‘This is a war crime!’ – Israeli leaders react to Iranian ballistic missile strike on Soroka Medical Center

Israeli leaders responded to the direct strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva by an Iranian ballistic missile early on Thursday morning, calling it “a war crime.” They contrasted Iran’s targeting of civilian sites in Israel with the Israeli Air Force focus on military and nuclear targets in Iran.

President Isaac Herzog described how he was greeted by the “director of the hospital, Prof. Shlomi Kodesh, along with doctors, nurses, and patients, Jews and Muslims, from all walks of life from across the beautiful Negev.” 

Describing “the destruction and devastation caused by an Iranian missile fired indiscriminately” at the hospital, Herzog declared, “This is a war crime!” 

Herzog said the destruction at the hospital revealed two things: "We see the face of evil and terror spread by the Ayatollahs in Tehran, and at the same time we see the resilience and strength of Israeli society, united in our desire to see all the peoples of this region live in peace.” 

The Israeli president stated that Israel must deal a “severe blow to the head of the snake.” 

“For the sake of that future, we must fight and we must change reality – and that means delivering a most severe blow to the head of the snake sitting in Tehran. That is the reality,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar delivered a statement to foreign media from Soroka Hospital earlier today, vowing, “we will not stop for even one minute before we complete the mission.” 

Standing in front of the ruins of the old surgery building, Sa’ar declared, “This is exactly the place where the Iranian regime targeted – a civilian hospital. This is clearly a war crime. It reflects the Iranian regime's consistent strategy, they are deliberately targeting civilian population, civilian targets, civilians, children, elderly people. It is unacceptable.” 

Soroka Hospital's staff work hard every day to save human lives. Yet this civilian hospital is exactly what the Iranian regime targeted.
This is clearly a war crime!
At the site of the Iranian ballistic missile attack >> pic.twitter.com/hMAWVqy3qr

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) June 19, 2025

He said he has “received many phone calls from foreign ministers from around the world condemning this crime.” 

Sa'ar drew a sharp contrast between Israel’s actions and those of Iran, stating, “We are attacking military objectives, nuclear program objectives, ballistic missile objectives. And they are specifically and deliberately targeting civilians.” 

“I want to make it clear – this strategy won't work,” the Israeli foreign minister continued. “We will continue with our operation in Iran. We have a very detailed plan. We know what we do. We will continue to hit nuclear objectives. We will continue to hit ballistic missile objectives. And we will not stop for even one minute before we complete the mission.” 

During a tour of Soroka, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked whether Israel has decided to target Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He responded, “I gave instructions that no one is immune. I prefer not to deal with headlines and let the deeds do the talking.” 

“In war, you have to choose your words carefully and your actions with precision,” Netanyahu continued. “I ask this not only of myself, but also of my ministers – of all of us. Say less, do a lot of things.” 

While confirming that “all options are open,” Netanyahu also cautioned, “It’s best not to speak about this in the press.” 

Netanyahu appeared to be responding to comments by Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier today, when Katz said Khamenei “cannot continue to exist.” 

"Dictator Khamenei is a modern-day Hitler who has carved out on his banner the destruction of the State of Israel and is enslaving all of his country's resources to advance this terrible goal," Katz posted on social media. "He cannot continue to exist."

Katz also posted a message on social media stating, "The cowardly Iranian dictator is sitting in the depths of an armored bunker and firing deliberately at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel. These are some of the most serious war crimes – and he will be held accountable for them.”