf Langleben, head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council and resident of Kibbutz Kfar Szold, said. “The army is working around the clock to protect us, but the government left us behind.”

He called on the government to transfer full authority and funding to local councils. “As long as decisions are made in Jerusalem, far from our reality, nothing will change. Right now we’re relying on philanthropy from Israel and abroad. That’s not how you rebuild the north,” Langleben insisted.

For residents, the reality is uncertain.

Ilana, a longtime resident of Metula who recently returned to her home, told TPS-IL, “It was a very difficult time. We’re happy to be back, but there’s still a lot of work — repairs, cleanup, emotional recovery,” she said. “We were lucky. Our house wasn’t badly damaged. But in the neighborhoods closer to the border, entire areas are wiped out. It’ll take a long time to rebuild. A few families have returned, and you can see renovation work here and there — slowly, but it’s starting.”

In Kiryat Shmona, the largest northern city evacuated, Tzipi, a long-time resident, described a ghost town.

“Almost nothing has reopened yet. People are trickling back, but most businesses are still closed. They’re waiting for their government compensation to run out in July before deciding if it’s worth it to come back,” she told TPS-IL. “One small mall is open, but the main shopping center is still shut. Restaurants, stores — it’s all shut down. You need a car to go out for lunch in nearby towns. The streets are a mess, no repairs. Where is the municipality? Where is the plan?”

Moshe Davidovich, head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council and chair of the Northern Confrontation Line Forum demanded government implementation of a separate NIS 15 billion recovery plan approved by the government in December 2024. “Days of grace are long gone,” he said.

Despite six months having passed since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect, only 65% of evacuees have returned. Local officials warn that without decisive national action, the north may never recover.

“The failures are clear in every citizen’s eyes,” said Langleben. “But if the government truly wants it, rebuilding the Galilee is still possible.”

After the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, Hezbollah began firing rockets and launching drones at northern Israel communities daily. Leaders of the Iran-backed terror group repeatedly vowed they would continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes.

By Pesach Benson • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Argentine President Javier Milei met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem on Tuesday, kicking off a three-day visit heavy with symbolism.

Upon his arrival in Israel Monday evening, Milei immediately visited Jerusalem’s Western Wall, where he offered prayers for hostages. “My support for Israel comes from the heart, because I believe this is a just cause—the cause of the West. I will always stand by your side,” Milei said at the holy site.

Milei is scheduled to receive the Genesis Prize at the Knesset on Wednesday evening, where he will also address Israeli lawmakers. On Thursday, he will deliver a lecture at Hebrew University before returning to Argentina. During his stay, Milei plans to visit the families of hostages, formally announce the establishment of a new direct flight route between Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires and is expected to reiterate his pledge to relocate Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem.

Herzog praised the strengthening bilateral relationship during their meeting, telling Milei, “The relations between Argentina and Israel have deep historical roots, a key point of which was the establishment of the Argentine embassy in Israel – the first among Latin American countries. During your presidency, my friend President Milei, relations have reached a new high, and will rise even higher.”

The Israeli president highlighted Argentina’s role in combating antisemitism and terrorism, noting a new memorandum of understanding between the countries focused on “the defense of freedom and democracy, and the fight against terrorism and anti-Semitism.”

Herzog also expressed confidence that when Argentina assumes the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance next year, replacing Israel, Milei will “bring your firm agenda on the issue to the fore.” IHRA an intergovernmental organization based in Berlin that seeks to strengthen Holocaust education, is best known for formulating a widely adopted definition of antisemitism.

Herzog also commended Milei’s advocacy for hostages held by Hamas, stating, “We will always remember your calls and your resolute actions for the immediate return of all the kidnapped, including those who hold Argentine citizenship.” He called upon the international community to maintain pressure for their release, declaring, “I call here and now on the entire leadership of the free world – to stand in a united and determined front and to unequivocally declare that no political move will be made until the hostages are released.”

The discussion also addressed regional security concerns, with Herzog describing Iran as “the evil Iranian octopus” that “is growing stronger and sending out tentacles of hatred and terror throughout the world.” He emphasized the shared threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “Israel cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran. Our allies cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran. The entire world cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran.”

Argentina’s Ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish has been promoting what he calls the “Isaac Accords,” a partnership between Israel and Latin American democracies — particularly Costa Rica, Panama, and Uruguay. The initiative is modeled after the 2020 Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and subsequently Sudan brokered by Donald Trump’s first presidential administration.

By Pesach Benson • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli and Chines scientists have developed a groundbreaking genetic editing method that has successfully modified complex traits in tomato plants such as size, shape, flavor, nutrient use and resistance to disease.

taste, nutrient usage, and resistance to heat and drought, Tel Aviv University announced on Tuesday.

The method, which uses a refined form of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, allows for the simultaneous editing of multiple genes, a long-standing challenge in agricultural science due to the complex and redundant nature of plant genomes. In a study recently published in the peer-reviewed Nature Communications journal, the researchers demonstrated the ability to influence key characteristics in tomatoes, such as taste, shape, and nutrient utilization.

“Genetic editing in crop plants is a complex process. Our method overcomes major challenges and may be used to study and influence a variety of traits, such as resistance to diseases and drought, in different field crops,” the researchers said.

The project was led by Professors Eilon Shani and Itay Mayrose, along with PhD student Amichai Berman from Tel Aviv University’s School of Plant Sciences and Food Security. They collaborated with Ning Su and Dr. Yuqin Zhang from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, and Dr. Osnat Yanai of Israeli agri-tech company NetaGenomiX.

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. It is a powerful tool that enables scientists to edit genes precisely and efficiently. It works like molecular scissors: a specialized protein (often Cas9) is guided by a small piece of RNA to a specific location in the DNA. Once it finds its target, it makes a cut, allowing researchers to remove, disable, or replace specific genes.

However, in complex organisms like plants, many genes belong to families of similar genes that perform overlapping functions. This creates a challenge known as genetic redundancy — when one gene is edited, another in the same family may compensate, making it hard to see any change.

The breakthrough centers on two major innovations. First, the researchers improved the scalability of CRISPR-Cas9 by developing a system that can target thousands of genes at once.

To tackle the second problem of genetic redundancy, “We aimed to simultaneously alter entire families of similar genes,” said Berman. “In a previous study, we developed a dedicated algorithm that takes a list of target genes and identifies a unique CRISPR unit for each one — or for a group of similar genes — to induce the desired modification. That allowed us to build comprehensive CRISPR libraries.”

In this research, the scientists created a CRISPR library — a large collection of customized gene-editing tools, each designed to target a specific gene or group of similar genes in the tomato genome. This CRISPR library allowed scientists to overcome the redundancy problem by simultaneously edit thousands of genes across hundreds of plants. Each plant had a unique genetic alteration, allowing the researchers to observe which changes led to differences in traits like sweetness, fruit shape, or disease resistance.

While earlier tests of the algorithm were successful in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the new study marks its first application in a crop species. The team constructed 10 CRISPR libraries containing roughly 15,000 unique gene-editing units designed for the tomato genome. They then introduced these edits into about 1,300 tomato plants, each one modified in a different gene group.

The Israeli company NetaGenomiX has received a license to commercialize the technology. The goal is to develop improved, non-GMO crops that can better withstand climate change and provide tangible benefits for both farmers and consumers.

“We believe our research opens the door to breeding improved varieties for a wide range of crops, and also advances the field of plant science as a whole,” added Berman. “In follow-up studies, we are working on developing additional selected traits in tomato and in rice.”

By Pesach Benson • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel and is now on a plane taking her to Sweden via France, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry tweeted an image of Thunberg on the plane.

The ministry did not indicate if the other 11 activists aboard the Madleen, a yacht seeking to break the Gaza blockade, have also left the country. All were taken to Ben-Gurion International Airport. Anyone refusing to sign deportation documents may face judicial proceedings in Israel.

Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen on Monday morning as it was trying to break the Gaza blockade. The boat was carrying a token amount of humanitarian aid, which Israel said would be delivered to Gaza.

Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a screening of a 43-minute video of Hamas atrocities for the 12, but said they refused to watch it. The video is based on footage from Hamas bodycams, security cameras, cellphones and dashboard cameras and call recordings. The hard-to-watch video was previously screened for international leaders and journalists.

Israeli officials dismissed the Madleen as a publicity stunt, referring to the boat as a “selfie yacht.” The token humanitarian aid it carried will be transferred to Gaza, the Foreign Ministry said.

Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza leading to today’s blockade to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007. Since then, Palestinian activists have periodically sent flotillas trying to breach the blockade. In 2011, an independent UN inquiry into the Mavi Marmara affair of 2010 criticized Israeli forces for using excessive force but upheld the blockade’s legality.

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 55 remaining hostages, 33 are believed to be dead.

By Sveta Listratov • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — As a growing trend of governments collecting evidence of war crimes by their citizens serving in the Israeli military in Gaza, there is no formal support from the Israeli government for servicemen in the legal crosshairs.

Most recently, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed on Wednesday they were collecting “relevant information” about the activities of Canadian nationals that may support future investigations “of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.” Belgium and Brazil have opened formal investigations, while in France, pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations have filed civil complaints.

“There is currently no official framework in Israel to provide support in such cases,” Maurice Hirsch, a former IDF military prosecutor and senior legal analyst, told The Press Service of Israel. “Unfortunately, the request for help are often unanswered, and the soldiers are left to fight on their own.”

Hirsch, who has been in contact with individuals targeted by these foreign probes, warns that an emerging trend is placing former soldiers in a precarious legal position abroad.

“There’s a unit in the Justice Ministry that’s supposed to help in these matters,” he noted, “but their services are extremely limited. People simply fall through the cracks.”

Canadian authorities, Hirsch says, have long adopted a hostile stance toward Israel.

“The Canadians have been hostile to Israel for quite some time… They hold the view that Israel violates the laws of war and commits war crimes,” he said.

What once was a concern mostly for potential immigrants — young Canadians joining the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and later seeking citizenship or residency abroad — is now extending into active legal action.

“They’re not just screening applicants anymore. They’re going after Canadian citizens who served in the IDF and asking: What exactly did you do there?”

According to Hirsch, the strategy is not necessarily legal — it’s psychological.

“The goal is to instill fear and intimidation in Canadian citizens who consider serving in the IDF, so that they’ll be afraid to return home.”

The legal basis for most of these cases is thin at best, he said.

“Most of the investigations are based on videos uploaded online — usually lacking context, sometimes filmed by soldiers themselves, foolishly recording their actions.”

When approached for comment, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit referred inquiries to the Foreign Ministry. Requests for clarification from the ministry went unanswered.

Similarly, Defense Minister Israel Katz’s office did not return requests for comment and the chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Yuli Edelstein, did not respond.

Genocide Accusations ‘A Moral Failure’

At the core of some of these investigations lies the claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, an accusation that one genocide scholar bluntly rejected.

“Accusing Israel of genocide is not just a factual distortion — it’s a profound moral failure that undermines the very ability of the international community to recognize and respond to real genocides, like the one happening right now in Sudan,” Dr. Yoav Heller, a historian who specializes in the Holocaust, told TPS-IL.

“Genocide means the victims cannot stop what’s being done to them. In Gaza, Hamas can stop the war tomorrow by laying down its arms and releasing the hostages. That’s not genocide. That’s war initiated by a terror organization,” Heller explained.

While some Israeli officials have made controversial remarks, Heller stresses that these do not reflect actual military policy.

“I don’t deny that some Israeli ministers have made reckless, even outrageous statements. But the actual conduct of the war is guided by legal advisors and international law. There is no Israeli policy to destroy the population of Gaza.”

Weaponizing the term “genocide” serves a calculated goal, Heller warned.

“Using the term genocide against Israel serves a strategic goal: to delegitimize its right to self-defense and fuel international pressure, while turning Gazans into permanent political pawns.”

Back in Israel, there is growing concern that while these legal and political attacks escalate, even low-ranking soldiers with minimal operational roles will be swept up in legal action.

“Some were serving as office designated drivers, for example, and now suddenly they’re war crimes suspects — just because they served in the IDF,” Hirsch said.

“To this day, no dedicated government mechanism has been established to defend these discharged soldiers facing prosecution abroad,” he reiterated. “Once they’re discharged — they’re simply left to fight alone.”

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 55 remaining hostages, 33 are believed to be dead.

By Pesach Benson • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli scientists have uncovered a surprising mechanism behind paracetamol’s pain-relieving powers, with the potential to reshape how pain is treated.

For years, researchers assumed that paracetamol—also known as acetaminophen, Tylenol, or Panadol — worked solely in the brain and spinal cord. But a new study, published in the peer-reviewed journal, PNAS, reveals that it also acts directly on the body’s peripheral nervous system.

Hebrew University researchers, led by Prof. Alexander Binshtok of the Faculty of Medicine and Center for Brain Sciences, and Prof. Avi Priel of the School of Pharmacy, discovered that a compound formed after taking paracetamol blocks specific sodium channels in pain-sensing neurons located throughout the body. These channels are responsible for transmitting pain signals from injured tissues to the brain.

The compound, called AM404, acts on different parts of the nervous system.

AM404 blocks specific voltage-gated sodium channels in peripheral nerves that are essential for transmitting pain signals to the brain. By inhibiting them, AM404 stops the pain message before it travels to the brain. AM404 also interacts with TRPV1 receptors which are involved in sensing heat and pain. Modulating these receptors can contribute to reducing pain sensations.

“This is the first time we’ve shown that AM404 works directly on the nerves outside the brain,” said Binshtok. “It changes our entire understanding of how paracetamol fights pain.”

According to the study, AM404 targets only the neurons involved in pain signaling, essentially silencing them before the message of pain reaches the central nervous system.

“This explains why paracetamol is so effective, even though it lacks the numbing effects of anesthetics or the addictive potential of opioids,” Priel said. “We now understand that it blocks pain at the very first stage—right where it begins.”

This revelation has major implications for future pain treatment. Unlike local anesthetics, which can cause muscle weakness and numbness, AM404 appears to work selectively on pain pathways. That opens the possibility for developing next-generation drugs that are safer, more precise, and free of common side effects.

“If we can design new therapies based on AM404’s action, we might finally have effective painkillers that don’t impair movement or carry risks of addiction,” Priel said.

By Pesach Benson • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists detained aboard a boat trying to breach the Gaza blockade have been brought to Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning ahead of their deportations, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said.

“Some of the “Selfie Yacht” passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours. Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation,” the ministry said.

“Consuls from the passengers’ home countries met them at the airport,” the ministry added.

After arriving in Ashdod, all underwent medical checkups.

Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a screening of a 43-minute video of Hamas atrocities for the 12, but said they refused to watch it. The video is based on footage from Hamas bodycams, security cameras, cellphones and dashboard cameras and call recordings. The hard to watch video was previously screened for international leaders and journalists.

“Greta and her flotilla companions were taken into a room upon their arrival for a screening of the horror film of the October 7 massacre, and when they saw what it was about, they refused to continue watching,” Katz said in a statement. “The antisemitic flotilla members are turning a blind eye to the truth and have proven once again that they prefer the murderers to the murdered and continue to ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas against Jewish and Israeli women, adults, and children,” he added.

Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen on Monday morning as it was trying to break the Gaza blockade. The boat was carrying a token amount of humanitarian aid, which Israel said would be delivered to Gaza.

Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza leading up today’s blockade to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007. Since then, Palestinian activists have periodically sent flotillas trying to breach the blockade. In 2011, an independent UN inquiry into the Mavi Marmara affair of 2010 criticized Israeli forces for using excessive force but upheld the blockade’s legality.

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 55 remaining hostages, 33 are believed to be dead.

By Ehud Amiton/TPS • June 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Navy missile boats struck targets at the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida in western Yemen early Tuesday, in what Defense Minister Israel Katz called a direct response to ongoing Houthi attacks on Israel.

“We have warned the Houthi terror organization that if they continue to shoot at Israel, they will face a powerful response and be under a naval and aerial blockade,” Katz said. “This is what we did today, and we will continue to do so in the future.”

The Israel Defense Forces said that the Navy’s ability to operate from close range without needing to return to Israel for refueling provided strategic advantages in targeting the port, which had proven more difficult for the Air Force to hit in previous attacks. Since July 2024, the Air Force has conducted roughly ten strikes on Houthi targets across Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport and other strategic infrastructure.

“The strike was intended to deepen the damage to the military use of the port,” the IDF said. “It continues to be used for terror activity, serving as yet another example of the Houthi terror regime’s cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure.”

The strike followed a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran. Since the last Israeli airstrike on May 28, the Houthis have launched seven ballistic missiles and at least one drone at Israel. One missile fired late Monday reportedly fell short of its target. In total, since the war began, the Houthis have launched more than 400 projectiles at Israel, though the IDF only began retaliating after a Houthi drone killed an Israeli civilian in Tel Aviv in July 2024.

Israeli air defenses have intercepted most of the Houthi missiles and drones.

Several major international airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv on May 4 after a ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck within Ben Gurion International Airport’s grounds — the first time a missile has landed inside the airport complex.

On Monday night, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee warned Yemenis to evacuate the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif.

Media outlets affiliated with the Houthis reported two strikes on the port of Hodeida Tuesday morning, marking the first naval assault by Israel on the city since the start of the conflict. “Israel’s long hand in the air and at sea will reach everywhere,” Katz said following the operation.

Tuesday’s attack marks the tenth Israeli strike in Yemen since Hamas’s deadly assault on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7, when at least 1,180 people were killed and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage. Of the 55 remaining hostages, 33 are believed to be dead.