Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-07 at 09:01

HEADLINES
- Macron in Damascus Pledges Syria Banking Reform
- Israeli Strikes Kill Two Hamas Commanders
- Hendel Tropper Alliance Seeks Broad Zionist Government

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, France is ready to help rebuild Syria's economy and banking sector, including support for the Syrian central bank, Emmanuel Macron said during a Damascus visit that followed explosions near the hotel where he had meetings. Macron said France wants to continue working on restructuring the banking sector, and he noted that he was accompanied by business leaders, including the chief executives of TotalEnergies and CMA CGM. The blasts hit a busy area in Damascus between the Tourism Ministry and the national museum, across from the Four Seasons hotel where Macron spent the night, and he later posted that the visit would continue, saying Syrians deserve a sovereign and secure future. The German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, said weakening the Palestinian Authority would not serve Israel's security and could create a vacuum filled by more radical forces, calling again for the release of funds owed to the PA to provide essential services. In Gaza, the Israeli military conducted separate airstrikes in the northern and southern parts of the territory, killing two Hamas commanders: Ahmad Yahya Ibrahim Batsh, a Nukhba cell commander killed near the Qatari Committee offices on Al-Rashid Street in western Gaza City after directing attacks, and Hamouda Abu Daqa, a Hamas Military Intelligence Unit commander killed in Khan Younis, who had helped gather intelligence on Israeli troop movements and posed an immediate threat to forces on the ground.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Likud member of Knesset Ariel Kallner told 103FM that arresting yeshiva students over haredi draft evasion is not the right approach and that economic sanctions would be a better option. He argued that mass arrests would not solve the problem and urged online recruitment methods, appropriate military frameworks, and personal and institutional sanctions to encourage enlistment, while stressing that military service and Torah study can go together and that everyone should enlist. Separately, Yoaz Hendel of the Reservists Party announced a joint campaign with Chili Tropper to run together in the upcoming elections, aiming to form a broad Zionist government and build a significant new Zionist political force. Tropper had left the Blue and White Party, and Hendel and Tropper’s alliance follows a previous merger between Hendel and Benny Gantz that reportedly fell through over disagreements about forming a government with haredi parties; Gantz welcomed the alliance, saying it advances the goal of a broad Zionist government.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Pew Research Center findings show Jews faced government harassment in 69 countries and harassment by private individuals or groups in 92 countries in 2023, with 55 countries having elevated levels of social hostilities involving religion, up from 45 the previous year. The countries with the highest Government Restrictions Index scores were China, Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, and Uzbekistan. Israel was listed among the countries with the highest Social Hostilities Index scores, alongside Nigeria, India, and Syria. Spain’s SHI score increased from moderate to high, and Norway also saw an uptick in SHI as harassment associated with religion affected Jews and Muslims in the wake of the October 7 attacks.

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-901748
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901741
https://t.me/selena_updates/66758
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901713
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901733
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-901742