How Israelis view the conflict with Iran

In one of Tel Aviv's underground bomb shelters — little more than a narrow corridor with thick walls — time seemed to stand still. 

There was no internet connection to get any information about the explosions heard outside, as exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran continue.

"We can make the distinction by now what is an interception or a hit, but obviously you worry about how close it is or if someone you know might be in danger," said Lior, a young Israeli man who declined to give his surname, who was trying in vain to find reception on his phone.

Since Israel attacked Iran a week ago, life in Tel Aviv has been dictated by the rhythm of phone alerts issued by Israel's Home Front Command and air raid sirens warning of incoming ballistic missiles from Iran.

On Thursday morning, Iran launched another missile barrage at Israel. While most were intercepted by Israel's defense systems, some hit buildings in the city of Holon and the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, as well as the Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheba in southern Israel, leaving a trail of destruction in the surgical ward. Israeli media reported that the complex had been evacuated the previous day.

'A very strange and unsettling time'

Alerts come at any time, and it can take some time for the all-clear.

"Life must go on, and we've been through many other crises, but this is certainly a very strange and unsettling time," Lior told DW.

When another alert was recently triggered in the early morning hours, one of the missiles evaded the defense systems and hit a building just a kilometer (0.6 miles) away.

The shelter shook from the impact, leaving people gasping.

"It's scary. We understand that the missiles are deadlier and that the situation feels different from previous conflicts. I wonder how long this can go on for. People are already on edge from not sleeping most nights," said Shira, who also declined to give her last name.

Many in Israel are scared by the attacks from Iran, but they also said 'life must go on'Image: Tania Krämer/DW

Netanyahu eyes his legacy after October 7 attacks

For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran is the greatest threat to Israel's security. Iran insists that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, but Netanyahu believes it serves military purposes. Iran's leadership has vowed to annihilate Israel and its people, and Iran y also poses a threat through its ballistic missiles and its many proxies in the region.

Netanyahu had threatened for years to attack Iran and reportedly came close it several times, but in the end, a larger conflict was always avoided. Instead, Israel fought a so-called "shadow war" against Iran through cyberattacks, rhetorical threats and against the many pro-Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen.

But all this had changed last Friday June 13.

"For many years [Netanyahu] chickened out. He was not really ready to take up steps that may end up with fatalities and destruction. So what happened now?" Akiva Eldar, a veteran Israeli journalist and commentator, told DW.

Like other analysts, Eldar believes Netanyahu has to recover from "his "legacy" of the 7 October massacres.

Some analysts believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjami Netanyahu wants to reestablish himself as a guarantor of Israeli securityImage: Marc Israel Sellem/POOL/IMAGO

Until 7 October, 2023, Netanyahu had presented himself as the ultimate safeguard of Israel's security. But this image was shattered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage in what has been described by many as the country's worst security failure.

This also triggered the war in Gaza, where some 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israeli's war on Hamas began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Widespread Israeli support for attacks on Iran

Netanyahu's domestic critics accuse him of not wanting to end the war in Gaza and of failing to agree to a new deal with the Hamas militant group that would secure the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.

But his far-right coalition partners threatened to leave the coalition and trigger early elections if he ended the war without toppling Hamas. In light of his corruption trial, critics also accuse Netanyahu of using the war as a means of maintaining his hold on power.

Following last week's attacks on Iran, which were widely praised on Israeli television broadcasts, Netanyahu appears to have corrected some of his failures.

There is broad support among Jewish Israelis for the strikes in Iran. Some 83% back Israel's military operations and express their confidence in Israel's security institutions and preparedness for a prolonged conflict. That's according to an opinion poll conducted this week by Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

A recent study shows broad support among Israelis for the attacks on IranImage: Matan Golan/ZUMA Press Wire/IMAGO

In contrast, the majority of Palestinian Israeli citizens said they opposed the strikes and favored diplomacy over military action.

In Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Ronny Arnon looked at the widespread damage in his neighborhood in disbelief. A missile breached the defense system and hit a building, killing one person.

"I am in the minority here, so many people are supportive," Arnon told DW on Saturday at the start of the Israel-Iran conflict.

"Our prime minister is called the magician, because he knows how to make a show, how we are winning and beat all our enemies. We started a fire we don't know how to end."

A window of opportunity

One of the factors that paved the way for the attack was Israel's systematic weakening of Iran's regional proxies over the past months, analysts say.

During the last direct exchange of fire between Iran and Israel in October 2024, Israel claimed to have struck vital air defense systems, reducing Iran's defense capabilities and creating an opportunity to attack.

In December, the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, another Iranian ally, was overthrown.

Israeli military officials told DW this provided Israel the aerial freedom of movement it needed and paved the way for its air force to strike Iran.

All eyes are now on US President Donald Trump, who is said to be considering whether the United States will engage alongside Israel in military action in Iran.

Although Trump had advised Netanyahu against resorting to military action, he has since changed his tune. This is despite the fact that his administration had pursued negotiations with Iran, mediated by Oman, regarding Irannuclear program.

On Tuesday, Trump said that the US would not kill Ayatollah Khamenei "for now," but demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender."

"[Netanyahu] feels comfortable that he can also drag Trump into this war," Eldar said. "And what will be remembered? Netanyahu will be the Israeli leader who saved us from another Holocaust," referring to the stated goals of Iran's leadership that Israel should be destroyed.

Hostages and the war in Gaza

But Israel also fighting on another front: The war in Gaza.

In Tel Aviv's central Dizengoff Square on Wednesday, a small group of protesters held up large photos of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Among them was the mother of Matan Angrest, a soldier who was taken hostage on October 7.

"When the war in Iran began, we were really afraid our precious one, my son, will be forgotten there in Gaza, his situation is bad, his life is in danger," Anat Angrest told DW.

"But a few hours later, I got a lot of messages from many Israelis that they felt that with the success in Iran, this will help to bring [the hostages] back."

Protesters in Tev Aviv call for the release of Israelis held kidnapped by Hamas in GazaImage: Tania Krämer/DW

Angrest is critical of Netanyahu's government for not doing enough to bring her son and the other hostages home sooner.

But she believes that a weakened Iran will lead to less support for Hamas and to the end of the war in Gaza.

"We hope that the decision to act now is connected to Gaza; that it is part of a strategic plan and that the Israeli government will finally be able to end the war in Gaza," Angrest told DW.

"Because when we take out the leaders of the terrorists, Iran, we can finish what we started in Gaza, and we won't be in danger anymore."

Edited by: Sean Sinico