Israeli authorities have charged a 73-year-old woman from Tel Aviv with planning to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using a rocket-propelled grenade. Prosecutors said on Thursday the woman, who has a terminal illness, viewed her plan as a final act to oppose the current government. According to court documents, the woman decided to carry out the attack after being diagnosed with a terminal condition. She reportedly told prosecutors she was willing to die “as a martyr” and described her intent as a mission to “save” Israel from the country’s leadership.
Investigators allege that she discussed her plan with another activist and asked him to help procure the weapon. She also requested help tracking the prime minister’s schedule and security details. The man declined to take part in the plan and, after unsuccessfully attempting to dissuade her, alerted law enforcement.
The woman was later arrested. Prosecutors have requested she remain under house arrest for the duration of the legal process, citing her stated willingness to carry out the attack despite her age and condition.
The case has drawn comparisons to past acts of political violence in Israel. In 1995, then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a far-right extremist opposed to the Oslo peace accords. More recently, in 2024, an Israeli man was arrested for threatening PM Netanyahu’s life in a social media post.
The woman’s identity has not been publicly released due to legal restrictions. Authorities have not revealed how close she came to acquiring the weapon or whether any additional suspects are under investigation.
Officials say the case underscores concerns over rising political tensions in the country and the potential for lone actors to resort to violence. No injuries were reported, and the prime minister’s office has not yet issued a statement on the case.
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