Israel vows to respond to Iran attack, weighs next steps during 'significant 24-hour period'

Hagar Brodutch, who was kidnapped by Hamas along with her three children, endured another terrifying night yesterday during the Iranian missile attack.

This morning, she said she is hoping for a swift end to war.

“We had a horrible evening and night. I just wish the war would be over already. We can’t stand it anymore,” Brodutch said via WhatsApp.

She and her children were kidnapped from kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7 and held captive for 51 days in Gaza.

While in captivity, Brodutch also cared for 4-year-old American Abigail Eden, whose parents were killed by Hamas. Brodutch and Abigail were freed in a prisoner exchange on Nov. 26. More than 100 people still remain in captivity.

Daniel Aloni, a former hostage who was freed with her 5-year-old daughter, Emilia, on Nov. 24 said she worries the rising tensions with Iran could divert attention from the hostages in Gaza. 

“I don’t know how Israel will choose to respond to the massive attack carried out yesterday by Iran,” Aloni said. “However, I hope we do not get dragged into an escalation in the region, as a regional war would divert attention from the 133 hostages still held by Hamas under dire conditions, injured or ill, in Gaza." 

The Hostage Family Forum, a group that represents the families of hostages, said in a statement today that amid the stress and anxiety of last night’s attack, the focus should still be on the remaining hostages who have been held for more than 190 days. 

“The fears and emotions we all felt pale in comparison to the terror, dread, despair, loneliness, cold, physical and mental torment the 133 hostages held by Hamas have endured for 190 days and nights,” the forum said in the statement. “We reiterate our calls for the international community to do everything possible to secure the release of all 133 hostages before more innocent lives are tragically lost.”

Israel said it will resume educational activities throughout the country tomorrow, reversing restrictions that were placed last night ahead of Iran's attack on the country.

Iran has a right to defend itself after Israel’s attack on a consular building in Syria this month. That was the clear and stern message delivered to the U.N. Security Council today by Amir Saeid Iravani, the representative of Iran. 

“It was entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to defend itself,” Iravani said of yesterday's aerial attack against Israel. “These actions were necessary and proportionate.”

Iravani said Iran acted in accordance with international law following the April 1 attack, first by engaging the Security Council on April 2 and then by not targeting civilians in its aerial offensive yesterday. 

He denied allegations that Iran has proxies in the region and said it does not seek escalation or war. 

Israel, on the other hand, has shirked its global responsibility by attempting to "use lies, manipulate the narrative and engage in a destructive blame game,” he said.

“They ignored the underlying root cause of the situation in the region,” he went on, referring to the deaths of more than 33,000 people in Gaza since Oct. 7.

Iravani also chided the U.S. and its allies for shielding Israel “from any responsibility for the Gaza massacre.” He said the Security Council has failed to enforce international law and has allowed Israel to continue attacks on civilian targets. It must take “urgent and punitive measures to stop genocide against people of Gaza," he said.

Israel's representative to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, said at today's meeting that Iran's attack "crossed every red line."

He emphasized that Israel "reserves the legal right to retaliate."

"We are not a frog in boiling water," he said. "We are a nation of lions. Following such a massive and direct attack on Israel, the entire world, let alone Israel, cannot settle for inaction. We will defend our future."

Erdan also called on the council to take action, describing Iran as "the world's worst human rights violator."

"Action must be taken now, not for Israel's sake, not for the region's sake," he said. "But for the world's sake."

The Russian diplomatic envoy to the United Nations criticized a double standard at the Security Council as states condemn Iran for its attack on Israel but did nothing when Russia asked to meet after the April 1 strike in Syria.

Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya told fellow member states that they were witnessing "a display of hypocrisy and double standards, which it's almost embarrassing to watch." He described an attack against a diplomatic representation as a "casus belli," or act of war, under international law.

"And if Western representation had been hit, you would immediately have rained down reprisals and would argued that you were right about this in this very chamber," Nebenzya said. "And this is because for you everything that has to do with Western representations of Western systems is sacred and needs to be protected."

He called on all parties to exercise restraint, noting that Iran has indicated it considers the matter concluded and saying others should follow suit.

Both representatives for France and the United Kingdom laid blame on Iran's region for destabilizing the region, condemning Tehran's barrage of rockets against Israel.

"The scale and nature of Iran's heinous assault, the first direct attack from Iran on Israel soil, poses grave risks to the security and stability of citizens across the Middle East," U.K. Ambassador Barbara Woodward said.

Woodward said that it was imperative for all parties to "exercise maximum restraint" and that the U.K. welcomed actions to deter Iran. France's representative, Nathalie Broadhurst, reiterated the country's condemnation of Iran.

"In deciding to undertake such an unprecedented act, Iran crossed a new threshold in its destabilizing action and is risking a military escalation for which it would be responsible," Broadhurst said. "We call upon Iran and its allies to at long last, and without further delay, see their destabilizing activities throughout the region."

Neither country addressed the April 1 attack on the Iranian diplomatic premises in Damascus.

Top congressional leaders appear united in providing unfettered funding to Israel and Ukraine through a national security spending package that could come up for a vote this week. 

Biden spoke with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York in a phone call today. Speaking to reporters after the call, Schumer said the U.S. needs to remain “ironclad” in its commitment to Israel. 

We've already heard from the secretary-general and council members from:

• Guyana
• Sierra Leone
• Slovenia
• The U.S.
• Algeria
• Japan
• France
• United Kingdom
• Ecuador
• Mozambique
• South Korea

Other speakers who remain include council members from:

• Switzerland
• Russia
• China
• Malta

Representatives from Israel, Iran and Syria will also address the group.

U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood urged the Security Council to "unequivocally condemn Iran's aggressive actions" and vowed to pursue additional measures to hold Iran accountable at the body.

"The Security Council has an obligation to not let Iran's actions go unanswered," Wood said.

Iran is "broadly" complicit in the Oct. 7 attack with its support of Hamas, Wood said, and the country's regime has "flagrantly" violated international law by arming proxy militias. Wood told the council that the U.S. aims to de-escalate the situation but that Iran's actions cannot go unanswered.

"This Iranian support contributed to the current crisis in Gaza. Colleagues, these and other reckless Iranian actions are not inherently defensive actions against other member states," Wood said. "Given the threats Iran’s aggressive actions pose for international peace and security, we have a collective responsibility as members of the Security Council to ensure that Iran complies with the council’s resolutions and ceases its violations of the charter."