Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has promised a multi-phased response to Yemen’s Houthis after the militants struck the area of the Ben Gurion International Airport with a missile.
Netanyahu said in a video published on the Telegram messaging platform, “We have acted against them in the past and we will act in the future, but I cannot go into detail … it will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs.”
He also vowed that “there will be no Hamas” in Gaza.
A ballistic missile launched from Yemen hit the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel’s main airport, damaging a road and a vehicle and causing air traffic to stop.
The Israeli military confirmed its defence system failed to shoot down the projectile on Sunday, May 4, 2025, morning despite several attempts to intercept it, adding that an investigation was under way.
Israeli media reported that the advanced US-made THAAD system and Israel’s long-range Arrow defence system failed to bring down the missile.
Eight people were injured, according to paramedics.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been carrying out attacks against Israel in stated opposition to its war and blockade on the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for the missile launched at Israel’s busiest airport.
In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree warned airlines that Ben Gurion airport was “no longer safe for air travel.”
The attack led to a brief suspension of flights at the airport in central Israel with some having to be redirected.
All entrances to the airport were also briefly closed while train journeys towards the site were halted.
A number of major airlines, including German carrier Lufthansa, Spanish airline Air Europa, Air France, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Air India and Hungary’s Wizz Air announced that they were cancelling flights for Sunday, with some cancelling flights on Monday and Tuesday as well.
Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz also threatened severe retaliation. “Whoever attacks us, we will hit back sevenfold,” Katz said in an apparent reference in the Torah relating to severe punishment, or divine justice.
Gantz Blames Iran For Houthi Attack
Benny Gantz, leader of the Israel Resilience party and a former war cabinet member, said that the blame for the missile attack by the Iran-aligned group should be put on Tehran.
He said in a social media post without providing evidence, “It is Iran that is firing ballistic missiles at the state of Israel, and it must bear responsibility.” Gantz added, “The shooting at the state of Israel is bound to lead to a severe reaction in Tehran.”
Meanwhile, Yair Golan, a leading opposition figure, said that millions of Israelis are in shelters again, Israeli captives held in Gaza are dying, the cost of living is crushing families and reservists are “collapsing under the burden” of the Isreal-Hamas war.
“This is big for Netanyahu, this is big for the government. We must return the kidnapped people home and end the war.”
Yair Golan
According to Palestinian officials, more than 18 months of Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 52,495 people, including 57 who starved to death due to the total Israeli siege since March 2, 2025.
Houthi attacks are continuing despite near daily bombardment of areas across Yemen by the United States military.
US President, Donald Trump, in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities and deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Houthi-run media reported many more US air raids on Yemen early on Sunday, as well as after the attack on Ben Gurion airport.
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