Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-24 at 17:02

HEADLINES
Trump vows locked and loaded Iran strikes
Saudi vessel damaged in Red Sea attack
Upper West Side antisemitic stabbing spurs fear

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said the United States is "locked and loaded" to increase its strikes on Iran, though no final decision has been made as he stated the US is talking to Iran and will see what comes of it. He also described several exit strategies, including a "military exit" that would involve continuing strikes with the potential of a heavier dose, and a "smarter strategy" in which Iran would make a deal, noting that Iran may want to strike a deal but is not ready yet. When asked whether targeting Iranian power plants would constitute a war crime, Trump declined to answer.

In Regional Impacts, a Saudi vessel, NCC MASA, sustained minor hull damage after being attacked while sailing in the Red Sea on Friday, according to Saudi state news agency SPA citing an official at the General Transport Authority. The vessel continued to its destination after checks confirmed the crew were safe.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said he would not move forward with a civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia unless the Saudis joined the Abraham Accords and normalized relations with Israel. In a separate exchange, he reiterated that for any Saudi nuclear deal to proceed, Riyadh would need to be a member of the Abraham Accords.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece questions whether Netanyahu could step down quietly like Hungary's Orbán, noting that such a scenario would be hard to imagine amid concerns about organized crime groups in Arab society potentially causing unrest. A separate opinion article notes that Yair Golan's Democrats list for the Knesset marks a shift of Labor toward the far Left. The piece describes a party that has rebuilt after a near-collapse, with 112,000 members voting online and an 86% turnout; Golan inherited leadership from Merav Michaeli and has sought to reunite Labor with Meretz, with polling suggesting the Democrats could win around ten seats in the 2026 election, about two more than Labor currently holds.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a photograph of a Jewish man clutching his chest after an alleged stabbing on Manhattan's Upper West Side has intensified fear within New York City's Jewish community as police investigate whether the attack was motivated by antisemitism. The image shows Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, wearing a yarmulke, seated on a sidewalk after the attack, and the picture circulated widely on social media, renewing concerns about rising antisemitic violence.

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-903579
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/saudi-vessel-sustains-minor-hull-damage-after-red-sea-attack-state-news-agency
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/trump-says-he-wont-proceed-nuclear-deal-unless-saudis-join-abraham-accords
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57674
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903290
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903277
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57673