Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-12 at 15:01

HEADLINES
Holocaust Remembrance Day prerecorded amid Iran tensions
Nahariya church remains damaged by Hezbollah rocket
Roman Gofman named next Mossad chief

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 Regional Impacts, Israel is set to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday night, but the state ceremony at Yad Vashem will be prerecorded and broadcast rather than live due to the ongoing Iran conflict and related safety regulations. The confrontation with Iran has reached a fragile pause, with a two‑week ceasefire announced and Home Front safety rules relaxed, yet Yad Vashem has confirmed there will be no live ceremony. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog are to deliver addresses as part of the broadcast, and Netanyahu, President Herzog, Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will lay wreaths at the memorial on Tuesday morning after the nationwide siren and moment of silence. The official wreath‑laying ceremony is also closed to the public.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a rocket fired by Hezbollah toward northern Israel struck the remains of a Byzantine‑era church in Nahariya, damaging the modern protective structure but not the mosaic itself, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. The church, rediscovered in 1964 and home to a mosaic floor dating to about 550 CE, was partly shrouded in debris from the damaged shelter, though archaeologists noted the mosaic appeared undamaged; the site remains under assessment. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in southern Lebanon asserted that the war continues, including inside the security zone in Lebanon, stressing that Iran and “the axis of evil” came to destroy Israel and are now fighting for their own survival.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a source familiar with talks between the US Board of Peace and senior Hamas officials said this week will determine whether Hamas will disarm as part of an agreement, with discussions exploring whether disarmament will be voluntary or pursued by other means. The discussions, conducted through intermediaries including Nikolay Mladenov, are tied to a two‑stage plan that would see Hamas surrender heavy weapons and tunnels first, followed by other measures, amid ongoing security considerations. Prime Minister Netanyahu also announced the appointment of Roman Gofman, currently the military secretary to the prime minister, as the next head of Mossad; he is set to replace David Barnea on June 2 after clearance by the vetting committee, despite earlier controversy and debates about his background. In another development, Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs claimed the IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir supports a controversial haredi draft bill, though the IDF later denied direct endorsement; the high court hearing on the matter occurred as Knesset committees weigh advancing a package of three laws to extend service, introduce a mandatory draft, and regulate reserve duty, with officials warning that without these laws the army’s capacity could be strained.

In Israeli Economy and Business, El Al announced nine new destinations for next week, including Boston, London Luton, Tivat, Krakow, Marseille, Sofia, Paphos, Rhodes, and Thessaloniki, bringing total destinations to about 40 and signaling a broadening of international reach. The airline also said it would contact travelers whose operations have not yet resumed to confirm their plans. Concurrently, several foreign carriers are resuming operations to and from Ben‑Gurion Airport this week: ALK Airlines (Bluebird Airways) restarted daily flights to accompany Greek‑owned Israeli operations, TUS Airways will resume service on Tuesday, Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines return on Wednesday, and China’s Hainan Airlines is set to resume operations as well, expanding the airport’s international connectivity.

In Uplifting News, about 120 Holocaust survivors immigrated to Israel during the Gaza war, according to the Aliyah Ministry, reflecting a continued but aging trend in migration. Among those arriving in 2026 are a 96‑year‑old American and an 88‑year‑old French woman, with 84‑ to 87‑year‑old survivors also making aliyah in 2025. Since 2016, 2,316 Holocaust survivors have made aliyah, with a peak of 815 in 2022, while the ministry notes the decline in recent years is linked to the growing difficulties of moving at advanced ages and the deaths of older survivors. Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer emphasized that every survivor choosing Israel remains a living testament to resilience, and the ministry noted that about 40,136 Holocaust survivors have made aliyah to date.

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.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892756
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-892750
https://t.me/selena_updates/61687
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892766
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892765
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892760
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892745
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-892762