Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-05 at 10:02

HEADLINES
Khamenei funeral signals Iran seeks global audience
Beaufort Ridge Hezbollah tunnels threaten north
Hostage cousin challenges Netanyahu at Habima Square

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Tehran's theater of mourning: What Khamenei's funeral tells us about Iran's next move - analysis, hundreds of thousands gathered in Iran for the funeral of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed when the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, and the country is burying him in a week-long ceremony. Iran has signaled it is prepared to host “dozens” of world leaders during the funeral, though overall attendance has mainly come from deputies or ministers rather than heads of state. Delegations have arrived from countries across the Middle East and Asia as Iran seeks to project a global south image even as its regional position has grown more isolated in recent years. Central Asian states, including Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, sent delegations, and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon expressed condolences and hopes for peace during a meeting with Iranian President Masou...

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the area around Beaufort Ridge is described by IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Gen Eyal Zamir as saturated with Hezbollah terror infrastructure, as he told troops that Israel’s gains have weakened the group and that it now leans on its Iranian patron. He toured the region and entered an Israeli-controlled Hezbollah tunnel, stressing that Hezbollah built underground networks to threaten northern communities and that Lebanese commitments under the ceasefire framework require clearing the area of Hezbollah infrastructure. Separately, Gulf officials while seeking to curb Iranian-backed attacks have sent GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Badawi to Baghdad to press Iraq to stop attacks launched from Iraqi soil against Gulf states; Iraqi officials say the visit will include discussions on developments in the region and emphasize that Iraqi territory should not be used to attack Gulf states, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi weighing in on militias as Iran projects show of influence in Iraq in the wake of the funeral. In Yemen, the Iranian-backed Houthis have been reinforcing frontlines and mounting a major offensive in western Yemen, with reports from Al-Ain News of heavy clashes in and around Hodeidah Governorate as the Houthis pressed to seize strategic positions overlooking the city of Hays and near the Red Sea, signaling a potential wider escalation. Meanwhile, previously unpublished Hamas documents released by Army Radio detail coordination with Hezbollah ahead of the October 7 attacks, including a push for Hezbollah to join Hamas in the operation and discussions of joint planning with Iran; the documents also show Hezbollah’s claimed promise to join the attack in 2019 amid concerns of Israeli retaliation, highlighting the depth of cross‑group planning in the years leading up to the crisis.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a cousin of a slain hostage challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, asking, “Exactly 50 years ago today, your brother Yoni Netanyahu, the late, set out to free abductees in Entebbe and was killed there. Would you also say about Yoni that he returned from Entebbe?” Gil Dickmann pressed Netanyahu during a rally demanding the establishment of a state inquiry into government failures that led to the October 7 Massacre, contrasting the sacrifice of Yoni with what he described as Netanyahu’s actions. The protest underscored ongoing debate over accountability for the war and hostage crises, as opponents push for answers and a formal inquiry into the government’s handling of the events.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, NGO Monitor released a report claiming antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and related hostility are deeply rooted within Doctors Without Borders, based on internal staff conversations and the experiences of Jewish employees. The report argues that antisemitism and anti-Israel bias are widespread in MSF’s culture and are expressed by officials and staff at multiple levels, including a remark attributed to former MSF Secretary-General Richard Rossin about antisemitism emerging under the cover of anti-Zionism. Separately, the Society of St. Pius X, an ultraconservative Catholic group, is described as excommunicated after four bishops were ordained without papal approval; a priest from the group suggested that a future pope might welcome them back, highlighting ongoing tensions within the Church over schismatic groups and reconciliation.

In Uplifting News, former hostage Alon Ohel performed a song to honor Oct. 7 victims at a New York Fourth of July event aboard the USS Nimitz in New York Harbor. Ohel, who spent more than two years in Hamas captivity, accompanied musician John Ondrasik in a performance of “Superman” before an audience that included senior military officers and the US ambassador to the United Nations. A prior bureaucratic snafu nearly prevented his arrival in the United States, but the moment stood as a tribute to resilience and freedom at a ceremony marking the country’s birthday.

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
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https://t.me/newssil/205921
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