Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-29 at 11:02

HEADLINES
CPJ Removes 20 Gaza Journalist Names
Palestinians Move to Digital Banking Amid Crisis
Trilateral US-Israel-Lebanon Framework Aims Peace

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

In Regional Impacts, the Committee to Protect Journalists is reviewing its Gaza casualty database after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad published obituaries identifying some individuals as combatants, and CPJ says it removes names when evidence shows they were not journalists or active media workers at the time of death or were engaged in combat. To date, eight names have been removed for being members of Hamas or PIJ, and twelve others were removed for other reasons, bringing the total of names removed to twenty. As of June 25, 2026, CPJ counts 209 journalists or media workers killed by Israel in Gaza and in Israeli detention centers since October 7, 2023. The Palestinian Authority is moving toward digital transactions to ease a banking crisis partly caused by Israeli restrictions on transferring surplus cash, Deputy Governor Mohammad Manasra of the Palestinian Monetary Authority told WAFA. Under current rules, Palestinian banks can only return physical currency through Bank Hapoalim and Israel Discount Bank, with an annual cap of 18 billion shekels. Some economists have argued the ceiling falls short of needs, contributing to a broader crisis. The system relies on letters of indemnity from Israel’s Finance Ministry to shield banks from money-laundering claims, and researchers at Arab Center Washington DC say the accumulation of shekels in Palestinian banks has reached unsustainable levels, threatening the banking system’s capacity. Oman rejects Iran-backed tolls on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, saying any arrangement with Tehran must follow international law and guarantee free navigation, as France pledges to help clear mines from the Gulf shipping route. Gulf states’ reactions to the Lebanon-Israel framework show signs of regional stability; Anwar Gargash, the UAE's diplomatic adviser, calls the framework a step in restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty, and the UAE has held meetings with Syria’s foreign minister. While wary of Iran, Gulf states see potential stability in Syria and hope the Lebanon framework can help pave the way for broader peace, aided by ongoing US engagement on multiple fronts and the prospect of a regional domino effect if progress is made in one area.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Houthis’ ceasefire is being used to upgrade their capabilities, and Iran’s Pahlavi calls for a week of action inside the country.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the full text of the trilateral framework between the United States, Israel, and Lebanon is now available, outlining the aims to end decades of conflict, establish diplomatic relations, and lay the groundwork for a comprehensive peace agreement between the two countries. Separately, President Donald Trump said Iran has requested a meeting to be held in Qatar on Tuesday, despite Tehran’s earlier denial of planned technical talks on a deal to end the Middle East war. The announcement followed Iran’s first talks with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran accord, and as Washington and Tehran agreed to halt attacks. Trump posted the claim on Truth Social, while White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner would travel to Doha for high-level discussions.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Education Committee debate on gender segregation in academia prompted MK Yitzhak Pindrus of United Torah Judaism to suggest that MK Naama Lazimi should be shot in the legs for “blocking the road.” In response, MK Adi Ezuz of Together argued that, by that logic, UTJ party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf should also be shot in the legs for blocking a road. Separately, a panel of judges overseeing Benjamin Netanyahu’s bribery trial reiterated their view that the bribery charge should be dropped, stating the case would be difficult to prove and could drag on; the defense argued that a five-day-a-week schedule for hearings would be unrealistic, likening it to the Eichmann trial, while the prosecution cautioned that such a schedule is close to impossible. In another note, Smotrich commented that one day those responsible in Netanyahu’s trial will face accountability.

In Uplifting News, an Israeli organization has opened a Secular House in Thailand as a non-religious alternative to Chabad, located opposite a local Chabad House on the island of Ko Pha Ngan. The Secular House is the project of the Free Secular Movement, which promotes secularism and the separation of religion and state in Israel and opposes Chabad outreach abroad. Secular Zionist activist Naor Narkis said the move reflects a broader push against religious outreach and the influence of Chabad, which supporters say seeks to shape generations of secular Israelis toward a more religious state.

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
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