Defense: Contractor Killed in Gaza, Netanyahu Touts Drone Solution

A civilian contractor dies in Gaza demolition, as Netanyahu claims Israel will lead on drone defense and Hezbollah is degraded.

Defense: Contractor Killed in Gaza, Netanyahu Touts Drone Solution — A Defense Ministry civilian contractor, Raad Abu al-Qi'an from Hura, was killed on Wednesday when a structure collapsed on him while he operated heavy machinery during demolition works in the Gaza Strip.[^5] The incident underscores the ongoing risks of post-war engineering operations, even as the defense establishment pursues large-scale rubble removal and reconstruction plans in the Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel Conference on June 24, asserted that Israel will be the first country to solve the global issue of explosive drones, referencing an initiative he called the "Manhattan Project."[^3] He also claimed that Hezbollah retains only 8% of its pre-war missile and artillery capability and that about ten thousand terrorists have been eliminated in Lebanon. Separately, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $35 billion to increase production of THAAD interceptor missiles, while the White House has requested an $88 billion budget from Congress, mainly to fund the war in Iran, with over $67 billion for the Pentagon.[^4] In the West Bank, the IDF and Shin Bet eliminated arms dealer and terrorist Muhammad Zaid in the Kafr Yamun area in northern Samaria.[^6] Meanwhile, police rescued an IDF soldier found handcuffed in the Palestinian town of Tarqumiya. The security establishment is also preparing for aggressive operations in Judea and Samaria ahead of the holidays, with the Paratroopers Brigade joining the Nahal and Home Front Command brigades, bringing the total force to about 26 battalions. The day's events paint a picture of a military stretched across multiple fronts, from Gaza demolition to West Bank counterterrorism, even as the political echelon projects confidence about the trajectory of the war. Ben Gvir doubles down on Negev demolitions as Bedouin protest looms — National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared he will continue demolishing illegal homes in the Negev, telling Bedouins forced to sleep in schools: 'I will destroy more and more homes.'[^1] Since taking office, over 5,000 structures