Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-17 at 03:01

HEADLINES
Iranian Drones Target Hormuz as Deal Looms
Trump Admin Settles Judea Samaria Sanctions Case
Three Nations Launch Israeli-Palestinian Peace Fund

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Iran has fired multiple drones toward commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz since the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding on Sunday, a source told The Jerusalem Post. The drones were intercepted by the US military before they could threaten commercial or US ships and personnel, according to a US official who said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is launching the drones and that the US continues to coordinate with shipping companies to support vessels transiting the strait. US President Donald Trump asserted in posts on Truth Social that the Strait would be opened and the naval blockade removed, with a later message signaling the Strait would reopen to allow commercial transit on Friday after the agreement. Separately, US media reports said Iranian drones were launched toward vessels in the Strait of Hormuz even after the memorandum of understanding was completed, and sources cautioned that the emerging deal could unlock tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets if talks produce a final agreement.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a settlement has been reached between the Trump administration and plaintiffs challenging Biden-era sanctions on Judea and Samaria, with the government vowing no action against the plaintiffs. President Trump revoked Executive Order 14115 shortly after taking office in January 2025, ending the sanctions program before the case reached trial. The settlement includes a commitment from the US government not to pursue sanctions against the plaintiffs and affirms that Israel and its citizens will be treated as close allies of the United States. The Lawfare Project announced the settlement on Thursday, almost two years after helping fund the lawsuit challenging EO 14115, which Biden signed in February 2024 authorizing sanctions against individuals undermining peace, security and stability in Judea and Samaria. The plaintiffs were Texans for Israel, the Israel-based Regavim, and two Israeli residents. Separately, Israelis deserve answers on the US-Iran deal rather than a campaign speech, with editorial writers arguing that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s televised address offered political messaging rather than a clear explanation of what the deal means for Israelis.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada have established an International Peace Fund for Israelis and Palestinians to back groups promoting a negotiated two-state solution. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced seed funding of 1 million pounds from each country over three years, with plans to seek additional donors as the fund begins operating. The fund aims to support peacebuilding projects involving Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups, emphasizing youth, women and local organizations that foster dialogue and future leadership. In Gaza-related matters, Israel’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital and a Hamas operative, against his continued detention, with the ruling relying on classified intelligence and the hearing conducted behind closed doors. Abu Safiya, arrested in December 2024 amid the Gaza war, has been held without charges in solitary confinement at Nafha Prison. Separately, Likud ministers Yariv Levin and Israel Katz are accused by party colleagues of pushing to scrap primaries over fears for their political future as Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly weighs a compromise slate plan.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a piece titled Why I’m Giving Lucas Gage Another Chance examines the controversial figure once known as Angelo John Gage, an antisemite who has publicly claimed change. The author describes prior scrutiny of his rhetoric, discusses attempts to engage with him, and notes ongoing questions about the sincerity and impact of his stated shift.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Ondas has unveiled a broad autonomous defense concept designed to weave air, ground and AI-driven capabilities into one unified system-of-systems. The company says autonomy would act as the first layer of engagement, connecting air-defense assets, aerial intelligence platforms, ground robotics, loitering systems, sensors, and AI-powered command software to enable an autonomous force that can sense, decide, orchestrate, execute and assess across multiple domains without constant human processing. The Iron Wave solution centers on unmanned ground vehicles and containerized deployment modules to deliver defense for forward-deployed units. Separately, a Hebrew-language advertisement promotes a land unit in Ashdod for 255,000 shekels, inviting participation and linking to further details.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-899643
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkiakp1mzg
https://worldisraelnews.com/us-settles-suit-over-biden-era-judea-and-samaria-sanctions-policy-vows-no-action-against-plaintiffs/
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899623
https://worldisraelnews.com/uk-australia-canada-establish-fund-to-aid-left-wing-israeli-groups-pushing-two-state-solution/
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-supreme-court-upholds-detention-of-hamas-linked-hospital-director/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjzli2jmfl
https://www.israellycool.com/2026/06/17/why-im-giving-lucas-gage-another-chance/
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-899644
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124764