Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-27 at 02:01

HEADLINES
- IDF hunts suspects after Beit Aryeh alert
- IDF ten terrorists killed in Gaza, Lebanon
- Texas mandates Anne Frank, Bible, Holocaust texts

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 Regional Impacts, IDF soldiers have been dispatched to the Beit Aryeh area in the West Bank after terrorist infiltration sirens sounded in the early morning hours on Saturday. The military says two suspects were reportedly seen in the area, and soldiers are searching to locate them. This is a developing story.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF says it killed at least ten terrorists in the Gaza Strip and struck six terror targets in southern Lebanon over the past week, with the Southern Command noting that some of those killed had entered Israel on October 7 during the effort to destroy underground terror infrastructure. The army also said it thwarted a smuggling attempt near the Israeli-Jordanian border involving about ten kilograms of illegal drugs. In Lebanon, the Northern Command struck six sites after terrorists in the area posed a threat to soldiers, and seven Hezbollah terrorists were reported killed near the Security Zone in southern Lebanon in a separate operation. The IDF also said it arrested more than 100 suspects in the West Bank during operations tied to Hamas, illegal weapons, or attacks on soldiers with stones and Molotov cocktails. As part of the week’s operations, the army uncovered seven drones, combat equipment, and incitement materials, and seized at least ten weapons, including M-16 rifles, handguns, and several improvised weapons. Separately, Yeshar Party head Gadi Eisenkot filed a petition with the Central Elections Committee against Bezalel Smotrich, demanding the removal of an AI-generated video that claims Eisenkot would push for a Palestinian state. The petition describes the video as a manipulative attempt to deceive voters and calls for clear boundaries to prevent election campaigns from becoming platforms for lies and AI manipulation.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Texas has instituted the nation’s first statewide K-12 required reading list for public schools. The list will require students to read Anne Frank’s diary and a selection of Bible passages, along with other Jewish and Holocaust-related texts. The move drew objections from some in the Jewish community, with rabbis and leaders expressing concerns about Christian content being introduced into schools. In a 9-to-5 vote, the Republican-controlled state education board approved the list, which will take effect in 2030 for about 5.5 million public school students. The curriculum builds on previous steps to incorporate Christian content, including an optional Bible curriculum for elementary schools in 2024 and prior requirements related to the Ten Commandments.

In Uplifting News, a Ben-Gurion University of the Negev study analyzing more than 264,000 pregnancies finds that common painkillers are safe during pregnancy and do not raise the risk of birth defects. The research indicates non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are safe in the first three months, and paracetamol can be used safely throughout pregnancy, including the last trimester. The findings, published in PLOS Medicine, provide clarity on the safety of these medications for pregnant women worldwide. Separately, researchers note that tacit, hands-on learning in medical training remains essential, finding that virtual reality and other digital tools cannot yet fully replicate the “feel” and practical judgment gained through real patient care and mentorship. Finally, remembering Shabtai Meshulam, a Palmach veteran born in Saloniki and raised in Florentin, who was recruited at 15 and later arrested by the British, stands as one of the last witnesses to Black Sabbath in 1946, underscoring a belief that a state would emerge.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-900632
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900633
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900630
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-900636
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/pregnancy-and-birth/article-900508
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-900503
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjop00r2mml