Dayo Ade Olusola |M10news|World News|24 July 2025
A terminally ill 73-year-old woman from Tel Aviv has been charged with planning to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using a rocket launcher, prosecutors said on Thursday.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, allegedly told prosecutors she wanted to “sacrifice” her life in a bid to “save” the country from the current government.
Tried to buy rocket launcher
According to the indictment, she approached another political activist, asking for help in acquiring a rocket-propelled grenade and collecting information about Netanyahu’s movements and security.
The man refused and tried to dissuade her. After realising she was serious, he alerted authorities.
She was later arrested.
Still a threat, prosecutors say
The woman is said to be an anti-government activist and had become increasingly radicalised following her medical diagnosis.
Prosecutors are requesting that she remain under house arrest throughout the legal process, saying she still poses a danger due to her willingness to die as a “martyr”.
Not the first threat
This is not the first time Netanyahu has faced personal threats.
In 2024, a man was arrested for threatening to kill the prime minister in a social media post.
Israel has a painful history of political assassinations. In 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a far-right extremist who opposed his peace talks with the Palestinians.
M10news has contacted Israeli authorities for further comment.
