Israeli PM Netanyahu slammed for calling son’s wedding delay ‘personal cost’ of war
New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked widespread criticism after describing the postponement of his son's wedding as a “personal cost” of the ongoing conflict with Iran. The remarks, made against the backdrop of missile strikes and civilian casualties, have drawn backlash online and from families affected by the war.
Speaking near the Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, which was recently hit by Iranian missiles, Netanyahu said, “Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt. This is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a wedding due to missile threats. It is a personal cost for his fiancée as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero.”
He further likened the situation in Israel to the British Blitz during World War II, saying, “It really reminds me of the British people during the Blitz. We are going through a blitz.”
Netanyahu’s remarks were met with fierce condemnation online, with critics accusing him of equating a delayed wedding with the suffering of civilians and soldiers killed in the war. Among the voices was Anat Angrest, the mother of Matan, an Israeli captive held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. “I have been in the hellish dungeons of Gaza for 622 days now,” she wrote on social media, expressing outrage at Netanyahu’s focus.
The wedding of Avner Netanyahu was originally planned for November 2024 but was postponed due to security concerns. It was rescheduled for June 16, but once again delayed amid rising tensions and anti-government protests.
Since Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion” on June 13 targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the conflict has escalated rapidly. Iran responded with retaliatory missile strikes, including the use of cluster munitions, a first in the current conflict, one of which damaged the Soroka Hospital.
At least 24 Israeli civilians have been killed so far, while Iran has reported over 200 fatalities. The war has now entered its eighth day with no signs of de-escalation.
Meanwhile, the White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether to intervene militarily in the Iran-Israel conflict. Officials warned that Iran could be weeks away from building a nuclear bomb, depending on decisions by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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'Go back to your own country': Indian-origin taxi driver attacked in Dublin
London, Aug 5 (PTI): An Indian-origin taxi driver based in Ireland for over 23 years has become the latest to be targeted in an unprovoked attack in the capital Dublin, with local police (Gardai) launching an investigation into the violent assault.
Lakhvir Singh, in his 40s, told local media that he picked up two young men in their 20s on Friday night and dropped them at Poppintree, in the Ballymun suburb of Dublin.
Upon arriving at the destination, the men are said to have opened the vehicle door and struck him twice on the head with a bottle. As the suspects fled, they reportedly shouted: "Go back to your own country".
"In 10 years I've never seen anything like this happen," Singh told ‘Dublin Live’.
"I'm really scared now and I'm off the road at the moment. It will be very hard to go back. My children are really scared," he said.
A Dublin police spokesperson said Singh was taken to the city's Beaumont Hospital with injuries determined as not life-threatening.
"Gardaí are investigating an assault reported to have occurred in Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11 at approximately 11:45 pm on Friday, 1st August 2025. A man, aged in his 40s, was brought to Beaumont Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injury. Investigations are ongoing," the spokesperson said.
The incident followed an Indian Embassy advisory, also issued on Friday, expressing safety concerns following recent attacks in and around the capital Dublin and urging Indian citizens to take safety precautions.
"There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently,” states the advisory.
“The embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned in Ireland in this regard. At the same time, all Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially at odd hours," the statement reads, adding emergency embassy contact details as 0899423734 and cons.dublin@mea.gov.in.
It came in the wake of a brutal attack on a 40-year-old Indian man at Parkhill Road in the Tallaght suburb of Dublin on July 19, described as “mindless, racist violence” by locals.
The Gardai had opened an investigation into the case and Indian Ambassador to Ireland Akhilesh Mishra was among those who took to social media to express shock over the attack.
“Regarding the recent incident of physical attack on an Indian national that happened in Tallaght, Dublin, the embassy is in touch with the victim and his family. All the requisite assistance is being offered. The embassy is also in touch with the relevant Irish authorities in this regard,” the embassy said in a social media post days after the incident.
A Stand Against Racism protest was also held by the local community in condemnation of what was described as a "vicious racist attack" and to express solidarity with migrants.
Last week, Dr Santosh Yadav took to LinkedIn to post details of a “brutal, unprovoked racist attack”.
The entrepreneur and AI expert stressed that it was not an isolated incident and called for “concrete measures” from the governments of Ireland and India to ensure Indians feel safe to walk the streets of Dublin.
His post revealed that a group of six teenagers attacked him from behind as he walked to his apartment in Dublin.
“This is not an isolated incident. Racist attacks on Indian men and other minorities are surging across Dublin — on buses, in housing estates, and on public streets. Yet, the government is silent. There is no action being taken against these perpetrators. They run free and are emboldened to attack again,” reads Yadav's post.
Fine Gael party Councillor for Tallaght South, Baby Pereppadan, was among those who expressed concern following last month’s attack.
“People need to understand that many Indian people moving to Ireland are here on work permits, to study and work in the healthcare sector or in IT and so on, providing critical skills,” he said.
Another violent anti-Indian attack in Ireland
— Journalist V (@OnTheNewsBeat) August 5, 2025
Taxi driver Lakhvir Singh was attacked with glass bottles while doing his job pic.twitter.com/mtkwhLWISx
