Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-09 at 02:02

HEADLINES
Iran Warns US, Hormuz Opens by Iran
Hamas Dissolves Committee; Qatar, Turkey Influence
Sinjil Volunteers Monitor Settler Attacks Amid Expansion

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 Iranian Retaliation, Mohammad Kalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, has warned that the United States has not yet learned that swagger and violations of commitments come at a price. He stated plainly that if you strike, you will be struck back. He urged restraint and cautioned against panicked, showy gestures, saying such moves would pull Washington deeper into trouble. Kalibaf also said the Strait of Hormuz will open only according to Iranian arrangements, and not under American threats.

In Regional Impacts, Israel watches Turkey’s rise with concern as talks with the United States over F-35s unfold, while Hamas’s refusal to disarm and Iran’s uranium stockpile reshape the regional threat map. An analysis by Or Horvitz, head of the American program at JPPI, argues that Turkey is not Iran and seeks Western integration as well as regional dominance, a leverage point for Washington and Jerusalem. Yet Turkey’s potential to challenge Israel is real, given high Turkish disapproval of Israel, and if Iran continues to unravel, a rising Sunni power could inherit the role of Israel’s chief rival. On Gaza, Hamas’s move to dissolve its governing committee is described as a charade; the group may cede visible control but will not surrender its weapons, which are central to its existence. Qatar and Turkish influence over any proposed “Board of Peace” is seen as Israel’s quiet nightmare, and finishing Hamas is believed to require both military pressure and moderate voices that many expect cannot be found. A note of growing daylight between Israel and its regional partners is also noted. Also in Sinjil, West Bank, about 15 Palestinians have formed a grassroots volunteer group to watch for signs of impending settler attacks, saying they have been left to defend themselves as violence linked to settlements continues, with Netanyahu’s government approving hundreds of new settlements that are seen as a strategic move to hinder a Palestinian state. The smaller outposts are often used as staging grounds for violence that has displaced thousands. The Israeli government contends that settlement placement aims to constrain a Palestinian state, a dynamic central to the conflict. In Golestan Province, near Ak-Klaa, reports describe a railway bridge attack with authorities issuing a response.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli defense minister responded to Trump’s assertion that Israel would withdraw from Lebanon by stating that Israel did not seek approval from any actor to enter Lebanon, and it does not need approval to remain there.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog said at the National Security College graduation that Israel’s security and law-enforcement bodies are loyal to the sovereign, the people of Israel, to the Israeli book of laws, and to the values of the Jewish and democratic state—not to any individual or political camp. His remarks followed David Zini’s explanation for accepting Prime Minister Netanyahu’s offer to head the Shin Bet, in which Zini said he believed he was more capable of loyalty to the elected echelon, regardless of opinion. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir also addressed the ceremony, highlighting the security challenges facing Israel and the need to expand the IDF’s ranks.

In Uplifting News, rescuers have evacuated people trapped by floods in southeast China using drones, enabling rapid discovery and assistance in hard-to-reach areas.

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/abualiexpress/126217
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-901876
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/how-palestinian-town-defending-itself-israeli-settler-attacks
https://t.me/abualiexpress/126210
https://t.me/newssil/206239
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901945
https://t.me/newssil/206237