Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-10 at 15:02

HEADLINES
Trump vows Iran retaliation after assassination plot
Trump Netanyahu discuss Iran pause, tanker attacks
Israel expands centers for Ukrainian injured children

The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said he left instructions for the United States to retaliate if Iran succeeds in assassinating him, telling the New York Post on Friday that “I’ve left instructions, if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.” The remark followed a Wall Street Journal report that Israel shared intelligence about an Iranian assassination plot with the president, a claim Trump then disputed, saying that Israel came up with nothing. Trump has previously said he left posthumous instructions in January 2025 to obliterate Iran if its killers succeeded, though experts cited by the New York Times have said a president cannot authorize actions after death since power would transfer to the successor. The remarks come as Iranian crowds at the funeral of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for his death.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed Iran in a phone call, with mediators working to end attacks on tankers and ships in the Strait of Hormuz; if those attacks stop, the United States would halt its strikes and negotiations could resume, though the chances of a formal agreement were described as not high. Trump also told Netanyahu that he did not intend to strike Iran Thursday night and that he was prepared to give negotiations another chance, while signaling a tougher policy from now on than the approach under the Vance framework and recent weeks. The conversation, described as positive, also touched on the personal threat Iran poses to Trump. Washington announced sanctions on eight individuals and six companies tied to Iran in a related development. An additional note from the same briefing cycle highlighted a political uproar: Yaakov Bardugo, a Channel 14 commentator, said he met Shin Bet Chief David Zini to discuss leaks, with supporters demanding a public explanation of any influence over security decisions. In regional commentary, Turkey’s foreign minister warned of imminent progress toward a solution with the United States, and in other developments a light aircraft crash near Ein Vered left one person with moderate injuries. An item in the report described one final consideration: Trump may still pursue actions related to Iran, and a prominent local council spokesperson described a bold project with implications for regional relations.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Channel 14 commentator Yaakov Bardugo revealed in a Friday interview that he pressed Shin Bet Chief David Zini to investigate leaks within the agency, noting that he was not a journalist but a media personality and that another Shin Bet official connected to Channel 14 was present in the room. The disclosure prompted a sharp response from the Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, which demanded an explanation from Zini about why he discussed the matter with someone openly declaring a political stance and not a journalist. The party warned that if a political figure or ally could influence decisions related to security powers, it would be a grave matter and the public deserves clarity.

In Uplifting News, Israeli philanthropies are expanding educational centers for injured children in Ukraine in partnership with the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine, following the opening of a similar center in Odesa. The new centers will be located in Chernivtsi and Bila Tserkva, enabling hospitalized children to continue learning, creating, and receiving emotional support during their stays. The effort, led by the Center for Jewish Impact and SASA Setton, aims to provide classrooms, technology and robotics labs, a library, games, and art spaces, with facilities designed around the educational, emotional, and medical needs of hospitalized children and with ongoing professional training and guidance for local staff. The Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon is also involved, extending the program’s reach and impact as the initiative grows across Ukraine.

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/international/article-902134
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/07/10/president-shifts-iran-policy-new-details-from-trump-netanyahu-call/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1343036
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902129
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902127