Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-08 at 15:02

HEADLINES
- IDF destroys Litani bridges Hezbollah on alert
- Gaza airstrike kills Al Jazeera journalist Washah
- Khamenei approves ceasefire terms

The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, the IDF’s Persian-language spokesman wrote on X that this campaign is not over. He said the Israeli army remains as it was throughout the operation, ready and alert in both defense and offense, and that it will act against any attempt to threaten or harm Israel’s security. The report notes Lebanon is out of the equation, with Trump giving the green light to continued attacks. The education system is preparing for the opening of schools, with details on which cities will return to class as soon as tomorrow. The situation is described as tragic, with casualties and people trapped under rubble as a widespread campaign against Hezbollah continues. The IDF is striking Hezbollah as activists leave the Dahieh district, described as being in a state of shock. Iran has proclaimed victory and disclosed the conditions the United States agreed to.

In Regional Impacts, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed four people on Wednesday, including Al Jazeera journalist Muhammad Washah, according to local health authorities and Al Jazeera. The strike that killed Washah targeted a vehicle he and another Palestinian were driving along the coastal road in Gaza City. In February 2024, at the height of Israel’s war in Gaza, the military had accused Washah of being a member of Hamas’s military wing, a claim Hamas and Al Jazeera denied; Israel did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Al Jazeera reported on its Arabic-language channel that Washah was killed in a drone strike. Two other people were killed in a separate Gaza incident, medics said.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Staff Sergeant Touvel Yosef Lifshiz, 20, from Beit She’an, served in the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion and was killed in combat in southern Lebanon, the IDF announced. As Hezbollah continues to launch drones and rockets at Israeli territory, northern residents spend much of the night in safe rooms and bomb shelters. At its height in fall 2024, Hezbollah was firing roughly 100–250 rockets or drones per day. On March 22, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz directed the IDF to destroy all bridges over the Litani River. Separately, the IDF Chief of Staff said that the army had killed more than 1,000 Hezbollah operatives since the group joined the war on March 2, and that fighting in Lebanon continues even as Iran strikes appear to have halted. Israel has been pounding Lebanon with heavy airstrikes, and Hezbollah is expected to issue a statement on the ceasefire and Netanyahu’s assertion that Lebanon is not included.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, the White House said the United States is dispatching a negotiating team for Iran talks, with Vice President JD Vance, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner leading the delegation; the first round of talks is set for Saturday, and Iran has indicated it would be willing to turn over its stock of enriched uranium. A Wall Street Journal report cited US officials saying Israel was not informed of the US-Iran ceasefire plan until late in the discussions, a point of frustration for Israeli officials who were not part of the last-minute decisions. The report also noted that President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu disputed some public aspects of the plan. Separately, reports describe a US ultimatum to Iran during the talks, with negotiators pressing for verification and a commitment from senior regime officials to uphold the ceasefire; a written message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly approved the terms, suggesting coordination at the highest level, while Iran said communications gaps would complicate implementation and that it faced a 36-hour window to meet ceasefire terms.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime ministerial rival Yair Lapid accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of delivering the “worst result” in the Iran war and of selling lies to the United States, saying Netanyahu would soon claim the campaign was a success while in fact Iran had not been defeated. Lapid argued that Israel had no real influence on the ceasefire or the talks that produced it. Earlier, White House spokespeople described the ceasefire as a US victory. In another development, with easing security guidelines, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem will reopen to Jewish ascent starting tomorrow morning; police say they will mount a heightened operational posture with hundreds of officers deployed to the Old City and holy sites, and they urged the public to follow officers’ instructions, stay vigilant for suspicious items, and report concerns to the police.

In Israeli Economy and Business, after Passover, crowds lined up at the Abulafia bakery on Yefet Street in Jaffa to buy pastries. The long lines formed as workers prepared for the post-holiday surge, with customers traveling from Tel Aviv to wait their turn. Owner Walid Abulafia said the bakery had been closed for a week for the holiday and that this year’s turnout was higher than last year, with hopes that there will be no further conflicts.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1306613
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/israeli-strikes-gaza-kill-four-including-al-jazeera-journalist-medics-say
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892385
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-confirms-halt-to-iran-strikes-says-fighting-against-hezbollah-in-lebanon-ongoing/
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-pounds-lebanon-with-heaviest-airstrikes-of-the-war/
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892388
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892382
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/08/us-issues-new-ultimatum-to-iran/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1306614
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892383
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1306615
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1306616