Israeli prosecutors have charged a 73-year-old terminally ill woman with plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), authorities announced on Thursday.
The woman, an anti-government activist from Tel Aviv whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly devised the plan after receiving her terminal diagnosis. According to the indictment, she declared her intention to “sacrifice” her life to “save” the State of Israel from the current government, which she vehemently opposes.
Prosecutors said the woman sought assistance from another activist, asking him to help her acquire the RPG and gather intelligence on Netanyahu’s schedule and security details. The man declined to participate and attempted to dissuade her. When his efforts failed, he alerted authorities, leading to her arrest.
In court filings, prosecutors requested that she remain under house arrest throughout the legal proceedings, arguing that her statements, particularly her willingness to die as a “martyr”, demonstrate she still poses a danger to public safety.
The case marks one of the most unusual and serious threats against a sitting Israeli prime minister in recent years. While politically motivated threats are not unprecedented, Netanyahu was previously targeted in a 2024 social media post, and former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995, this case is notable for the age and health status of the accused.
The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet commented on the charges. Security services continue to review protocols in light of the incident.
Written By Rodney Mbua
