Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-23 at 17:02

HEADLINES
Israel poised to renew war on Iran
Russian strike wounds Dnipro Jewish community
UK arrests 25 in antisemitism wave

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 Operation Lion's Roar, Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran, Defense Minister Israel Katz said at the end of a situational assessment on Thursday, with the military awaiting the green light from the United States to "complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty." "The IDF is prepared for both defense and attack, and the targets are marked," Katz added. He described Iran's regime as oppressive, saying it specializes in internal repression of its population through the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij. He accused Iran of "energy extortion, with the threat of raising global oil prices." "Its leaders are hiding in tunnels and have difficulty communicating and making decisions," Katz said, adding that "its skies are wide open, and all its national infrastructure and strategic facilities are exposed to attacks, but it declares that it is victorious." He compared Iran to its proxy groups Hamas and Hezbollah, noting that the country "does not care about the heavy prices paid by the population." Turning to future IDF plans, Katz described them as "different and deadly," stating that the military's future attack plans would be "different and deadly."

In Regional Impacts, a Russian strike fell near the home of Dnipro Jewish Community director Zelig Brez on Wednesday night, lightly wounding his child. The child is recovering, but the Jewish community and Dnipro’s other residents have been suffering under an unrelenting barrage of Russian drones and missile attacks over the last week. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine says recent weeks have seen intensified bombardment of major cities and civilian casualties. The Russian strike in Dnipro was the second in a week, damaging Ukrainian Jewish sites. Last Thursday, a drone was intercepted in Zaporizhzhia near the JDC Hesed Michael building, which also houses the Mazal Tov JCC. The ensuing blast damaged the entrance gate, some windows, and cars. JDC said that while staff, volunteers, and program participants were on site, no one was injured, in large part due to safety protocols. The Hesed reportedly resumed operations the next day after the damage was cleared, and the in-house trauma center invited people to address mental health issues.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF says that earlier today the Israeli military struck and eliminated three Hezbollah terrorists who launched a surface-to-air missile toward an Israeli Air Force aircraft, unsuccessfully. In an additional incident, terrorists launched an explosive UAV toward IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon. Shortly afterward, the IDF struck terrorist infrastructure in the area. Additionally, the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched rockets toward IDF soldiers operating south of the Forward Defense Line, in the Aainata area in southern Lebanon. Some rockets were intercepted, while others fell near the troops. No injuries were reported. In addition, the IDF identified and dismantled two loaded and ready-to-launch launchers. These constitute blatant violations of the ceasefire understandings.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Avi Dabush, head of the Rabbis for Human Rights organization, announced on Thursday that he will run for a spot on the Democrats Party slate ahead of the party’s primaries. The left-wing Democrats Party is composed of the Labor and Meretz parties, which merged in 2024. Dabush is expected to run for one of the reserved Meretz slots on the party’s list. He lives in Kibbutz Nirim in southern Israel, near the Gaza border, and has led anti-government protests in the Negev. He heads a periphery-focused initiative alongside MK Naama Lazimi from the Democrats. Dabush described his experiences during the October 7 attacks and said that a government he views as embracing Kahanism and Jewish terror costs lives, emphasizing his connection to Israel’s geographic and social peripheries.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, British law enforcement arrested 25 people in connection with a wave of attacks against UK Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian dissident sites this week. Eight have been charged, one convicted, and the rest remain under investigation. Targets have included four Hatzalah ambulances set on fire, two synagogues, the Israeli embassy, and Iran International’s offices, with a Jewish-owned shop door set ablaze in Hertfordshire. Police say many suspects appear to be teenagers from Watford, and while the attacks are serious, investigators have noted that the perpetrators do not appear to be motivated by any single ideology and may be working for other actors.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office has no codified definition for antisemitism and has no plans to introduce one, MOCA executive director Phylisa Wisdom told a Task Force hearing. Wisdom said, "Across city government, there is not a definition codified for any form of hate at all," and that the mayor’s administration will continue not to have any codified definition of hate. The hearing reviewed MOCA’s mandate to coordinate non-law-enforcement responses to antisemitic incidents, liaising with the Jewish community, law enforcement, and other agencies, and improving reporting and victim services. Wisdom said MOCA is still hiring, and while the office may consider creating a framework, there is no current codified antisemitism definition.

In Uplifting News, Beitar Jerusalem heads south to Beersheba on Saturday night for a championship showdown with the league-leading Beersheba. Beitar enters two points behind at a pivotal moment, needing a win to stake a claim at the Israel League title. Both teams opened the playoffs with 3-0 wins: Beersheba over Hapoel Petah Tikva, and Beitar over a weakened Maccabi Haifa side. This is the first of two playoff clashes, after Beersheba took the series lead with a 1-0 win at Teddy Stadium and a 2-1 win at Turner in the regular season. Beersheba has led the table all season, though Beitar earned momentum, despite Dan Bitton missing the remainder of the campaign due to a heart issue after contributing 15 goals. Kings Kangwa has stepped up his involvement as Beitar pushed for the title.

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/defense-news/article-894002
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894013
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75453
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894016
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894022
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894020
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-894025