Amid ongoing protests in Iran, senior Israeli figures have articulated a strategy of covert influence while publicly advocating for regime change. Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, speaking to Israeli Army Radio, emphasized the need for strategic patience and operating with an “invisible hand” to steer developments. Despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him, Gallant asserted that the Iranian regime “must fall,” but that the primary energy for change should come from the Iranian people themselves, not foreign military strikes.
The Israeli government has maintained relative public silence regarding the protests that began on December 28th, following reported advice from security officials that commentary could cause “great damage.” However, this week witnessed several Israeli politicians breaking this silence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for Iranian citizens’ “extraordinary courage” while condemning the “mass slaughter of innocent civilians” – despite facing his own ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity.
Reports suggest sophisticated Israeli intelligence operations targeting Iranian society. According to Haaretz journalist Nir Gontarz, Mossad-connected figures are briefing Israeli media personalities on messaging regarding Iran, effectively turning them into instruments of psychological warfare. Gontarz highlighted this as either conscious participation in state apparatus or “extreme professional negligence,” drawing parallels to the recent “Qatargate” misinformation scandal involving Netanyahu’s aides.
The situation is further complicated by diplomatic engagements between Iranian and US officials. Israeli media outlet i24news reported concerns within Netanyahu’s security establishment that talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and White House envoy Steve Witkoff might focus exclusively on nuclear negotiations, potentially allowing the Iranian government to suppress protests.
Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest, with Araghchi specifically alleging foreign encouragement of protests to destabilize the Islamic Republic. These allegations are reinforced by statements from figures like former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who openly referenced Mossad operations alongside Iranian protesters. However, Iranian demonstrators have rejected these characterizations, with one protester telling Middle East Eye that they are unfairly labeled as foreign agents whenever they protest economic conditions.
The human cost continues to mount, with an Iranian official telling Reuters that approximately 2,000 people have been killed, blaming “terrorists” for civilian and security personnel deaths.