Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-29 at 13:01

HEADLINES
- US ships exit Hormuz sailors finally home
- Israel stages Lebanon pullback while keeping zones
- UTJ boycott halts Knesset votes

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 US Military Role, 115 ships with about 2,500 sailors have exited the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Ambassador Waltz. Iran had kept the ships and crews pressed near the strait after warning that crossing Hormuz would be bombed, but the departure means the sailors can return home to their families.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Defense Minister Israel Katz told CENTCOM Chief Adm. Brad Cooper that Israel will conduct a staged withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon rather than a full pullback, with an initial pilot focused on the zone between the Yellow Line and the Litani River. He also said Israel would not completely withdraw from any of its security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza, outlining three potential stages for negotiations with the Lebanese government about IDF withdrawals and noting that a final security arrangement has not been decided yet. Separately, Katz addressed the Mossad plan to collaborate with Kurdish forces to press for regime change in Iran, expressing skepticism about the proposal and not offering public backing, even as some Mossad officials had supported it; the plan was blocked by a presidential veto, and officials have debated who supported what, including mixed signals from Netanyahu’s circle.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism announced a boycott of coalition voting in the Knesset, disrupting the legislative agenda as it presses for bills that critics say would shield haredi draft evaders and expand benefits. A bill to temporarily halt arrests of haredi draft evaders is set for debate Tuesday in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and UTJ said its members will not participate in today’s votes, signaling that the plenum is likely to end earlier than planned. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich canceled his visit to Kibbutz Be’eri after relatives of Gaza hostages protested his remarks about his role in the war and in bringing back the hostages. The Be’eri stop was part of a broader tour of border communities, including Nir Oz, and Smotrich had highlighted a new neighborhood project during the trip; some sources attributed the cancellation to time constraints, while families cited their objections to his comments about the hostages.

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://t.me/hnaftali/23646
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900858
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900859
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900865
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900849