TEHRAN – Israel likely believed it would rally the public support it failed to gain during the 12-day Iran-Israel war by sharing pictures of a female Israeli soldier writing "Mahsa Amini" on munitions destined for strikes against Iran. However, the move provoked mixed reactions—but not support—with many Iranians now questioning Israel’s role in the 2022 violence that shook Iran.

“A source provided me with photos showing a female Israeli flight technician who wrote a dedication to Mahsa Amini on a munition used in an airstrike against Iran,” wrote an individual affiliated with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) on X. The FDD is a Washington-based pro-Israel lobby group that has long advocated for attacks on Iran and the overthrow of its government. It maintains close ties to the Israeli regime.

The post quickly went viral, with Iranians expressing outrage. Many questioned whether the FDD worker believed Iranians were "stupid." “You write Mahsa Amini’s name on bombs that were used to kill us and expect us to thank Israel?” said one X user, seemingly a young woman from Tehran. “The audacity of you Israelis is unbelievable and disgusting.”

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked and unprecedented war against Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message claiming his "fight" was not against the Iranian people but their government, urging them to "rise up" for "freedom." Between June 13 and June 24, at least 1,060 Iranians were killed, most of them civilians, including women and children.

Analysts suggest Israel and its ally and partner in crime, the United States, believed they could turn the Iranian people against their government through propaganda and attacks on civilian infrastructure. However, this objective failed completely. Figures from both Iranian and Western polls show the Iranian government gained more popularity during the war.

“We didn’t fall for your deception during the war, and we certainly won’t now,” wrote an Iranian man on X. “Don’t exploit Mahsa Amini for your sinister agendas.”

Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old woman who died days after being detained by Tehran police. A video showed her collapsing in a police station while speaking with an officer. No physical altercation could be seen in the video, and hospital reports indicated she died from a pre-existing medical condition—one for which she had undergone brain surgery as a child.

Her death initially sparked protests, which later escalated into deadly riots. By the spring of 2022, at least 300 people had been killed, including scores of security personnel. At the time, the Iranian government accused Israel and the U.S. of orchestrating and fuelling the unrest—a claim that has gained significant traction since the war and Israel’s use of Mahsa Amini’s name in its propaganda.

“These photos are the final nails in the coffin,” said Mahsa, a 27-year-old from Esfahan, reacting to the images of the Israeli bombs. “Israelis are behind the violence in our country. We now know this better than ever.”