Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-11 at 15:02

HEADLINES
Trump demands Iran admit firing on ships
Hamas drone smuggling threats spark war room
Dan Illouz exits Likud roils coalition

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 Iranian Retaliation, President Donald Trump demanded that Iran publicly acknowledge that it fired on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a message conveyed to Iranian officials by three US officials at a briefing. The report notes Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart exchanged views on mechanisms for the safe passage of ships through the Strait in line with Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, with Oman teams reportedly discussing a statement to open a “median lane” in the Strait for free and full movement, Axios reported. Trump said earlier that the ceasefire was over, though he noted that Iran had asked to resume talks, and he asserted that the United States has told Tehran that the Cease Fire is OVER. US officials have continued to argue that Iran’s failure to honor the memorandum of understanding casts doubt on its commitments. Part of a statement issued by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, on the occasion of the funeral of his father Ali Khamenei, vows revenge for his death, saying: “We pledge to avenge your pure blood and that of all the martyrs that fell in these two recent wars of aggression.” The statement adds that the criminals responsible are known and will face their fate, that this matter does not depend on any single official, and that soon every free person in the world will fulfill a part of this divine mission.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an opinion piece argues that Hamas’s drone smuggling must be treated as a national security threat. The author notes that tens of thousands of weapons are smuggled into Israel each year through the Egyptian and Jordanian borders via organized networks using drones, with the weapons flowing into mixed Jewish-Arab cities and from there into Judea and Samaria, fueling both organized crime and terrorist activity and blurring lines between them. The piece cites an estimate of perhaps 160,000 weapons a year, led by Bedouin criminal and terrorist gangs, as a growing strategic threat that requires a national response. During a tour of the Negev and discussions with officers of a new IDF “war room” tasked with this gargantuan problem, the author learned that the threat is worse for two reasons: first, the danger is not only the smuggling of weapons via drones that can carry up to 150 kilograms of arms, but the drones themselves; cutouts enable Bedouin terrorist and criminal gangs to buy hundreds, perhaps thousands of drones abroad and in Israel—and fly them into Gaza with or without contraband.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, MK Dan Illouz is expected to announce he is leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party, according to N12, though his office has not issued an official statement and a formal confirmation has not been made. The departure would follow Yuli Edelstein’s July 3 announcement that he will leave Likud, and both Illouz and Edelstein have criticized the legislation advanced by the haredi parties in the coalition, including the Basic Law: Torah Study, which would enable haredi draft dodgers to receive state benefits, as well as a bill aimed at changing Israel’s daycare subsidy system. Prosecutors have indicted Beersheba resident Asaf Israel Arye, 28, for allegedly agreeing, for payment, to attack former MK Mossi Raz, arming himself with a knife and pepper spray and traveling to Raz’s home, while also being asked to pass along the address of former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Arye reportedly contacted a man named Avi via Instagram, who presented himself as an activist seeking paid tasks “for the good of saving the people.” Initially asked to print a flyer, Arye said he could carry out more serious jobs, including stabbing and arson, and negotiated payment timing and amounts for violent acts. Four settlers were arrested by Israel Police after an alleged attack on a CNN news crew in the West Bank village of Sinjil, where the crew’s vehicle was blocked as they tried to leave and IDF soldiers arrived to assist. The settlers were armed with wooden and metal rods, stones, and a knife; a knife and several clubs were found in their vehicle, and an investigation is ongoing. The incident occurred during CNN’s coverage of the one-year anniversary of Saif Musallet’s death, a Palestinian-American killed by Israeli settlers in July 2025.

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-902171
https://t.me/selena_updates/67004
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902026
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902173
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-902172
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902170