Trump Announces Israel-Iran Ceasefire as Chief Rabbi Evacuated by RAF Flight

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a "complete and total ceasefire" to be phased in over 24 hours, bringing an apparent end to what has been dubbed the "12-day war" between the two Middle Eastern powers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the ceasefire on Tuesday, saying Israel "achieved great historical achievements and placed itself on a par with the world powers" and had accomplished all of its military objectives in what Israel called "Operation Rising Lion."

The ceasefire was brokered by President Trump and Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, according to diplomatic sources, following more than a week of escalating attacks between the two nations.

Ceasefire Terms and Timeline

The agreement outlined a staggered implementation, with Iran committing to a ceasefire around midnight Tuesday ET, while Israel would begin its own ceasefire 12 hours later. However, the ceasefire faced immediate challenges as the IDF accused Iran of violations shortly after Netanyahu announced Israel's acceptance, claiming missiles were launched toward Israeli territory.

Iranian state-aligned media announced that "from 7:30 AM Tehran time, based on the agreement reached, a ceasefire between Iran and the Zionist regime came into effect" and claimed that Iran had fired "the last round of Iranian missile attacks into the heart of the occupied territories minutes before the ceasefire began."

Chief Rabbi Among British Nationals Evacuated

In a separate but related development, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis was among 63 British nationals evacuated from Israel by RAF flight on Monday, according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy's statement to Parliament.

The Chief Rabbi had been stranded in Israel after flying there to take part in solidarity activities, when the conflict with Iran erupted. He had been staying in Herzliya with extended family when Israeli airspace was closed due to the escalating conflict.

During his time in Israel, Rabbi Mirvis reported that he had "lost count" of how many times he had taken cover from incoming rocket fire, telling Jewish News UK that "we've had multiple alerts every night". He described the experience as bringing home "what regular Israelis face" and emphasized that "Iran isn't aiming at military targets — it's trying to kill civilians."

Background to the Conflict

The current conflict began when Israel launched a surprise barrage of attacks on sites in Iran on June 13, which Israeli officials said was necessary to head off what they claimed was an imminent threat. This was followed by US strikes on several key Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, which President Trump claimed were "totally obliterated."

The conflict saw more than 9,000 Israelis displaced from their homes and resulted in casualties on both sides, with Israeli firefighters retrieving four bodies from a building hit by an Iranian missile in the city of Beersheba.

International Response

European stocks opened in positive territory on Tuesday as investors breathed a sigh of relief over easing tensions in the Middle East after the U.S. announced the ceasefire, with travel and leisure stocks leading gains.

The conflict had broader regional implications, with Iran firing 19 missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, though Trump said Iran had provided advance warning of the attack.

As the ceasefire takes effect, questions remain about its durability, with both sides having accused each other of violations in the immediate aftermath of the announcement. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as efforts to establish lasting peace in the region continue.