Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-25 at 00:02

HEADLINES
US sanctions Hengli refinery over Iranian oil
Israel uncovers Hamas funding pipeline via Turkey
Shakespeare Blackfriars home unearthed

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, the United States has imposed sanctions on Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery for buying billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil, naming it one of Iran’s largest customers of crude and refined products, and has also targeted about 40 shipping companies and vessels tied to Iran’s shadow fleet. China’s embassy in Washington has condemned the move, saying normal trade should not be harmed and calling on Washington to stop abusing sanctions to hit Chinese companies. Last year, Washington sanctioned teapots Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical, and Shandong Shengxing Chemical. The sanctions come as Washington and Tehran head into another round of peace talks over the weekend. Reza Pahlavi declared that whether Europe stands with us, whether journalists do their jobs, or whether politicians demonstrate the courage to act, he will fight for his people and his country. Signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty will meet at the United Nations from Monday as hopes fade for an agreement and tensions rise between the world’s major atomic powers; UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu warned there is a shared sense of crisis, noting no bilateral arms-control agreements exist between the two largest nuclear states and that disarmament has stalled amid mounting capabilities. The United States will not renew oil waivers for Iranian and Russian purchases, a policy stated by Treasury official Scott Bessent; the waivers were designed to ease energy-market strains tied to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US-Iran standoff, with Russia’s waiver issued in March 2026 and extended to April 18 and the Iranian waiver following the onset of sanctions on Iran. Officials caution that not renewing could affect vulnerable countries as global production risks a near-term tightening.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Master Sergeant Avshalom, writing from southern Lebanon after nearly 400 days of reserve duty since October 7, describes escorting Nahal troops back to Israel at dawn, the beauty of the Galilee below, and the fear that military gains may not translate into lasting change.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Central District Court ruling uncovered a covert Hamas funding network moving millions through intermediaries in Israel, with Hamas affiliates in Turkey coordinating transfers to contacts in the West Bank and Gaza; central to the operation was Fadi Arabi, whose brother is connected to Hamas operatives in Turkey. Adem Dolani received five years in prison plus a fine of 270,000 shekels after taking part in seven transfers totaling about 2.2 million shekels intended to assist, promote, or reward the execution of serious terrorist offenses, and prosecutors say Dolani deleted communications to erase evidence. The case spans four investigations, including incidents from 2020, 2022, and 2023, and an accompanying civil lawsuit for damages is also in play. A separate commentary notes that holidays such as Remembrance Day and Independence Day feel differently to new immigrants and to those who have lived here longer, reflecting on how experience and perspective shape communal memory. In a separate legal matter, three doctors testified reinforcing the case against 66-year-old mohel Moshe Drai, who is under four investigations and faces findings of negligence in bandaging after a circumcision; his house arrest was extended to April 30 as investigators pursue four cases, with one civil claim added to the file, and authorities say evidence points to negligence. In Israeli cities, a 48-year-old man was moderately injured in an act of street violence on Sde Boker Street in Kiryat Ata, with paramedics treating him and transporting him to Rambam Hospital. A 26-year-old man was also moderately injured in an assault near the La Guardia Interchange in Tel Aviv, treated by Magen David Adom teams and taken to Ichilov Hospital.

In Uplifting News, British professor Lucy Munro of King’s College London has pinpointed Shakespeare’s London home in Blackfriars using three previously unknown documents from the London and National Archives, revealing the exact location and the size of Shakespeare’s property in the Blackfriars precinct after the Great Fire of London.

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/international/article-894093
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75506
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/crunch-nuclear-proliferation-meeting-un-amid-raging-global-wars
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894090
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1ejhoytzl
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894095
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893811
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894091
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1313582
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1313581
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-894076