Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-12 at 15:02

HEADLINES
Iran Attacks Kuwait Base with Ballistic Missiles
Israel Kills Hamas Militants in Northern Gaza
Khanna Detained by Settlers in West Bank

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

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran fired three ballistic missiles at a US military base in Kuwait, Tasnim News Agency reported. Explosions were heard and smoke was observed in the border area between Kuwait and Iraq, with smoke seen rising from a Kuwaiti port per Walla. Later, Iran claimed to have destroyed American HIMARS batteries in Kuwait, according to the Fars News Agency; the Fars report attributed the strike to Iranian drones, contradicting the earlier ballistic-missile report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF announced it killed Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip in multiple strikes over the past 48 hours. On Sunday, several Hamas militants inside a weapons production site were killed as they planned attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians, violating the ceasefire. On Saturday, two Hamas terrorists were killed in separate strikes after attempted attacks near the Yellow Line, including Hassan Mustafa Zahir al-Razina and Mohammad Mahmoud Abd al-Mu'ti Fayyoumi.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues Israel is safer because of Lindsey Graham's steadfast friendship, moral clarity, and willingness to stand firm when it mattered most. The piece recalls a 2014 Jerusalem morning amid tensions and the broader diplomacy surrounding the JCPOA, noting Kerry’s negotiations and framing Graham’s stance as contributing to Israel’s security in a difficult diplomatic moment.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the coalition is fast-tracking the Basic Law: Torah Study, described by critics as a payoff to ultra-Orthodox parties and against the will of a broad Israeli majority, defying a Supreme Court ruling that yeshiva students cannot be exempt from drafting. Separately, an opinion proposes tying voting citizenship to service as a solution to haredi draft evasion, arguing that a growing haredi population and subsidies create an inequitable burden and calling for shared responsibility, while noting that many haredi households receive state subsidies and that soldiers are already stretched. The West Bank incident involving US Congressman Ro Khanna is recounted, with Khanna saying settlers armed with US-made rifles detained his group; Israeli officials described it as a grave failure on the Israeli side for failing to prevent the crowd, while Netanyahu commented on the incident and urged adherence to the law. Shin Bet Chief David Zini held his first meeting with Opposition leader Yair Lapid since taking the post to discuss operations and threats, and it was noted as a bid for bipartisanship amid questions about loyalty to leadership. Netanyahu also characterized a vigilante element in the West Bank, while insisting most settlers are law-abiding and that those who break the law will be brought to justice.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Character over clicks: Clavicular is a symptom, not the disease - opinion argues that the online figure Clavicular represents broader issues of antisemitism and hate in online culture. The piece contends that Israeli creators welcomed a known online personality with a record of inflammatory rhetoric and associations with figures linked to antisemitism and extremism, highlighting concerns that influence is mistaken for integrity and that double standards in responses to antisemitism reflect a troubling trend in advocacy circles.

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/opinion/article-901997
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901963
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902271
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902275
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902278
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902253
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902272
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902265
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902266