Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-25 at 10:02

HEADLINES
Israel UAE Ties Strengthen in Iran Clash
Schalit Logs Expose IDF Delays
Taiwan Opens Its First Jewish Cemetery

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, the latest developments illustrate how security partnerships shape the region. The Iran confrontation underscored the strategic value of the partnership between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and highlighted potential for expanding it well beyond its current scope. Abu Dhabi has shown a consistent commitment to regional stability, engaging across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa to counter extremist actors and protect critical trade routes. During the war, the UAE reportedly faced more than 2,200 launches targeting its territory, and Abu Dhabi pursued practical measures on the international stage to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, explored participation in a US-led military effort, and, according to investigative reports, carried out strikes inside Iranian territory. Administrative measures against Tehran were also reported as part of pressure. Separately, the Gaza Board of Peace highlighted Morocco’s expected important role in the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, noting the arrival of Royal Moroccan Armed Forces members to bolster the international effort. The contingent is anticipated to contribute to the force’s overall structure and provide policing and other expertise, with officials indicating four Moroccan officers were part of the deployment to the ISF headquarters in southern Israel. The Board is expected to hold a meeting in Cyprus as protests in Gaza against Hamas are reported this week.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Defense Ministry marked the twentieth anniversary of Hamas's kidnapping of Gilad Schalit by releasing never-before-seen logs detailing the events of that day minute by minute. The records show the IDF command center received real-time updates via communications devices with soldiers in the field and through handwritten reports and updates. Schalit was later released in 2011 in a deal that had broad public support at the time, but public opinion has shifted since the mid-2010s following the release of more than 1,000 Hamas prisoners. The new material highlights the confusion and delays in the IDF's reaction on the day of the cross-border abduction, which began when Hamas operatives emerged from a tunnel to ambush Schalit’s unit early on June 25, 2006. Schalit was lightly wounded in the incident and ultimately restored to Israel in the prisoner exchange.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an elderly disabled Jewish woman was subjected to antisemitic abuse inside a Melbourne Vodafone store, filmed without her consent. A staff member called her a "dirty Zionist," shouted "Free Palestine," and insisted she hand over her personal phone while filming at the counter. The incident occurred around 3:35 p.m. on Tuesday as she sought help with a pocket WIFI device. She has since filed a formal complaint with Vodafone, and the Anti-Defamation Commission has reported on the incident.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Immunai, an Israeli-founded AI biotech company, announced a discovery collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to identify novel T-cell targets across immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The initial agreement is valued at up to $15 million and runs through 2027, with potential expansion based on scientific progress and mutual agreement. The collaboration will build a data foundation spanning cancer and autoimmune disease and apply Immunai’s single-cell AI platform to thousands of patient samples to identify patterns of T-cell dysfunction that could point to new drug targets, combining cancer immunology and autoimmune research to pursue shared insights.

In Uplifting News, Taiwan’s Jewish community marked a significant milestone by inaugurating its first-ever cemetery in Taipei with the burial of a 73-year-old Israeli man who had lived in Taiwan for more than two decades. Chabad Taiwan described the event as a milestone, noting that Zaka’s International Division volunteers assisted in the funeral and burial at the request of the local Chabad emissary. In a separate note of service and recognition, Major James Capers Jr., the first living Black Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, was honored by a White House ceremony with President Trump for his actions during the 1967 Vietnam War, where he led a reconnaissance team under intense fire, coordinated evacuations, and ensured all Marines were evacuated safely.

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/opinion/article-900266
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900526
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900537
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-900523
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-900538
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-900536
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900312