Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-25 at 01:02

HEADLINES
Gazans cast PA votes first since 2007
Court exposes Turkey-based Hamas funding network
US sanctions Chinese refinery for Iranian oil

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

In Regional Impacts, polls opened on Saturday for local elections in the West Bank and the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah, with about 1 million Palestinians expected to vote, including some 70,000 from Gaza. The polls are to close by 7 p.m., with the first results expected late Saturday or early Sunday. The elections are the first of their kind under a new electoral law published on November 19, 2025, which creates two electoral systems: a proportional representation open-list system for municipal councils and a majority system for village councils. Some Palestinian factions have boycotted the polls in protest over the Palestinian Authority’s demand that candidates back its agreements, including recognition of the State of Israel. The inclusion of Gaza in these elections marks the first time Gazans have participated in PA local elections since Hamas expelled the Authority in 2007, a move the PA sees as a symbolic assertion of authority in the enclave. Gazan voters have expressed a desire to influence their reality, with residents like Adham Al-Bardini saying they have been hearing about elections “since I was born,” as they seek change amid ongoing hardship.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a ruling by Israel’s Central District Court has exposed a covert network moving millions of shekels to Hamas via intermediaries in Israel, supporting the terror group’s activities in Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas affiliates based in Turkey coordinated transfers to contacts in Israel, with Fadi Arabi at the center of the operation. Adem Dolani received a five-year sentence and a fine of 270,000 shekels after being recruited by Muhammad Alziz; seven transfers totaling about 2.2 million shekels were executed to assist, promote, or reward the commission of serious terrorist offenses, and prosecutors say Dolani took steps to erase evidence by deleting communications with associates and a Turkish contact following instructions he received.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Trump administration announced sanctions on a Chinese teapot refinery for purchasing Iranian oil. Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery was named as one of Iran’s largest customers of crude and petroleum products, and roughly 40 shipping companies and vessels connected to Iran’s shadow fleet were designated as well. China criticized the move as an interference in trade and urged Washington to halt politicizing commerce. Beijing’s embassy reiterated that normal trade should not be harmed and urged an end to unilateral sanctions aiming at Chinese companies.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece reflects on how holidays feel different as people grow older and as circumstances change. The author notes that new immigrants do not experience Remembrance Day or Independence Day in Israel in the same way as native-born Israelis because they lack the same memories and connections. The piece also shares a personal memory of Remembrance Day and its evolving meaning for the author.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the article argues that certain criticisms of Israel cross from legitimate discourse into harmful dehumanization. It contends that labeling Israel as an apartheid state or describing Israeli soldiers as killers goes beyond fair critique and risks reviving dangerous historical patterns of dehumanization, highlighting the increasing intensity of rhetoric in the debate over Israel.

In Uplifting News, a British professor has pinpointed the exact location of William Shakespeare’s London home in the Blackfriars area using three previously unknown documents. Professor Lucy Munro of King’s College London identified a floorplan of Shakespeare’s Blackfriars house, and a 1668 plan drawn after the Great Fire of London confirmed the precise site and size of the residence, allowing scholars to reconstruct a fuller picture of where the playwright lived in his later years.

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/article-894096
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/palestinian-local-elections-give-some-gazans-chance-vote-first-time-years
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1313595
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894095
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894093
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893811
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1313590
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-894076