Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-13 at 10:01

HEADLINES
- Safe rooms scarce as gaps persist
- Gin project backs Jewish life in Spain
- Nazareth singer Elyanna headlines World Cup opener

The time is now 10:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Safe rooms save lives, but millions of Israelis remain without access to proper protection when sirens sound. The IDF Home Front Command has updated its alert app with clearer prompts—red for “shelter immediately,” yellow for early warning, and green for all clear—plus improved icons and sounds. A January 2026 State Comptroller’s Report shows about 3.2 million Israelis, roughly one-third of the population, lacked standard protection as of early 2025, up from about 2.56 million in 2018. The rise amounts to an estimated increase of 600,000 to 640,000 people. In Safed, half the city has no access to a shelter, according to Shayna Rehberg-Paquin and Klara Levy, founders of Sparks to Life, underscoring that protection gaps persist even as threats mount.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Fighting antisemitism with gin: Kosher spirits project backs Jewish life in Spain, a limited collection of ancestor-focused gin is being launched to support Jewish life and legal aid in Spain amid rising antisemitism. The project draws on the history of J. Ferd. Nagel, whose name became a mark of quality in a spirits empire that once employed thousands and exported across Europe and beyond; his descendant Raphael Nagel notes the aim to use economic diplomacy to foster practical ties in challenging political times. The effort is framed around funding for Jewish life in Spain, with the urgency reflected in figures from Spain’s Antisemitism Observatory showing a 321% rise in antisemitic incidents in 2024 compared with 2023, and a 567% rise compared with 2022.

In Uplifting News, Israeli-Arab singer from Nazareth, Elyanna, takes the stage at 2026 World Cup opening ceremony, a high-energy performance that highlighted her vocal range and stage presence. The 24-year-old joined Canadian artist Jessie Reyez on “Illuminate,” one of FIFA’s official soundtrack songs, at Toronto’s BMO Field ahead of Canada’s opening match. Elyanna is noted as the only artist of Middle Eastern or North African descent on FIFA’s official soundtrack. Born Elian Amer Marjieh on January 22, 2002, in Nazareth, she grew up in a Christian Israeli family in the city’s Arab community, with musical influences ranging from her maternal grandfather’s zajal to a Chilean pianist grandmother.

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/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-899077
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-899105
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-899254