Following a massive Iranian missile barrage that struck Israeli cities last week, the mood in Israel has shifted from anxious defense to determined offense. Across cities like Be’er Sheva, Holon, and Petach Tikvah — several of which suffered direct hits — the prevailing sentiment is not just anger, but a sense that Israel must now see this conflict through to its end.
“Iran drew the line. Now we’ll erase it,” said 28-year-old reservist Avihu Levi, minutes before boarding a military transport outside a southern base. “This is our moment to finish what we started years ago.”
The attacks, which Iran launched in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on an IRGC arms convoy in Syria, struck over a dozen targets inside Israel, killing 14 and injuring over 100. Though Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems intercepted many projectiles, several missiles slipped through, causing extensive damage in civilian areas.
In Bat Yam, where one missile slammed into a school courtyard at night, narrowly avoiding a tragedy, residents gathered in a spontaneous rally the next day. Holding signs reading “No More Red Lines” and “Strike Now, or Never,” they voiced growing public pressure on the government to intensify operations.
“This wasn’t just an attack. This was an act of war,” said Talya Nissim, a schoolteacher. “Our patience ended with that explosion.”
The Israeli government has responded accordingly. In the 72 hours since the attack, the IDF has launched dozens of airstrikes on Iranian facilities in Iraq, Syria, and Iran itself. Israeli cyber units reportedly targeted Iranian air defense networks, disrupting communications during critical hours of the Iranian counterresponse.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, flanked by security chiefs at a wartime press conference, signaled a shift in doctrine: “This is no longer a policy of deterrence. This is a campaign of elimination.”
And the public appears to agree. Polls show over 75% of Israelis support a broadened military campaign that includes Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Even traditionally centrist and left-leaning voters are backing military action — a shift not seen since the Gulf War.
Yair Golan, former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff and now a centrist politician, admitted, “I’ve always advocated for diplomacy first. But this was a crossing of every line. There’s no going back.”
In towns hit by missiles, support is even more pronounced. In a tent encampment set up for displaced families in Ashkelon, soldiers mingle with civilians, offering water and supplies. There’s grief, but also remarkable cohesion.
“We were hurt, yes,” said 45-year-old father Amir Yosef. “But they woke up a country that was asleep. We won’t let them go back to sleep.”
Security analysts note the shift in public mood is not just emotional, but strategic. “People understand this is no longer a low-intensity conflict,” said Dr. Yael Tzur, a national security lecturer at IDC Herzliya. “The public sees Iran’s intentions clearly now — and they want to see the threat ended, not managed.”
International reaction has been mixed. The U.S. has voiced full-throated support, with bipartisan backing in Congress for further military aid to Israel. However, UN officials have warned that a wider regional war could be on the horizon.
Back in Bat Yam, where children now play near the crater left by the missile strike, a mural has gone up on a scorched wall. It reads, in Hebrew and English: “Never again starts now.”
