Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-05 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Israel defense chiefs split over Iran war
El Al flights canceled as restrictions extend
Hezbollah drone strikes Shomrat no injuries

The time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, sources say Israel's defense establishment is divided over how to pursue the Iran conflict. While government policy and a majority of top-serving defense figures have supported the Iran war, a growing number of current and former senior defense officials vehemently dissent, warning that military force cannot solve every problem and that some colleagues have grown confident that every regional problem can be fixed by force. Several officials have publicly challenged the premise, arguing that the current campaign cannot fully disarm Hezbollah and that such an outcome cannot be achieved by force alone.

In Regional Impacts, El Al canceled all scheduled flights through April 18 as the government extended the emergency flight restrictions at Ben-Gurion Airport under the current schedule. El Al said it would operate only to a limited set of gateways—New York's JFK and EWR, Los Angeles, Miami, Bangkok, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens—with new tickets required for boarding. A 100-passenger limit remains in effect for departures, and priority is given to exceptional humanitarian medical cases; passengers whose flights were canceled are entitled to refunds or credit vouchers. In Haifa, video footage shows emergency forces at the scene and rescue teams working at the site of the attack.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a Hezbollah drone from Lebanon struck a home in Shomrat, northern Israel. A second drone was intercepted. No injuries were reported.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump effectively extended the deadline by a day, setting a new deadline for Wednesday at 3:00 a.m. Israel time. A separate post on TruthSocial claimed the ultimatum ends on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Trump told Axios in a brief interview that the United States is in deep and intense negotiations with Iran and that a deal can be reached before his deadline expires on Tuesday.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Minister Ben-Gvir reached a settlement with the police to open the Temple Mount to Jews and Muslims in small groups, and the Western Wall will also open to small groups of Jews. When a preliminary alert sounds, everyone will be evacuated, with 150 people per round. The Home Front Command’s position is to keep the Temple Mount closed, citing that there are no protected spaces there.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Miriam Haart, CEO of ActionAI, discusses the company’s work toward reliable, mission-critical AI. Haart explains that ActionAI, with offices in Tel Aviv and Dubai, is focused on building artificial intelligence systems that can be trusted to perform in high-stakes environments. Her background includes iOS app development, and the company is presented as a global player shaping the future of AI through reliable, accountable solutions intended to drive real-world impact across industries.

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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