Direct ballistic missile hit on apartments in Holon

One person is seriously wounded and nearly two dozen others are lightly hurt by a ballistic missile impact in Holon, Magen David Adom says.

Japan must learn from Israel's unwavering determination in confronting Iran's nuclear ambitions, a former senior advisor to late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, told Israel Hayom in an exclusive conversation. The advisor, Dr. Tomohiko Taniguchi, is currently a special advisor to Fujitsu Future Studies Center and previously worked with the Abe as his primary foreign policy speech writer. Taniguchi argued that Israel's recent strikes on Iran, which began on June 13 as part of Operation Rising Lion to remove the threat of annihilation from the terrorist regime in Tehran, have provided "a great service" that Japan should emulate as it faces mounting nuclear threats from hostile neighbors. In the wide-ranging interview, Taniguchi told Israel Hayom that Japan's current leadership under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba lacks the strategic vision needed to address the growing nuclear challenges posed by China, North Korea, and Russia – three nations that have dramatically expanded their nuclear capabilities while maintaining hostile postures toward Japan. "Japan is the country that has to learn more from the resoluteness and the determination of Israel," Taniguchi said in an exclusive interview, praising Israel's decisive action against Iran's nuclear program. "What Israel has done, really, has been a great service." Ishiba's contradictory positions expose strategic weakness Taniguchi highlighted Prime Minister Ishiba's contradictory statements regarding Iran and Israel. While Ishiba recently declared at a G7 summit that Japan "could never tolerate Iran possessing nuclear weapons"  he had previously condemned Israel – not Iran – during earlier exchanges of hostilities between the two nations. "How could one interpret the differences between the two statements?" Taniguchi asked, attributing the inconsistency to Ishiba's political weakness and lack of strategic thinking. "He himself is not a natural born strategist, unlike Shinzo Abe, his predecessor, who was very much strategically minded." According to Taniguchi, Ishiba's domestic condemnation of Israel was driven by his need to appease the pacifist wing of his coalition government, a political calculation born from his administration's precarious position after losing the lower house majority. The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant in central Iran on June 14, 2025 (Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP) "His political capital is weak," Taniguchi explained. "That led him to cater more to the pacifist wing of his own coalition party." Nuclear taboo hampers Japan's strategic thinking Despite being the only nation to suffer nuclear attacks in warfare – at Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Japan has struggled to develop a coherent nuclear deterrence strategy, according to Taniguchi. He argues that this reluctance to engage with nuclear realities leaves Japan vulnerable to increasingly aggressive neighbors. "It is absolutely intolerable for Japan to see countries such as Iran possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear capabilities militarily," Taniguchi said. "If Japan is now to tolerate Iran going nuclear militarily, you couldn't ask for help when the North Korean military nuclear threat and Chinese nuclear threat have become even more imminent." The urgency of Japan's strategic predicament became clear as Taniguchi outlined the mounting threats facing his country. "Russia, North Korea, China, are all eager to develop their nuclear capabilities. And if Japan does nothing, it would make Japan even weaker vis-à-vis North Korea, China, the Russians. So it's now high time for Tokyo to have an in-depth conversation with its allied partner of the United States as to how the nuclear deterrence arrangement should be extended and should be made even more powerful. But that argument itself has long been a taboo. And one has to break that taboo to become even more realistic." The analyst noted that while opposition to nuclear weapons remains strong in Japan, the country must break through long-standing taboos to discuss nuclear deterrence seriously. "To say I am opposed to nuclear weapons is one thing. But to say that we need to possess nuclear deterrence is quite another," he observed. Fire fighters work outside a building that was hit by Israeli air strikes north of Tehran, Iran, 13 June 2025 (EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH) Taniguchi clarified that Japan should not pursue its own nuclear weapons program, explaining the practical realities behind this position. "A very small minority of Japan thinks that Japan should go nuclear militarily itself... the political cost, financial cost – they are too costly. Instead, it's far wiser and more sensible for Japan to think about managing nuclear deterrence capacities together with the United States, just as countries like Germany, Belgium, Turkey did during the Cold War era." Regional transformation on the horizon When asked directly whether Israel's current actions will be remembered positively "as a great thing many years from now," Taniguchi responded with confidence: "I think so." In the conversation, Taniguchi predicted that Israel's actions would ultimately be viewed positively as part of broader regional changes, "not just about the confrontations that are going on between Iran and Israel, sooner rather than later, the landscape, Middle Eastern landscape is going to be dramatically changed. And I am the one who believes that sooner rather than later, the rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia will even change the Middle Eastern landscape to the better," he said. The aftermath of the morning barrage on Saturday (Usage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Article 27(a)) However, Taniguchi noted that average Japanese citizens pay little attention to Middle Eastern developments and tend to call for restraint from "both sides" when asked about the Israel-Iran conflict. This public disengagement, he suggested, makes it even more crucial for political leaders to take a broader strategic view. "Political leaders of this nation must look broadly, must get a broader picture, and that broader picture includes the necessity for Japan to think more seriously about how to deter nuclear powers," he emphasized.

Iran launched a total of nine attacks against Israel on June 19, 2025: five drone attacks and four ballistic missile barrages. One barrage consisting of 25–30 missiles impacted four different cities in Israel, most notably the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The remaining barrages were smaller, consisting of 15 and five missiles, respectively. For the third day in a row, none of Iran’s attacks caused any fatalities. However, more than 200 people were wounded, and significant property damage occurred. Map instructions: Click the top-left icon to open the Map Key and adjust the map’s zoom as desired. Click the top-right icon to open a larger version of the map. Attack #1 – Missile Attack: At 12:00 am, Iran fired five missiles at Israel, targeting the Tel Aviv District, the Central District’s HaSharon, Ramla, Petah Tikva, and Rehovot Subdistricts, and Judea-Samaria District’s Samaria Subdistrict. American anti-missile defense batteries intercepted the barrage. No casualties or damage were reported, but a small fire from shrapnel reportedly broke out in an open area near Jerusalem. Attack #2 – Hostile Aircraft Intrusion:  At 1:55 am, alerts sounded because of drones launched by Iran, one of which crossed into Israeli territory and targeted several locales in the Beit Shean Valley in the Northern District’s Jezreel Subdistrict. Israel intercepted the drone. No casualties or damage were reported. Attack #3 – Hostile Aircraft Intrusion: At 2:20 am, sirens sounded in several locales in the Judea-Samaria District’s Samaria Subdistrict due to drones fired by Iran at Israeli territory. Israel intercepted one drone that crossed into Israeli territory. No casualties or damage were reported. Attack #4 – Missile Attack: At 3:50 am, Iran launched an unspecified number of missiles at Israel. All missiles fell within Saudi territory. No alerts sounded in Israel. Attack #5 – Hostile Aircraft Intrusion: At 6:53 am, sirens sounded in several locales in the Northern District’s Jezreel Subdistrict due to drones launched by Iran at Israeli territory. The fate of the drones remains unknown. No interceptions, casualties, or damage were reported. Attack # 6 – Missile Attack: At 7:07 am, Iran fired a barrage of 25–30 missiles at Israel, targeting the Northern District, the Haifa District, the Central District, the Tel Aviv District, the Jerusalem District, the Judea-Samaria District, and the Southern District. Four impact zones were identified, causing significant damage to buildings in the country’s center and the south. One impact directly hit the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in the Southern District’s Beersheva Subdistrict, causing extensive damage and wounding 68 people. The second impact directly struck a residential building in Holon in the Tel Aviv District, wounding 16 people and causing widespread damage to residential areas. The third impact hit the main artery of Jabotinsky Street in the Ramat Gan suburb of Tel Aviv, damaging a four-story building, an adjacent high-rise, and nearby towers and homes, severely wounding two people and lightly wounding 23 people. A final impact hit Jaffa in the Tel Aviv District, wounding one person lightly from a fire ignited at the site of impact. Additionally, interceptions and missile fragments ignited fires in several areas in central Israel, debris landed in Ariel and Shaar HaShomron, and a fire broke out in Maale Efraim in the Judea-Samaria District’s Samaria Subdistrict. Attack #7 – Hostile Aircraft Intrusion: At 7:34 am, sirens sounded in several locales in the Judea-Samaria’s Samaria Subdistrict due to drones fired by Iran at Israeli territory. The fate of the drones remains unknown. No interceptions, casualties, or damage were reported. Attack #8 – Hostile Aircraft Intrusion: At 2:46 pm, sirens sounded in several locales in the Judea-Samaria’s Samaria Subdistrict due to drones fired by Iran at Israeli territory. Israel intercepted a drone that crossed into Israeli territory. No casualties or damage were reported. Attack #9 – Missile Attack: At 4:34 pm, Iran fired a barrage of 15 missiles at Israel, targeting the Haifa District and Northern District. No impact zones were identified, but missile fragments landed in Kafr Kanna and Reineh in the Northern District’s Jezreel Subdistrict. Previous attack summaries: June 13–16, 2025 June 17, 2025 June 18, 2025 David Daoud is senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant.

6, Footage form Holon area of Tel Aviv

Holon, Tel Aviv:

Holon south of Tel Aviv looks like parts of Gaza one year ago.

#ISRAEL > Operation "Lion's Awakening" — Resilience: A couple got married this evening just ten meters from the building in the city of Holon (central Israel) hit this morning by an Iranian missile. http://t.me/EretzInfo

#ISRAËL > Opération "Réveil du lion" — Résilience: un couple s'est marié ce soir à une dizaine de mètres seulement de l'immeuble de la ville de Holon (centre d'Israël) frappé ce matin par un missile iranien. http://t.me/EretzInfo

Authorization to declare fall in Holon 2 seriously injured

Autorisation de dire chute à Holon 2 blessés graves

Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo says civilians who entered a shelter at the site of a direct ballistic missile impact on a building in Holon were unharmed. "This event is an extraordinary example of civilian behavior. The civilians who were in the building heard the warning, the advance directive, went down to a shared private shelter located at the bottom of the building, and this saved their lives," Milo says.

Reporter's notebook A direct impact destroys buildings and injures dozens, but officials hail residents’ discipline during the attack, saying adhering to Home Front Command guidelines saves lives By You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page and ToI Staff 19 June 2025, 5:14 pm An Iranian ballistic missile carrying a powerful warhead slammed into a residential area in the central city of Holon on Thursday morning, destroying several apartment buildings, injuring dozens, and forcing people to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs as emergency crews scrambled to pull survivors from the wreckage. The strike was part of a broader Iranian missile barrage targeting central and southern Israel, sending hundreds to hospitals. At least six people suffered serious injuries nationwide, four of them in Holon. Holon fire chief Shaul Rachamim confirmed that all those trapped beneath the rubble had been rescued and taken to nearby hospitals within two hours of the impact. 1080p720p360pAuto The missile struck a dense five-building complex in the working-class city south of Tel Aviv, hurling debris across the area and shattering windows blocks away. At the impact site, buildings were partially reduced to rubble, with whole sections collapsing from the strike. “It is reasonable to assume, with the destruction that we’re seeing here, that these buildings will have to be demolished,” Rachamim said. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and disbelief following the impact. A man named Eli, who had been working nearby, said he had run to a public bomb shelter when the sirens sounded. Home Front Command first responders assess the damage at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Holon, June 19, 2025. (Stav Levaton/Times of Israel) “The blast was incredibly strong — it even blew the shelter door open,” he said. His car, parked outside, was severely damaged, its windshield shattered by the shockwave. Residents evacuated the area carrying bags and suitcases, uncertain when they would be able to return home. Police quickly erected barricades to secure the impact zone and restrict access. Inside the cordoned-off area, a woman called to her adult son from a shattered apartment window as he tried to find a way in, eventually reaching her through a side entrance. Residents of Holon flee their homes with essential belongings following an Iranian missile attack that destroyed several apartment buildings, June 19, 2025. (Stav Levaton/Times of Israel) Paramedic Ori Lazarovich of Magen David Adom, among the first to arrive, described the scene as one of “mass chaos.” “We had one building still on fire, cars completely wrecked,” he said, noting that the destruction made it difficult to access and treat patients. The widespread damage was testament to the massive warheads Iran is putting on its missiles, often carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, several times the magnitude of missiles fired by terror groups in Gaza or Lebanon that Israelis have become accustomed to dealing with. “We’re used to having patients with minor injuries,” Lazarovich said. “Now we’re seeing crush injuries, severe burns, smoke inhalation, and everything in between.” Ori Lazarovich, a Magen David Adom paramedic, at the scene of a direct Iranian missile impact in Holon, June, 19, 2025. (Stav Levaton/Times of Israel) “These missiles carry hundreds of pounds of explosives,” he added. “We have to adapt.” He emphasized the complexity of dealing with impact zones that spread over several city blocks. The shockwaves from blasts have broken windows and injured people hundreds of meters away. “You can’t just hyperfocus on the [initial impact zone],” he noted. “We have yards and yards of buildings that were affected.” Lazarovich urged the public to follow safety guidance. “If you happen to be in [an impact] site… listen to the Home Front Command and the additional first responders on the scene. Do what they say. It can be a matter of life or death,” he said. Police officers stand guard in front of a wrecked car at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Holon, June 19, 2025. (Stav Levaton/Times of Israel) Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, who heads Israel’s Home Front Command, commended Holon residents for seeking shelter, as warned, ahead of the strike, likely saving lives and minimizing the extent of injuries. “The civilians who were in the building heard the warning, the advance directive, went down to a shared private shelter located at the bottom of the building, and this saved their lives,” he said, calling it “an extraordinary example of civilian behavior.” Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy also visited the site, receiving briefings and surveying the damage. He reiterated key safety instructions: avoid impact zones, report any unexploded ordnance to the police emergency line, follow officer directions at the scene, and adhere to HFC guidance to ensure rescue operations can proceed without interference. A woman throws broken shutters out of her shattered apartment window in Holon, following a ballistic missile attack from Iran, June 19, 2025. (Stav Levaton/Times of Israel) In the aftermath of the attack, a local school announced that several of its students’ families had lost their homes. The school’s parent committee launched a PayBox fundraiser to help provide essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene supplies. The Holon strike was one of several caused by a barrage of roughly 30 Iranian ballistic missiles launched Thursday morning. Other direct hits were reported at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and in Ramat Gan. “We’re in difficult times,” Lazarovich said. “A strike can happen anywhere. Always be aware and cautious.” Is The Times of Israel important to you? If so, we have a request.  Every day, even during war, our journalists keep you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fast, fair and free coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.  We care about Israel - and we know you do too. 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JERUSALEM/ISTANBULThe Israeli city of Holon near Tel Aviv evacuated 746 people after their homes were severely damaged by an Iranian missile that struck the area Thursday morning, causing widespread destruction.In the most severe attack since the Israel-Iran conflict began, 271 people were injured, including four seriously, across several areas in northern and central Israel in an Iranian missile strike early in the day, according to Channel 12.The 746 people from 250 families were relocated from Holon after their homes were classified as "uninhabitable,” the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (KAN) reported.One residential building was completely destroyed by the strike while varying degrees of damage occurred to four adjacent buildings amid a state of shock in the area, where the destruction was described as "massive,” added KAN.Hostilities began last Friday when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.Meanwhile, in Iran, 639 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to Iranian media reports. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.

Defense Minister Israel Katz celebrated Monday the demolition of buildings damaged in an Iranian missile attack last month in Holon, coming under fire from affected residents who fumed at the upbeat event. One resident heckled the attending dignitaries, among whom was Holon Mayor Shai Kenan, saying they were callously ignoring the residents’ pain, while security guards tried to distance him from the event. The June 19 strike wounded over 20 people, one of them seriously, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service. The missile badly damaged two buildings, which were condemned as a result. Many residents lost their homes and, in some cases, their belongings. Speaking at the ceremony marking the demolition, Katz hailed the 12-day war against Iran as “the grandest operation in Israeli history,” and said, “We plan to surprise the ayatollah regime in Iran in the future as well.” He said the government knew the war would be difficult for Israel’s residents. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms “It was clear to us that the resilience of the Israeli home front is an important factor,” Katz said. “We prepared well for this damage, and still — the images of ruined buildings and displaced families are difficult and complex.” “You are the real heroes,” he told the residents, “and we are committed to doing everything to let you return to life quickly. Today we demolish so we can build and be built — it’s part of the victory.” Mayor Kenan said a new street called Rising Lion Way, named for the operation against Iran, would be paved in the neighborhood. “It’s easy for you to hold an event over our pain,” a man was seen shouting during the event in a clip shared on social media. “To come and raise a glass over our pain, to make a lot of noise is the easiest thing for you to do.” Yulia, a tenant of one of the impacted buildings, told Army Radio that the celebratory nature of the ceremony was in poor taste. “Maybe I should wear a wedding dress,” she said sarcastically. Yulia said that when she saw the notice for the ceremony — adorned with the slogan Am Yisrael Chai (the nation of Israel lives) — “it took me a day to process that it’s real. It’s incredibly disgusting. The municipality is detached from reality.” Noam She’altiel, another resident whose home was destroyed, told the Ynet news site: “I did not imagine that this would be how we’d say goodbye to our first home. There is champagne and food [at the ceremony] and it’s gross.” Defense Minister Israel Katz speaks at a ceremony in Holon, July 28, 2025. (Screen capture: Ynet) In a statement, the Holon municipality told Ynet that the event was “all about home, community empowerment and new beginnings,” and was meant to honor the affected residents and first responders. “The municipality will not cooperate with attempts to create a divisive discourse at the expense of the ceremony, which is being held in a similar fashion to events in other cities,” it said in a statement. Protesters demanding a hostage deal in the Gaza war rallied outside the ceremony, Hebrew media reported. Addressing the ceremony, Katz threatened that if the hostages being held in Gaza are not returned to Israel soon, “the gates of hell will open.” Israel launched a sweeping assault against Iran on June 13, targeting its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The 12-day conflict came to a close Tuesday when a US-brokered ceasefire took hold. Israeli forces targeted top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile program in the country to dismantle the “existential threat” posed by the Islamic Republic. Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles at Israel during the war last month. The strikes killed 29 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel. In all, there were 36 missile impacts and one drone strike in populated areas, causing damage to 2,305 homes in 240 buildings, along with two universities and a hospital, and leaving over 13,000 Israelis displaced. The clash with Iran came amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which was triggered on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terror group Hamas led an invasion of southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw terrorists abduct 251 people as hostages to Gaza, 50 of whom remain in captivity. You appreciate our journalism We’re really pleased that you’ve read 10 Times of Israel articles in the past month. You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context. Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7. So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. 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"It's easiest for you to come and open an event about our pain": Resident of a building destroyed by a missile strike in Holon at the demolition ceremony of the buildings, in the presence of Defense Minister Israel Katz @ifatglick

"לבוא ולפתוח אירוע על הכאב שלנו הכי קל לך": תושב בניין שנהרס מפגיעת טיל בחולון בטקס הריסת הבניינים, בנוכחות שר הביטחון ישראל כ"ץ @ifatglick

By Emanuel Fabian You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page 19 June 2025, 8:06 am Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent One person is seriously wounded and nearly two dozen others are lightly hurt by a ballistic missile impact in Holon, Magen David Adom says. Is The Times of Israel important to you? If so, we have a request.  Every day, even during war, our journalists keep you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fast, fair and free coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.  We care about Israel - and we know you do too. So today, we have an ask: show your appreciation for our work by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.  Yes, I'll give Yes, I'll give Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community.

When Hadas Tal, 38, was given just 10 minutes by first responders to return to her shattered apartment in Holon and take whatever essentials she could after an Iranian missile’s shrapnel struck the building on Thursday, her mind snapped into survival mode. “My husband was in shock, but I knew I had to stay practical,” said Tal, a mother of three girls aged 5, 8 and 11. “It felt like a reality show challenge — 10 minutes to complete a task. Everything was broken, covered in glass, but I managed to grab clothes, shoes and my daughters’ dolls.” Tal spoke with The Times of Israel at the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel by the Fattal group. The hotel is currently accommodating some 800 evacuees from the city in central Israel after a missile hit a block of apartment buildings, leaving four people seriously injured. The confrontation between Israel and Iran began on June 13, when Israel pre-emptively struck multiple targets in Iran to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon, after intelligence suggested that Tehran, which avowedly seeks Israel’s destruction, was getting close to its goal. Before a fragile ceasefire was reached on Tuesday, Iran launched some 550 ballistic missiles and around 1,000 drones at the Jewish state in retaliation. Iran’s missile attacks killed 28 people and wounded thousands in Israel, according to health officials and hospitals. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms As of Monday, 11,000 people had been evacuated to hotels nationwide, according to the Federation of Local Authorities, with an additional 4,000 estimated to have moved in with friends and relatives. Some 800 Holon residents were evacuated to the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel after an Iranian missile damaged their homes on June 19, 2025. The reception of the hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) “For now, my girls are euphoric because they feel this is some sort of vacation,” Tal said. “They have a lot of friends here, and they run around with them, but whenever they want to go home, we will have a problem.” Tal said that she is purposefully keeping herself busy all the time, first and foremost by taking care of her daughters, but also by helping out as much as she can. “I am handing out ice cream to children, sorting through donations and more,” she said. “I feel my brain cannot deal with anything that is not practical life.” Rescue teams inspect the damage to buildings struck by an Iranian ballistic missile in Holon. Several Israelis were wounded, some badly, in the strike, June 19, 2025. (Gili Yaari/Flash90) With tourists gone, schools still closed, the nearby Old City sealed off to non-residents, and all non-essential businesses shuttered, the streets around the hotel were quiet in the sweltering Jerusalem heat on Monday when The Times of Israel visited. But just outside the hotel entrance, the mood shifted. People clustered together — smoking, chatting on their phones, or simply taking a quiet moment. Among them was Reut Haggiag, 39. Reut Haggiag, an evacuee from Holon whose home was damaged by an Iranian missile, sits outside the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) “There were sirens, we went down to the shelter of our building with the children, we closed the door, and then we heard a crazy boom,” she said, recalling the moment of the hit. “Everyone screamed, and when we opened the door, we understood there was an impact nearby, not in our building but in the building next to ours. There was glass and destruction everywhere.” Immediately after, the family was evacuated to the hotel. Haggiag noted that many had stepped up to help. “The Israeli people are very special,” she said. “Many volunteers have been coming, especially from religious communities. There have been many girls from [the religious youth movement] Bnei Akiva and from the ultra-Orthodox community who have come to play with the kids. Others brought us candles to light for Shabbat. There have been many private initiatives to bring us all sorts of things.” Some 800 Holon residents were evacuated to the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel after an Iranian missile damaged their homes on June 19, 2025. The lobby of the hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) “Still, this is not home,” she added, a tired look on her face. Asked about her children, 8 and 11, Haggiag said things are not easy for them. “They do not fully understand the situation; they are frightened,” she said. “They are sad that all their things are broken. They want to know what will happen with our house and when we are going back.” “They are asking many questions that we do not have answers for,” she said. Haggiag, like everyone else who spoke with The Times of Israel, did not know how much time it would take to return home. Children everywhere Inside the hotel, children seemed to be everywhere. At a table in the lobby café, a group of elementary school children were deep into a game that involved mimicking animal sounds — chatting and laughing between bursts of roars and quacks. In the middle of the hall, a toddler no older than two quietly colored with crayons, seemingly unfazed by the bustle around her. Some 800 Holon residents were evacuated to the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel after an Iranian missile damaged their homes on June 19, 2025. The lobby of the hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) Many of the children — and quite a few adults — clutched long, animal-shaped balloons, gifts from one of the many volunteers who had come to lift the spirits of the displaced families. The Leonardo Hotel already hosted hundreds of evacuees in the aftermath of the Hamas onslaught on October 7, 2023, when thousands of terrorists infiltrated southern Israel, killing close to 1,200 people and destroying entire communities. At the peak of the war, over 140,000 Israelis were displaced from their homes, not only from the south but also from the north of the country, after Iranian proxy Hezbollah also began firing rockets at Israel on October 8, 2023. The evacuees hosted then at Leonardo came from Sderot in the south and Kiryat Shmona in the north and remained there between six and 12 months. Some 800 Holon residents were evacuated to the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel after an Iranian missile damaged their homes on June 19, 2025. The reception of the hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) The war with Iran also reactivated a network of city volunteers originally formed in the wake of the October 7 attacks — the Jerusalem Civilian Volunteer Hub. The initiative is a joint effort by several organizations, including One Heart, Habayit Hameshutaf (Common Home) and Hitorerut, a liberal Zionist movement that also holds seats on the municipal council. “During the first year of the war, we had up to 5,000 volunteers and 20 different departments, including housing, children, and legal aid,” said Rachael Risby Raz, who has been volunteering with the hub since the beginning. “When the war with Iran started, we immediately began to operate again,” she told The Times of Israel over the phone, shortly after visiting the Leonardo Hotel with a donor bringing toys and art supplies for the children. As of Monday, she explained that some 500 volunteers were working on different projects around the city, including cleaning public bomb shelters and collecting donations for the evacuees. Some 800 Holon residents were evacuated to the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel after an Iranian missile damaged their homes on June 19, 2025. Holon municipal workers dispatched to the hotel to help them with bureaucracy on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) “I think part of the work is really just to be a listening ear to these people who have lost everything,” Risby Raz said. Alongside the volunteers, dozens of Holon municipal workers in bright yellow vests were stationed throughout the hotel, setting up information tables to explain residents’ legal and financial rights and answer their questions. “I’ve already taken care of filing a compensation claim,” said Amin Abdelhadi, 27. He and his girlfriend lived on the top floor of one of the buildings severely damaged by the Iranian attack. “All the glasses burst, all the door frames fell out,” Abdelhadi said. “Yet, at least our apartment is still standing. There are people from our street whose houses were completely destroyed.” Amin Abdelhadi, an evacuee from Holon whose home was damaged by an Iranian missile at the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) The couple had been preparing for the eventuality of an evacuation. “We both had a bag with essential things ready,” Abdelhadi said. He explained that heading to the shelter wasn’t simple — their dog had recently given birth to three puppies, so they had to plan carefully to bring everyone to safety. “We could not bring the dogs to the hotel, unfortunately, so I took them to my parents, who live up north,” he said. Some 800 Holon residents were evacuated to the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel after an Iranian missile damaged their homes on June 19, 2025. The entrance of the hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) Abdelhadi said that it was hard for him not to be able to work. “I am a cook in a restaurant, but it is too far from here,” he noted. Between sorrow and hope The hotel also provides evacuees with breakfast, lunch and dinner. As this reporter visited, lunch was in full swing, with people of all ages enjoying the buffet of salads, vegetables, meat dishes and more. Nassim Aharoni, 79, was sitting at a table by himself. Nassim Aharoni, an evacuee from Holon whose home was damaged by an Iranian missile, sits in the dining hall of the Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel on June 23, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel) His apartment was also damaged in the attack, and both his and his partner’s cars were completely destroyed. Despite the ordeal he went through, he said he was optimistic, especially after the US joined Israel’s military efforts to destroy Iran’s nuclear program. “This is not home, but it’s OK,” Aharoni told The Times of Israel. “We love Israel, we love the country, we love the government, we love IDF soldiers, and the public,” he said. “We do not have another place. This is our country.” Aharoni said that amid the region’s recent turmoil, he held hope that one day he would be able to visit his birthplace — Baghdad. “I immigrated to Israel from Iraq at the beginning of the 1950s, and all my life, I have been wanting to visit the land where I was born,” he said. “Now I hope that I will be lucky enough to see a peace agreement with Iraq in the near future.” Sue Surkes contributed to this report.

Rather than holding a somber memorial, the Holon Municipality has chosen to cast the event as a celebration of recovery—complete with media coverage, prominent guests, and presenters.View of the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Holon, June 19, 2025(photo credit: MATANYA TAUSIG/FLASH90)ByMAYA COHEN, 103FMJULY 27, 2025 19:34Updated: JULY 27, 2025 20:11Residential buildings damaged by Iranian ballistic missiles during Operation Rising Lion will be demolished during a ceremony in Holon on Monday.Rather than holding a somber memorial, the Holon Municipality has chosen to cast the event as a celebration of recovery—complete with media coverage, prominent guests, and presenters.Channel 14 host Maggie Tabibi and veteran journalist Ofer Petersburg are set to emcee the ceremony. Among those scheduled to attend are Defense Minister Israel Katz, Holon Mayor Shay Kenan, and Gal Kastel, CEO of Oron Real Estate—the company overseeing the demolition.But beneath the polished production lies a painful story. Thirty-eight people were wounded in the missile strike that hit the area—four seriously, three moderately, and 31 lightly. The municipality evacuated 746 residents to hotels after authorities declared their homes unsafe.For many of those affected, the decision to mark the destruction with a media-heavy event featuring dignitaries and presenters is difficult to accept.A rescuer uses his phone at an impact site following a missile strike from Iran on Israel, in Holon, Tel Aviv, Israel June 19, 2025. (credit: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters)“It feels like a PR show, not something meant to commemorate what we went through,” said Dafna, a mother of two who was among those evacuated. “People here lost everything, and we still haven’t returned to normal. We expected an event with more respect and fewer cameras.”Residents question priorities as Holon demolition event draws scrutinyUri, another resident, voiced a similar sentiment. “Instead of spending time and energy on ceremonies with media and presenters, I’d like to see real action—swift recovery aid and help for families left homeless. That’s what really matters,” he said.Municipal officials have framed the ceremony as a sign of resilience and a fresh start for the city. But the decision has sparked a debate over timing and tone. With the trauma of the missile strike still fresh, some residents feel the event risks turning their hardship into a public display rather than a respectful remembrance.The controversy has also drawn attention from the media. On her 103FM program, Walla economic commentator Liat Ron opened with a pointed message.“Where will you be tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.?” she asked listeners. “If you’re free, you’re invited to the corner of Bialik and Lavon streets in Holon. You don’t want to miss this—the demolition ceremony for the buildings damaged in Operation Rising Lion.”Ron questioned the necessity of the defense minister’s presence: “What is the defense minister doing at this event? What’s so urgent in the very busy schedule of a defense minister that he needs to attend a building demolition?”