Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-02 at 21:01

HEADLINES
Israel eyed killing Iran negotiators amid talks
Armenian genocide recognition sparks Turkey outrage
Protests mark 1000 days since Oct 7

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, US officials believed Israel planned to use the negotiations between the US and Iran as a window of opportunity to kill Iran’s top negotiators, the New York Times reported on Thursday. They were particularly concerned about Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. US officials were worried such an attack could reignite the fighting, and they warned other Middle Eastern countries about the potential danger to Ghalibaf and Araghchi. The Times noted that in the early days of the war Israel had killed two other officials involved in negotiations with the US, Ali Larijani and Kamal Kharazi.

In Regional Impacts, Turkey says Israel is 'problem for the entire world'; Sa’ar calls it 'genocide incitement'. Tensions rise after Israel’s historic recognition of the Armenian genocide: Turkey’s foreign minister said Israel had become a burden humanity can no longer bear, and Sa’ar called it clear incitement to genocide.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization warned of a national disaster amid exclusion in defense budget as 2026 spending talks unfolded. The Finance Ministry rejected the Defense Ministry’s petitions to increase spending by 40 billion shekels, while the Defense Ministry had argued for 183-188 billion shekels, citing unprecedented investments and fears from Iran. Defense officials stressed there would be no open-ended funding and no horizontal cuts within frameworks. In the same arena, elite counterterrorism forces arrested suspects in a northern Israel mosque shooting. Yamam operators detained a suspect in Shfaram, with Shin Bet providing intelligence support; two additional suspects were rounded up, and all three were transferred for joint questioning by Shin Bet and the police’s Northern District, with a gag order issued by the Acre Magistrate’s Court. This remains a developing story. Separately, thousands gathered at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to mark 1,000 days since October 7 and to demand a state inquiry into the failures surrounding the attack and the hostage crisis. About seven protesters were arrested as demonstrators briefly blocked the Ayalon Highway during the evening rally, while Rom Braslavski—one of the last hostages released—spoke of a continuing personal fight with PTSD and the broader demand for accountability.

In Uplifting News, On the 1,000th day since October 7, President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog visited Kibbutz Kerem Shalom. They heard residents’ stories of the war’s challenges and the community’s resilience as they work to rebuild and return home. The president praised the kibbutz members for their strength and reconstruction, and the gathering included the mother of Sergeant Yaron Zohar, who was killed defending the kibbutz. “The thousandth day since October 7 is not merely a marker in time,” Herzog said, adding that Israel's capacity to grow out of crisis lies in remembering, rebuilding, and continuing to live with hope and purpose.

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/international/article-901291
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hknv8u47gx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901296
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901294
https://www.timesofisrael.com/we-wont-give-up-crowd-marking-1000-days-since-oct-7-vows-to-keep-demanding-state-inquiry/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901297