Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-12 at 17:02

HEADLINES
UNIFIL says IDF rammed UN vehicles
Hamas disarmament talks advance under Trump plan
Roman Gofman named Mossad chief

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, UNIFIL says an IDF Merkava tank rammed UNIFIL vehicles on two occasions Sunday, causing significant damage in at least one instance as soldiers blocked a road in Bayada used to access UN positions. The force also reports that over the past week the IDF fired warning shots in the area that struck and damaged clearly identifiable UNIFIL vehicles, including a shot that landed a meter from a peacekeeper who had dismounted. UNIFIL further accuses Israeli soldiers of repeatedly blocking peacekeepers’ movements on this road and denying freedom of movement in other areas. Since early April, Israeli forces have destroyed force protection cameras at UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters and five other Blue Line positions from Ras Naqoura to Maroun ar Ras, and yesterday spray-painted the windows of the headquarters’ pedestrian access gate, limiting visibility to the perimeter. UNIFIL says these actions are inconsistent with Israel’s obligations.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas position on disarmament to be determined this week, source tells 'Post', the Jerusalem Post reports that it will be decided this week whether Hamas will disarm as part of an agreement. A source familiar with talks between the Trump administration’s Board of Peace and senior Hamas officials said discussions are ongoing to determine whether disarmament will be voluntary or “by other means,” as Trump has warned. The talks include mediation channels such as Nikolay Mladenov, and references to an original plan presented by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in February that would have Hamas relinquish heavy weapons and destroy tunnels in a first phase, with a second phase addressing remaining arms. The Trump administration and the Board say discussions on Gaza persist even as attention shifts to Iran or Lebanon. Separately, the IDF said it killed several Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7 hostage-taking while planning an imminent attack near the Yellow Line in Gaza, including Ali Sami Mohammad Shakra, a Nukhba unit commander who infiltrated Israel and took part in the kidnapping of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and others. Also killed were Mohammad Mabhouh and Mohammad Fuad Jaser Sayyid, linked to holding Israeli hostage Avinatan Or, who was released in 2025 over the course of ongoing exchanges.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Roman Gofman approved as new Mossad director, PMO confirms, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Major-General Roman Gofman as the next head of Mossad, to replace David Barnea on June 2 after the vetting committee chaired by former Supreme Court chief justice Asher Grunis approved him. Gofman, 49, currently serves as the prime minister’s military secretary and moved to Israel from Belarus at age 14; his path to the top spy post had faced delays and questions about prior controversies, with some opposition among security figures and concerns about bridging roles with the IDF. In a separate though related development, a Hebrew-language report describes dramatic regional tensions around Lebanon, noting that Hezbollah may open fire and drawing attention to public anger over destruction of villages in southern Lebanon and broader security fears as Israel weighs its border posture. Additionally, Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs claimed that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir backs the government’s haredi draft bill, though the IDF later denied direct endorsement of the legislation. The High Court hearing on the matter focused on enforcing military service obligations against haredi draft dodgers, as MK Boaz Bismuth pushes a package including extending mandatory service, a conscription law, and a reserve duty law; Fuchs asserted that without these laws, the IDF would collapse.

In Uplifting News, Approximately 120 Holocaust survivors made aliyah during the Gaza war, but numbers are dropping as the aging population grows older. Among the new arrivals are a 96-year-old American and an 88-year-old French woman who came in 2026, with additional survivors from Russia, Ukraine, and Mexico arriving in 2025. Since 2016, about 2,316 Holocaust survivors have made aliyah, with a peak of around 815 immigrants in 2022. Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer emphasized that every survivor who moves to Israel serves as a living testament to the Jewish people’s endurance, and the ministry notes that even as numbers decline, Israel remains a home for survivors.

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-892768
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892766
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892753
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892765
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1309162
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892760
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-892762