Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-01 at 22:02

HEADLINES
- US Navy helicopter missing after water landing
- Hamas rejects tunnels in Gaza disarmament plan
- US signs permanent embassy deal in Jerusalem

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, a search is underway for a missing crew member after a US Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea.

In Regional Impacts, Hamas refuses to include tunnels in proposed Gaza disarmament framework. Hamas told mediators in Cairo it rejects including tunnels and infrastructure in any disarmament plan, disputes salary payments for former officials, and submitted only minor changes to a Gaza governance proposal.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israel and the United States signed an agreement on land at the Allenby Complex for a permanent US Embassy compound in Jerusalem. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion attended the signing ceremony, and Washington currently operates its embassy at the former US Consulate building in Jerusalem, a status established after President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017 and moved the embassy there in 2018. Huckabee described the day as historic and said the move will deepen and expand the US presence in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel. A separate video of the ceremony shows Huckabee speaking as the accord to move the embassy to Jerusalem was signed.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Safed Rabbinical Court may close this fall despite strong local demand. The Finance Ministry is promoting a move to merge the court with the one in Tiberias, while Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef recently visited the court to reassure workers it would remain open. Several rabbis wrote a letter to the chief rabbi opposing the closure, and the Rabbinical Courts Administration says it is doing everything in its power to stop the closure, with discussions underway with the Government Housing Administration. The Finance Ministry said the Rabbinical Courts Administration requested the change, but the ministry is pursuing a different outcome. Following a petition, the Elections Committee ordered the removal of Netanyahu video pending final ruling. The Central Elections Committee issued an interim order to remove a video published on both the Prime Minister’s Office’s official accounts and Netanyahu’s personal political account, saying the video may constitute prohibited election propaganda; the chairman noted that if it does, it should not appear on official accounts. Tekuma marks 1,000 days since Oct. 7 as final communities prepare to return. Tekuma released an updated report on the Gaza border region rehabilitation, noting more than 1,000 projects and that two of four communities are expected to return by the end of August, with Be’eri and Nir Oz slated for 2026 and 2027 respectively; 92% of residents have returned and 5,000 newcomers have joined, bringing the population to about 65,000 from 62,000 before Oct. 7. Bank Hapoalim CEO Yadin Antebi told EY’s annual real estate conference that the next Israeli government’s main economic challenge will be gaining control over the defense budget, warning that its size will shape Israelis’ standard of living in the coming years; he noted wartime conditions and the resilience of the economy as activity resumed.

In Uplifting News, an advance team from Israel's humanitarian assistance delegation has arrived in Venezuela to support recovery efforts following the devastating earthquake. The mission is led by Ambassador-designate Yoed Magen on behalf of the Foreign Ministry and Brigadier General Elad Edri, Chief of Staff of the IDF Home Front Command, and the team has begun coordinating with local officials to assess conditions, identify urgent needs, and prepare for full-scale operations, with additional Israeli personnel expected to arrive in the coming days.

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://t.me/JewishNews24/56581
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkk5gv77ge
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-sign-land-agreement-for-permanent-american-embassy-complex-in-jerusalem/
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56583
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901169
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901167
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901165
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901164
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56575