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

HEADLINES
- Hamas Dissolves Gaza Government Transfers Powers
- Border Police Attacked at Kalandiya Junction
- Israel Opens Five Gas Blocks Egypt Deal

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas says the dissolvement of Gaza gov't was done to prevent Israel from making excuses. The group says the resignation of the head of the Emergency Committee was in the national interest and to prevent Israel from making excuses. It then announced the committee’s dissolution and the transfer of its powers to the National Committee for Gaza’s administration, adding that the dissolution and all preparations for power transfer are complete. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Al Jazeera that the ball is in the mediators’ court and urged guarantor states and the United States to implement the agreement, since Hamas has fulfilled its obligations. He called on mediators and guarantor countries to press the occupation to bring the national committee into the Strip and to act urgently.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Border Police officers were attacked by civilians during a routine checkpoint stop at the Kalandiya junction as a civilian vehicle approached from the West Bank and attempted to pass through into Israeli territory. The attackers assaulted the officers and tried to seize their weapons. One officer fired into the air to deter them, and another fired at the lower bodies of two attackers after seeing an officer being strangled. Later, two lightly wounded civilians were identified as security guards and received medical treatment, with evacuation for further care. Several Border Police officers were also lightly wounded, and the incident remains under investigation. On Monday evening, IDF troops and Border Police officers rescued ten Israeli civilians who were in danger. Separately, Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli compared Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Adolf Hitler and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a post on X, calling Erdogan a “grotesque hybrid of Hitler and Sinwar” and labeling him a “patron of Hamas and ISIS.” The post followed Erdogan’s recent address in which he described Zionism as a genocidal occupying ideology and framed the struggle against Zionism as a collective survival matter. Tensions between Turkey and Israel have escalated amid concerns over Ankara’s ties with Washington and the possible sale of F-35 jets to Turkey.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an anti-Israel account called Lovin Palestine posted a story about a Gazan man and his son swimming seven kilometers from Turkey to Greece, but AI-generated images accompanying the post appeared implausible and raised questions about authenticity. The images transformed the Gazan father into a man from the US Midwest, altered nighttime scenes into bright daylight, showed underwater swimming, and added inflatable rings at the end. The post notes AI generation, but observers say the visuals cast doubt on the story’s accuracy and origin, prompting scrutiny of the claim circulating on social media.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israeli start-ups are exploring how technology could help ships navigate a contested Strait of Hormuz, as a wave of drone and GPS-jamming incidents disrupts one of the world’s busiest maritime routes. A pair of attacks in late June struck vessels transiting the corridor, including the Ever Lovely and the Kiku, amid a standoff between the United States and Iran that has clouded the corridor’s security prospects. The disruption has sent energy prices higher as roughly a fifth of the world’s energy passes through Hormuz, underscoring economic and strategic pressures as negotiators seek a path to resume free shipping.

Israel opens a major offshore gas exploration push, launching five new blocks spanning 7,100 square kilometers in its exclusive economic zone. The initiative aims to strengthen energy security, attract international investment, and broaden exports, building on the success of the Tamar and Leviathan fields that transformed Israel into a regional energy player. Officials say new discoveries could yield hundreds of billions of shekels in future state revenue, help keep electricity prices stable, and deepen strategic ties with regional partners through exports. The announcement comes as Israel advances a record natural gas deal with Egypt valued at about 112 billion shekels, highlighting the country’s growing role in regional energy dynamics.

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/article-901663
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901671
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901665
https://www.israellycool.com/2026/07/07/anti-israel-account-using-cringe-ai-images-to-push-unverified-gaza-story/
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-901674
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-opens-major-offshore-gas-hunt-to-boost-energy-power/