Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-05 at 19:01

HEADLINES
IDF Hezbollah tunnels under Beaufort Ridge
US airmen assist Venezuelan air traffic controllers
NATO Summit in Turkey Trump Netanyahu Hint

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

In US Military Role, US Airmen and Marines assist Venezuelan air traffic controllers at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as part of ongoing disaster recovery efforts under US Southern Command, in the aftermath of last month’s pair of major earthquakes which struck Northern Venezuela.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir conducted a field tour and an operational assessment at the Beaufort Castle area in southern Lebanon, including a major Hezbollah tunnel system beneath the ridge. Zamir said the strategic area is saturated with Hezbollah infrastructure built over decades with Iranian support to threaten northern Israel. He stated that the IDF now controls both the high ground and the underground tunnel network, called on the Lebanese army to remove Hezbollah from areas under its control in accordance with the ceasefire agreement, and warned that Israel is prepared to launch a rapid offensive if the ceasefire is violated.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, NATO summit set to begin in Turkey, with President Trump expected to attend and possibly meet with President Netanyahu soon.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog attended the wedding of two former Gaza hostages, Sapir Cohen and Sasha Troufanov, on Sunday evening. Herzog and his wife First Lady Michal gave the couple a blessing from under the huppah. He had previously stated that he would not attend any weddings until all the hostages returned, according to Ynet. Cohen was held by Hamas for 55 days before her release in November 2023, while Troufanov was captive for 498 days and was released as part of phase one of a mediated ceasefire/hostage release deal in February 2025.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UNRWA failed to implement UN recommended reforms related to violent speech, antisemitism, as an IMPACT-se analysis published on Thursday found that UNRWA did not meaningfully implement many of the Colonna Report recommendations and continues to face concerns over neutrality and content in its materials, at a time when donor nations resumed funding conditional on reforms. Separately, Israeli intern says Boston Medical Center punished her for reporting antisemitic material at work, with a federal complaint alleging retaliation after she reported a colleague’s antisemitic posters, including claims of ostracism, exclusion from professional interactions, and a negative evaluation, following her return from a trip to Israel.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the government approved roughly NIS 27 million to develop and construct hotels in the West Bank to promote tourism, aiming to turn the West Bank from a day-trip destination into an overnight destination and to boost the local economy. The Tourism Ministry identified a lack of planning reserves as a major obstacle and plans statutory planning for hotel development, with NIS 7 million from the ministry’s ongoing budget to be allocated between 2026 and 2030 and an additional NIS 20 million from the development budget earmarked for grants to support establishment or conversion of hotels.

In Uplifting News, the transition is underway as new I-95 signs in Palm Beach County, Florida now direct travelers to President Donald J. Trump International Airport ahead of the airport’s official renaming on July 9. County officials say the change will roll out in phases, with websites, booking systems, and airport materials updated over the coming weeks. Also, President Trump unveils what the new $100 bill will look like, showing Trump’s signature above Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following the March announcement that a sitting president’s name would appear on US currency for the first time, with discussions among some lawmakers about a separate $250 commemorative bill featuring Trump’s portrait that would require changing a law allowing only deceased individuals to appear on currency.

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/DefenderDome/21940
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56708
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56705
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901525
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901521
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-901524
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901516
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56703
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56707