The timing of the Israeli American attack on Iran on Saturday morning carries symbolic connotations linked to Jewish tradition, as it comes just before the Jewish holiday of “Purim”, also known as the “Feast of Lots”, which is observed on 6 March.
At this time, a specific passage from the Old Testament is read, known as “Zachor”, from the Book of Deuteronomy. It commands the Children of Israel to remember the attack of Amalek against their forefathers and to erase their memory. This passage is publicly recited before Purim in fulfilment of a historical religious commandment, according to the website of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.
During Purim, Jews commemorate Queen Esther’s success in foiling the plot of the Persian minister Haman to kill the Jews, and her triumph over his plans. It is a popular semi religious festival carrying symbolism of victory over conspiracies and aggression.
Although the story is drawn from the Book of Esther in the Tanakh and is regarded as a literary tale suited for children, religious Zionism and the far right have transformed this commemoration into a more violent character. Some observers have used this framing to interpret deviations in contemporary Israeli policies.
The first warnings of Iranian missiles heading towards the Israeli occupation were issued on Saturday morning, approximately two hours after the United States and Israel began launching military strikes on Iran under the name “Roar of the Lion”.
Israel’s Home Front Command sent direct warning messages to mobile phones, urging citizens to prepare to enter fortified areas, with expectations that missiles could arrive “within minutes”.
The occupation army announced that it had detected missile launches from Iran towards Israeli territory, confirming that the air force was intercepting them when necessary. The army stated that “defence is not impenetrable, and the public must adhere to Home Front Command instructions”.
For his part, US President Donald Trump announced the commencement of “large scale combat operations” in Iran, stating that the objective is to “destroy the Iranian missile programme, level their missile industry to the ground, and eliminate their naval fleet”.
In response, the occupation declared a “special and immediate state of emergency” across the country, while Iran vowed a “harsh response” to the aggression and launched missile barrages towards Israeli territory.
