Israelis Unite in Support for Second Iran War Amid Air Raid Sirens
Air raid sirens emptied Israel's streets on Saturday, filling bomb shelters as the country braced for waves of Iranian attacks. This marked the onset of the nation's second regional war in less than a year, with broad political and popular support emerging despite individual fears.
"We all of us feel that what we started needs to be finished," said Gal Tzairi, a 23-year-old university student sheltering in an underground car park in central Tel Aviv. "We want our safety, so we know we need [this]." Paramedics had to dig Tzairi out from the rubble of his home last June when an Iranian missile strike destroyed his apartment building, and while the sirens revived some of that fear, he and many others had half-expected another conflict.
Political Feuds Halted Ahead of Elections
The morning attacks immediately halted bitter Israeli political feuding ahead of elections due by October this year. Disputes over conscription of ultra-orthodox men and whether to hold a state inquiry into the 7 October 2023 attacks were set aside, as opposition leaders across most of the political spectrum united behind Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Yair Lapid, the official leader of the opposition, stated in a social media post: "I fully support this operation. We all agree about the justification and importance of striking the murderous Iranian regime." Similarly, Yair Golan, head of the centre-left Democrats, offered his "full backing" to the military in "removing the Iranian threat," while rightwing Naftali Bennett declared that "the entire nation of Israel stands behind you."
Calls for Open-Ended Conflict
As European and regional powers urged a return to negotiations to tackle Iran's nuclear programme, prominent Israelis were calling for a broad, open-ended war. Yoav Gallant, a former defence minister, said in an interview on Israel's Channel 12: "It's clear we have the upper hand regarding Iran. The important thing is we don't stop until we finish the job." Dismissing Iran's response, he added that "the small amount of rockets Iranians are shooting shows they are weak."
However, not all voices were in agreement. Lawmaker Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, criticised the opposition for aligning with a government he accused of wanting to "live by the sword forever." He remarked on social media: "There is no opposition in Israel, only 50 shades of militarism. Time and again, they try the same formula here: another 'round', another operation, more blood."
Daily Life and Disruptions
For many in Israel, the disruptions of war have become part of daily routine. Aleeza, a 35-year-old film-maker, struggled to entertain her baby and toddler in a shelter, noting that her three-year-old now plays "sirens" with friends, racing to imaginary shelters in their playground. She expressed frustration as the war abruptly halted filming of her first feature, a comedy, saying, "I just want it to be over."
The attack coincided with the eve of the Jewish festival of Purim, which commemorates the biblical story of a Jewish community saved from massacre in ancient Persia. Some in Tel Aviv went from early Purim parties to shelters still in costume, while others joked that US President Donald Trump aimed to cast himself as a modern-day Mordechai by defending Jewish lives.
Tourists and Vulnerable Communities
With airspace closed and flights cancelled, tourists like Philippe and Juliette Kubler from Nice, France, found themselves seeking shelter during their planned trip to Jerusalem. Philippe, a hospital nurse, said, "We never felt in any danger until now, but I'm just worrying about how we get home."
Missile attacks pose particular dangers for Israel's Palestinian citizens, who often have less access to bomb shelters. Nourka Ghoul, a 30-year-old art director from East Jerusalem, bundled her family into a car to head to a relative's apartment, stating, "When the sirens sound, we come together and pray. If we are going to die, we will die all in one go."
As tensions escalate, the broad support among Israelis underscores a national resolve to confront what many see as an ongoing threat, even as daily life is upended and political divisions are momentarily set aside.
