Avner Netanyahu’s wedding delayed as missile strikes kill 10 and injure 180 in Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his son’s wedding as Iran unleashed a barrage of ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israeli military strikes. The wedding, originally set to take place on Monday, came under intense scrutiny from anti-government protesters amid a rapidly worsening national security crisis.
According to The Times of Israel, Avner Netanyahu was scheduled to marry his partner, Amit Yardeni, at a private venue north of Tel Aviv. However, growing public outcry and the immediate threat of missile attacks led to a decision to delay the event.
Israel-Iran tensions reach new heights
The postponement follows Israel’s large-scale military offensive against Iran on Friday. Israeli forces targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, missile bases, and senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, escalating the already fragile situation in the region.
In response, Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles at various sites across Israel. Israeli police confirmed on Sunday that at least 10 people were killed in the strikes and around 180 others were injured. Authorities also reported that seven individuals were still missing and possibly trapped under rubble.
Emergency sirens were activated across the country, sending civilians rushing to bomb shelters. The government has declared a state of high alert nationwide.
Tehran halts nuclear talks, Netanyahu vows intensified response
Following Israel’s attacks, Tehran has withdrawn from nuclear negotiations that the United States had said were key to de-escalating the conflict. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that Iran has not yet seen the full extent of Israel’s military capabilities.
“The attacks by Israel so far were nothing compared with what Iran would see in the coming days,” Netanyahu said, signaling a continued and potentially wider military campaign.
U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation via his Truth Social platform, stating, “If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict.”
Protests and security concerns force postponement
Even before Iran’s missile retaliation, the Netanyahu family had faced criticism for going forward with Avner’s wedding while Israeli hostages remain in captivity in Gaza. Opposition groups labeled the celebration as tone-deaf, and several had announced plans to stage demonstrations near the venue.
The wedding was scheduled to be held at Ronit’s Farm, an upscale event space in Kibbutz Yakum, located north of Tel Aviv. In anticipation of potential disruptions, Israeli police had deployed extensive security measures, including iron roadblocks, barbed wire, and airspace restrictions within a 1.5-kilometer radius of the venue, per The Times of Israel.
With the security situation deteriorating and the threat of further attacks looming, the Netanyahu family ultimately chose to postpone the ceremony, a move seen as inevitable given the broader national crisis.
