Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-24 at 02:02

HEADLINES
US weighs Iran energy strike option
Pentagon plots to punish NATO allies
North Carolina woman plotted to kill Jews

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, military planners have begun detailing options to pressure Iran if the ceasefire collapses, including the option to strike Iran's energy infrastructure to pressure Tehran into agreeing to a deal. The plan also contemplates strikes that would dynamically target Iran’s capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, the southern Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, including attacks on Iran’s small fast-attack boats and minelaying vessels. However, officials warn that strikes in the Strait of Hormuz alone are unlikely to reopen the waterway; reopening would depend on proving Iran’s military capability can be degraded or that risk can be mitigated. The energy-infrastructure option remains available as a means to press Tehran.

An internal Pentagon email outlines options to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support US operations in the Iran war, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands. The note frames access, basing, and overflight rights as the baseline for NATO and says these options are circulating at high levels in the Pentagon. One option envisions removing “difficult” countries from influential positions within NATO. President Trump has criticized allies for not sending navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz and has said he is weighing such steps.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Maariv mandates poll finds Likud and Naftali Bennett’s Bennett 2026 party running neck and neck for the first time since June 2025. At the start of Operation Roaring Lion, Likud held a six-seat lead over Bennett; since then, Likud has shed three seats while Bennett’s bloc has gained three. This week, Likud lost one seat while Otzma Yehudit gained one, leaving the overall balance between the blocs unchanged: the opposition holds 61 seats without Arab parties, while the coalition sits on 49. Religious Zionism, Blue and White, the Reservists, and Balad remain below the electoral threshold. Separately, an editorial notes that a recent incident in Debel, where an IDF soldier smashed a statue, has damaged Israel’s image of tolerance. The soldier and the person who filmed him were removed from combat duty and given 30 days in military detention; six soldiers who failed to intervene were summoned, with further disciplinary steps reportedly under consideration.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, authorities say a North Carolina woman was arrested on Wednesday on two counts of felony conspiracy for plotting to drive through Congregation Beth Israel in Houston to kill as many Jews as possible. The Houston congregation and a Jewish day school had closed after threats, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force launched a multi-state investigation after a tip. Angelina Han Hicks, 18, was charged as a juvenile in Harris County. In Venice, the Biennale jury said it would refrain from considering artists from countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, an approach seen as a stand related to Israel and Russia, with the ICC warrants for Putin and Netanyahu cited by observers; the Israeli and Russian embassies did not respond, and the event opens May 9 amid criticism over Russia’s reopening. Separately, Tucker Carlson labeled the campaign to shame a Palm Beach country club for barring a Jewish toddler as repulsive, prompting Catherine Rampell to say Carlson misrepresented her anecdote and portraying the broader debate around antisemitism and associated narratives.

In Uplifting News, Editor's Notes: Milei’s torch should push Israel to think about its extra nine million. When Argentinian President Javier Milei lit a torch on Mount Herzl, the moment was as much about what it says to those near the edge of the Jewish story as about the ceremony itself. Milei was described as the first foreign leader to receive that honor, highlighting a broader discussion about how Israel speaks to the diaspora and to Jews whose lives span more than one homeland. The piece invites reflection on how Israel engages with diverse Jewish identities beyond its borders.

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-894052
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/exclusive-pentagon-email-floats-suspending-spain-nato-other-steps-over-iran-rift
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894051
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894017
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894047
https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/article-894045
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894044
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894023