Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-03 at 07:01

HEADLINES
IDF honors US air defense allies
Iran Oman regulate Strait of Hormuz traffic
Basad fired over Maccabiah VIP incident

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the IDF chief of staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir awarded US Air Defense Battery Captain Nathan John Pernot and several other battery commanders with an IDF Certificate of Appreciation during Thursday's situational assessment, the military confirmed on Friday. The award was presented in the presence of other members of the IDF's General Staff. The Certificate of Appreciation was awarded by the IDF in recognition of the commander, his soldiers, and the entire US air defense contingent deployed in Israel throughout the war for their service and significant contribution. The IDF said the partnership with the US Army in recent years has demonstrated a level of partnership, professionalism, and innovation unmatched in modern warfare, and that this collaboration has made a unique contribution to Israel's defense. Also during Thursday's assessment, Zamir marked 1,000 days since the October 7 massacre, noting that Iran remains the primary focus of our preparedness.

In Regional Impacts, Iran and Oman have come to an agreement regarding the regulation of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, based on Article V of the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced during a meeting with Chinese officials on Friday. He said the Israelis are undoubtedly seeking to disrupt the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding, but the deterrent power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region will prevent them from starting a war again. Ghalibaf also resolved that the United States would not be allowed to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz, explaining that the Americans pursue a unilateral policy globally and that close coordination in the political and economic arenas between Iran and China is of great importance. Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, He Wei, responded by committing to further strengthening ties between Iran and China, pledging that the friendship between China and Iran is long-standing and that they will further develop the relations between the two countries.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Yossi Basad, longtime adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah Netanyahu, was fired after she accused him and others of stepping on her during the Maccabiah opening VIP incident at Teddy Stadium.

In Uplifting News, Parashat Pinchas: What Joshua learned from Moses about true leadership describes the moment when leadership passes from Moses to his faithful disciple Joshua son of Nun, who is chosen to lead the people into the Promised Land. The Torah recounts Moses laying his hand on Joshua as a sign of transferring authority, and it notes that Moses is to impart some of his spiritual qualities, particularly hod, the majesty or splendor, though the transfer of that splendor is not complete, a point underscored by later rabbinic discussion about how much of Moses’ majesty can be given. Parashat Pinchas: A prophet for difficult times presents the haftarah from Jeremiah, read during the Three Weeks, which introduces Jeremiah as a reluctant yet called prophet. God tells him not to say he is a youth and to go wherever commanded, illustrating a leadership ethic that emphasizes willingness to serve over personal certainty, with reflections on the nature of prophetic courage and the burden of delivering challenging messages. Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US are listed as follows: Light Candles 8:12 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 9:12 p.m.; Light Candles 7:58 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 8:58 p.m.; Light Candles 7:50 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 8:52 p.m.; Light Candles 7:08 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 8:30 p.m.; Light Candles 7:33 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 8:33 p.m.; Light Candles 7:22 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 8:35 p.m.; Light Candles 7:31 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 8:31 p.m.; Light Candles 7:26 p.m. with Shabbat Ends 8:25 p.m.

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/article-901324
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-901329
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjj11gzr7ml
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-901151
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-901274
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-901325