Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-23 at 13:01

HEADLINES
Zero centrifuges redefine IAEA role
UN backed panel accuses Israel of genocide
Baghdad to shield Kurdistan oil from drones

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, IAEA inspections in Iran need to be fundamentally different after Iran was bombed, an analysis argues, noting that the current debate around IAEA access misses a key point: the mission today is not the same as in 2015. From 2015 to June 2025, Iran maintained three major enrichment facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, along with dozens of smaller sites, and about 20,000 centrifuges were located at the three main sites. The IAEA's main task had been to monitor enrichment levels and the installation of new centrifuges. With those sites bombed, there are zero or near-zero centrifuges to monitor, and much of the current work is about listing what pieces of the program still function rather than verifying ongoing activity.

In Regional Impacts, a UN-backed commission's report accuses Israel of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Palestinian children in Gaza and in the West Bank, prompting a strong Israeli rebuttal. The commission notes that around 30% of those killed in Gaza were children. The report, by the UN Independent International Commission on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, does not represent the UN's official position, but its findings can exert diplomatic pressure and be used as evidence in courts. The commission issued recommendations aimed at accountability and protection of children amid the conflict.

In Regional Impacts, Iraq finally appears prepared to help protect Kurdistan's oil fields from drone attacks, an analysis suggests, given Baghdad’s changing stance. The Kurdistan Region has faced around 850 drone and missile attacks since February, with attacks on oil and energy facilities recurring over the years. Iraq’s new prime minister Ali Al Zaidi has sought closer ties with the United States and has said he will try to disarm Iranian-backed militias. A joint security committee formed to assess the security of oil fields in the Kurdistan Region has completed its work and submitted its report to Baghdad, signaling possible steps to shield the region’s energy assets from further assaults.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Haredi leaders say they will support Knesset dissolution if no progress is made on draft bills. Degel Hatorah and Shas leaders Moshe Gafni and Arye Deri announced that they would back dissolving the Knesset if there is no advancement on the Basic Law on Torah Study, the Law to Stop the Arrests of Torah Students, and a Kashrut law. After meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, they said he is committed to approving the laws and moving them quickly. They indicated concessions, including pausing daycare subsidies, and they signaled support for legislation splitting the role of the attorney-general, and for the first reading of a bill establishing a political framework.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, emergency response squads in northern Israel denounce reduced mobilization as the IDF moves to end continuous standby duty. The IDF Home Front Command will scale back standby emergency squads starting Sunday, citing the Hezbollah ceasefire and resumed talks with Lebanon. Yet authorities say the squads will remain in readiness in case of escalation. Members of local emergency response teams describe the move as a betrayal of those who have protected the area, and they warn that the ceasefire’s quiet is fragile and that ground security infrastructure remains a concern.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a column argues that antisemitism drove the Montreal violence, even if it did not trigger it, and that societies that tolerate hatred of Jews and Zionists foster conditions for political violence. The author cautions against rushing to judgment about motives, but insists that tolerating antisemitism and “Zionophobia” creates an atmosphere that can breed brutality, with silence often equated to complicity in the face of harassment of Jews, Israelis, and Zionists.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israeli AI firm BARY has been sold to the French media group Netgem. Netgem will acquire BARY’s technology assets and its R&D unit in Israel, integrating TheSubtil.ai, an AI-based system for translating, subtitling, and dubbing films and series. BARY’s technology promises to cut content localization costs by about 50%, reducing the price from roughly 18 euros per minute to about 9 euros, and Netgem plans to fold the technology into its film and TV services, expanding its localization capacity as part of its international strategy.

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-900297
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900287
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900289
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900296
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900292
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900237
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-900290