Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-18 at 23:02

HEADLINES
Harris Trump dragged US into Iran
Iran EU hypocritical Hormuz blockade endures
Gaza widows exploited by Hamas

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, former vice president Kamala Harris said at a Detroit event that President Trump was “pulled into” the Iran conflict by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She described the war as one the American people do not want and charged that Trump used Operation Epic Fury as a feeble distraction from the Epstein files. Harris called the Trump administration the “most corrupt, callous, and incompetent” in US history and warned that the president seeks to project strength and deploy military force against whomever he chooses. She argued this is the first presidency since World War II to abandon America’s responsibility to nurture and protect alliances, and to dismiss the importance of upholding international rules and norms such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, a stance she said has made the United States unreliable to its allies and eroded its influence on global issues.

In Regional Impacts, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the European Union for claiming Iran violated international law, calling Europe’s stance hypocritical. He argued that international law does not forbid Iran from taking necessary measures to prevent the Strait of Hormuz from being used against it militarily and contended that the United States and Israel have violated international law by launching a war of aggression. Baghaei dismissed talk of “unconditional transit passage” in Hormuz as fiction and noted that more than 100 international law experts in the United States have commented on the issue. Along the banks of the Tigris, fish farmer Haidar Kazem mourned the loss of about 300 tonnes of fish after polluted water flooded his ponds following the Hamrin Dam release and a flood-driven flow from Diyala, with satellite imagery showing the contaminated plume. He said two hours wiped out his year-and-a-half of work and left him back to zero, underscoring Iraq’s dire water situation amid climate change. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ fast-boat fleet, described as a “mosquito fleet,” continues to enforce a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, employing guerrilla tactics and hidden bases to disrupt global oil shipping routes and posing a long-standing nuisance in the Persian Gulf. In Washington and Tehran, officials signaled progress in talks but acknowledged gaps over nuclear issues and the Strait. Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said there are points on which both sides insist, while President Donald Trump said there have been “very good conversations” but warned against “blackmail” over the Strait, with no specifics offered as the fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran nears expiration.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, "'Sex In exchange for food or money': Gaza's widows sexually exploited by Hamas" reveals rare testimonies from inside Gaza reported by the Daily Mail about Hamas members blackmailing and exploiting women, especially widows and divorcees who turn to charity organizations, with their vulnerability exploited and the situation worsening day by day.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel must be more than just the nation-state of the Jewish people, an opinion piece arguing that Israel should function as an anchor for Jewish identity, culture, and global engagement rather than solely as a political entity. The author frames Israel within a civilizational context, drawing on scholars to suggest that the state can serve as a center for Jewish civilization and a bridge to Diaspora Jewry, potentially reshaping perceptions of Israel in the region. Separately, the Education Ministry announced that the school system will fully reopen nationwide from Sunday morning, including northern communities near the Lebanon border, after updated security guidelines aligned with ceasefires with Lebanon and Iran. The ministry said the system is prepared with resources to ensure a swift, full reopening and emphasized that the return to learning is an important moment for students and staff, with a focus on closing learning gaps and strengthening social resilience.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, How bad does it have to get before Jews finally leave? — an opinion piece — argues that Jews should not wait for conditions to deteriorate before considering options. It cites cases of antisemitic abuse and violence in Britain, New York, Toronto, and across Europe, noting that thousands of antisemitic incidents have been recorded and that armed protection has been deployed in some communities, raising questions about safety and long-term belonging for Jewish people in these regions.

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/american-politics/article-893432
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-893429
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/iraq-fish-die-leaves-farmers-mourning-lost-livelihoods
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjxpoi11a11x
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/trump-iran-cite-progress-talks-uncertainty-hangs-over-strait
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkdqkhwpzl
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893086
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893428
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893268