Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-19 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Israel Ready for War If Iran Advances
Two US Soldiers Killed in Iranian Attacks
Gaza Toll Diverges 420 Terrorists 1000 Civilians

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, hours after shrapnel from an Iranian ballistic missile fired at Jordan landed in Israel just north of Eilat, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir told commanders in the West Bank that Israel is prepared to respond with great power if the regime draws closer to the Jewish state. He said alongside the ongoing fight against terrorism in Judea and Samaria, Israel is closely monitoring developments with Iran and maintaining a high level of readiness, and that the air defense apparatus is ready to defend the citizens of Israel. Zamir added that Israel is ready to immediately return to war and will act decisively against anyone who harms the country. IDF sources noted the Sunday attack moved the force toward war footing after weeks in which Israel felt relatively distant from the broader US-Iran confrontation. Earlier on Sunday afternoon, the Iron Dome was used to shoot down fragments of an Iranian ballistic missile fired at Jordan near the border with Israel after the US Aegis system had already shot down the projectile.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump described the deaths of two US service members in Iranian strikes on Jordan as a “shame” during a call with the New York Post, saying they died because they do not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. He said he would contact the families of the service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the soldiers “heroes” in a post on X. CENTCOM said two service members were killed, four wounded, and one missing in the attacks, and CENTCOM said an eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran was carried out, with US forces hitting Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone sites.

In Regional Impacts, The Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF has killed at least around 420 Gazan terrorists since the October 2025 ceasefire, with at least half of those killed likely combatants. The article contrasts this with UN estimates suggesting around 1,000 Gazans have been killed in the broader war, noting that civilian proportions were historically higher in earlier years and that comprehensive official numbers have not been published for all phases of the conflict.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed the implementation of the trilateral framework between the US, Lebanon, and Israel during Aoun’s visit to Washington. Rubio commended Lebanon’s government for its determined effort to reclaim sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and move toward peace, according to the State Department. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Lebanon in implementing the terms of the trilateral framework and to securing a better future for the Lebanese people. This remains a developing story.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, two pro-Palestinian NGOs filed a First Amendment lawsuit in Manhattan federal court challenging the Trump administration’s sanctions on the International Criminal Court. Democracy for the Arab World Now and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide argue Executive Order 14203 violates Americans’ rights to engage in Palestine-related human rights advocacy. The order authorizes sanctions, including asset freezes and visa restrictions, on foreign individuals who participate in ICC investigations, arrests, or prosecutions of US personnel or “protected persons,” including certain Israeli officials. The suit cites ICC arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as examples of what it calls the ICC’s alleged illegitimacy.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israel Innovation Authority announced a Blue-Tech Energies fund to advance marine-focused energy solutions with an initial 6 million shekels in investments, of which 3 million will come from the Israel Citizens Fund of the Energy Ministry. The program, run with the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry, aims to back offshore renewable energy generation and AI-powered marine energy management systems, reflecting Israel’s push to turn scientific strength and entrepreneurial talent into new marine energy technologies. Separately, nGrid, an Israeli energy-management startup, is promoting a “virtual power plant” approach that uses batteries and local energy sources to give industrial and commercial sites flexible consumption, reduce costs, and better leverage renewable energy as AI software coordinates battery usage and grid demand amid growing data-center energy needs.

In Uplifting News, World Cup-driven activity across Israel showed a surge in food delivery with Wolt reporting a 20 percent increase in match-hour orders and a 7 percent daily rise on average. Family pizza orders climbed 35 percent, burgers 27 percent, and ice cream 44 percent, with the Argentina-Egypt match drawing the most orders and many orders placed in the minutes before kickoff. Separately, Oscar-winning filmmaker Richard Trank has begun a new life in Israel after chronicling Jewish history, noting that visits to the country always left a sense of sadness when departure was required; Trank, who helped document Zionism and Holocaust-era stories, made aliyah in 2025 and spoke of his deep connection to Israel and its story.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-902996
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902982
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902988
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902992
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902994
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-902990
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-902983
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902904
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-902690