Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-04 at 05:01

HEADLINES
Khamenei Funeral Draws Millions, Calls for Revenge
Doha Talks Stall, Hormuz Gap Persists
Jonathan Anniversary Highlights Enduring US Israel Bond

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran opens Khamenei funeral ceremonies with calls for 'revenge, death to America' as millions are being mobilized for week-long funeral processions across Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Kerbala, and Mashhad. The opening day saw mourners fill the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla with the national anthem, religious eulogies and readings from the Koran, while the late leader’s coffin, draped in the Iranian flag and topped with his black turban, was placed on a large Kaaba-like platform. Television footage showed vast crowds waving Iranian flags and photographs of Ayatollah Khamenei, and chants of "Death to America" echoed through Tehran’s Mosalla, according to state media. On the second day, reports describe more crowds in Tehran gathered in front of the display site, chanting in cadence, and some signs carried calls, including one reading "Kill Trump," reflecting the charged mood surrounding the ceremonies.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah-linked Al-Akhbar reports that after a round of indirect technical negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Doha, major gaps remain, from the terms of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to guarantees for releasing $6 billion in frozen funds, and the Lebanon ceasefire remains a complex issue for negotiators. Lebanese outlets also describe Israeli activity in south Lebanon overnight and this morning, including a strike on the Ali A-Tahar ridge and explosions in several villages such as Hadatha and Bint Jbeil, plus an airstrike near al-Mansouri and arson attacks in al-Tiri and Dir Srian as responses tied to ongoing reporting.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece marks 50 years since Operation Jonathan, the Entebbe rescue, noting that as America reaches 250 years, the alliance with Israel embodies courage, freedom and the protection of innocent life, and casts Israel as both a haven for the Jewish people and a steadfast partner in confronting shared challenges. Separately, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, aligned with Hezbollah, suggests that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, are expected to meet President Trump at the White House in the near term, a development framed against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

In Uplifting News, Celebrating the ‘United States of Possibility,' and an Israel of impossible possibles presents a perspective that, despite political tensions, the two nations can celebrate their milestones—America’s 250th and Israel’s anniversaries—by highlighting historical achievements that turned the unlikely into reality and by keeping faith in the enduring partnership. Also at Tel Aviv, Jewish and Indian leaders convened a summit with entrepreneurs, diplomats, academics and community figures at Fiverr’s headquarters, building a global network focused on innovation, education, public diplomacy and people-to-people ties as the collaboration expands beyond its Los Angeles launch.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-901377
https://t.me/abualiexpress/125911
https://t.me/abualiexpress/125908
https://t.me/hnaftali/23740
https://t.me/abualiexpress/125906
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901038
https://t.me/abualiexpress/125907
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901233
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjn4xru7me