💥 “He Should Not Continue to Exist”: Israel’s Retaliation Threat After Hospital Attack

| Published June 19, 2025

Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said Iran’s so-called “Supreme Leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is today’s version of “Hitler” and “should no longer continue to exist” after Iran hit a hospital with a missile Thursday.

An Iranian ballistic missile—reportedly a Sejil—struck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, southern Israel, along with residential buildings near Tel Aviv. At least 240 people were wounded, including dozens of patients and medical staff.

⚠️ Israel’s Warning: Khamenei Held Personally Responsible

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking at the aftermath site, directly blamed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing him as a “modern Hitler” and stating emphatically that “without question this man should not continue to exist”.

• He accused Khamenei of personally ordering strikes on civilian hospitals, and said the IDF has been instructed to neutralize him to protect Israel.

🎯 Israeli Military Response

In direct response, the IDF launched airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, including the Arak heavy-water reactor and Fordow enrichment site.

🧭 Implications

1. Escalation of Personal Threats
   Israel’s explicit targeting of Khamenei marks a dramatic intensification, moving from collective Iranian deterrents to singling out Iran’s top leader.

2. Doctrinal Backing: Begin Doctrine Invoked
   This follows Israel’s historical doctrine of preemptive actions against existential threats—a “Begin Doctrine” approach—where killing leaders becomes a state imperative.

3. Regional & Global Fallout
   Such a move risks provoking heavy retaliation from Iran or its proxies (Hezbollah, Shia militias) and may draw direct U.S. involvement, as President Trump considers joining Israel within weeks .

4. Legal and Diplomatic Flashpoints
   International debate over the killing of a head of state—especially after a civilian hospital strike—could trigger condemnation and strain allied relations if western participation is suspected.

5. Potential Deterrence Effect
   Naming and targeting Khamenei sends a strong message aimed at chilling further Iranian aggression—and tests whether rhetoric can forestall further escalation.

 Overall Takeaway:

The direct Israeli threat against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, following the missile strike on Soroka Hospital marks a turning point in the Israel–Iran conflict. This escalation moves beyond strategic deterrence to personal retribution, signaling that Israel now views Iran’s leadership itself as a legitimate military target. It dramatically raises the risk of regional war, tests the limits of international norms, and redefines the cost of targeting civilians in modern conflict.

SOURCES: BREIBART – Israel’s Defense Minister, After Hospital Strike: Khamenei ‘Should No Longer Continue to Exist

FORTUNE – Israeli defense minister says Iran’s supreme leader ‘should not continue to exist’ after Iranian missiles wound 24

AP NEWS – Iranian missiles hit a hospital and wound over 200. Israel threatens Iran’s top leader