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In the wake of Thursday morning’s missile strike near Tel Aviv that hit civilian areas, including a hospital, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has labeled Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “the modern Hitler” who “cannot continue to exist.”
Katz made these strong remarks during a visit to Holon, one of the cities targeted by Iranian missiles in a barrage that injured at least 47 people.
“Under the stated goals of the ongoing war,” Katz asserted, “without question, this man should not continue to exist.”
“A dictator like Khamenei, who leads a nation like Iran and has declared the destruction of Israel as his official mission, cannot be allowed to persist,” Katz told reporters. “This is not rhetoric — it’s an ideological, military, and strategic threat. In the same way, I see the current reality, Khamenei is the modern Hitler.”
The minister directly accused Khamenei of ordering the missile attacks on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and residential buildings in Ramat Gan and Holon.
“These were not random strikes. These were intentional attacks on civilian targets,” Katz stated. “He uses his ideological power and national resources, even at the cost of his own people, to push a single goal: the destruction of Israel.”
According to Israeli rescue services, forty-seven people were wounded in the strikes, with several in serious or moderate condition. Others sustained injuries while seeking shelter during the barrage. Footage from the scene showed smoke billowing from the affected hospital complex, which also treats wounded Israeli soldiers.
When asked if Khamenei’s elimination was now an official war objective, Katz responded, “The goals are clear, to remove the nuclear threat, eliminate sources of destruction, and neutralize missile attacks. Achieving these means this man cannot remain.”
His comments followed hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation, accusing Iran of committing “terrorist” attacks against civilians.
Meanwhile, Israeli fighter jets launched significant overnight strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including a nuclear site in Arak and missile production facilities in Natanz.
Earlier this week, U.S. officials revealed that President Donald Trump had previously vetoed an Israeli proposal to kill Khamenei. Trump later told reporters there were no current plans to assassinate the Iranian leader, “at least not for now.”
