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CONFLICT

Israelis are 'hysterical,' panic buying and preparing for shelter awaiting Iranian response


Israelis are 'hysterical,' panic buying and preparing for shelter awaiting Iranian response

A man puts groceries in his car in Tel Aviv on June 13, 2025. (Credit: Maya Levin/AFP)

The streets of Israel’s major cities were empty this morning, after residents were warned to stay home and prepare food and supplies to last for the next two weeks, al-Jazeera's correspondent in Tel Aviv reported Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Israeli public on Friday that they may have to spend prolonged periods in bomb shelters ahead of an anticipated retaliatory strike by Iran.

Israeli political scientist Ori Goldberg also told Al Jazeera that the Israeli government’s warning to citizens to stock up on enough essentials to last for two weeks seems to have been taken to heart.

“I live above a small grocery store [in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv],” he said. “I went down there at around 10 a.m. It was like the fall of Saigon.”

A boy pushes a stroller filled with groceries as Israelis shop to prepare against retaliation by Iran. (Credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)


“There was a line stretching out forever and only the meanest dry goods left. It’s profoundly hysterical” he added.

Videos surfaced on social media platforms from supermarkets in Tel Aviv showing mass-buying of products, crowded supermarkets and long lines at the cashier with customers buying carts full of goods. 

Israel carried out an unprecedented series of attacks against Iran in the early hours of Friday morning. Sending 200 fighter jets, Israel struck Iran's largest uranium enrichment plant, Natanz, as well as, according to the New York Times, at least six military bases around Tehran, including Parchin. Residences in two ultra-secure complexes housing military commanders were also bombed, in addition to several residential buildings in Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had “given Iran every chance to reach an [nuclear] agreement,” but in vain.

“It will be far worse than anything they know or anticipate,” Trump warned, claiming that the United States would produce “the most advanced and deadly military equipment in the world” and send it to Israel.

Trump cautioned that a truce is still possible if Iran “makes a deal ... to save what remains of the Iranian Empire.”

“More deaths, more destruction, do it before it’s too late. God bless you!” he stated.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country will "make its enemy regret" the massive attack.

The streets of Israel’s major cities were empty this morning, after residents were warned to stay home and prepare food and supplies to last for the next two weeks, al-Jazeera's correspondent in Tel Aviv reported Friday.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Israeli public on Friday that they may have to spend prolonged periods in bomb shelters ahead of an anticipated retaliatory strike by Iran.Israeli political scientist Ori Goldberg also told Al Jazeera that the Israeli government’s warning to citizens to stock up on enough essentials to last for two weeks seems to have been taken to heart.“I live above a small grocery store [in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv],” he said. “I went down there at around 10 a.m. It was like the fall of Saigon.”“There was a line stretching out forever and only the meanest dry goods...
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