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

HEADLINES
- Gaza Deir Al-Balah strike kills four civilians
- Two vessels redirected in Iran blockade
- Fiji backs moving embassies to Jerusalem

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In New damage seen to an aircraft maintenance building at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as a result of a ballistic missile strike during the recent renewed round of hostilities with Iran, new damage has been documented at the facility.

In US Central Command (CENTCOM) has published the first statistics of the second Naval blockade of Iran. In the first 17 hours, two vessels have been redirected. Photo: CENTCOM, CENTCOM released initial figures showing two vessels redirected in the early hours of the blockade.

In Fiji establishes Israel Allies Caucus in effort to promote moving national embassies to Jerusalem, the caucus, the 65th affiliated with the Israel Allies Foundation worldwide, was launched at the Fijian Parliament in Suva on Tuesday. It will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka, with attendees including Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Israeli Ambassador Maya Yaron, Israel Allies Foundation President Josh Reinstein, and International Christian Embassy Jerusalem Vice President David Parsons, among others; representatives from several Pacific Island nations are expected to participate, alongside Australian MP Andrew Wallace, who chairs the Australian Israel Allies Caucus.

In Israel kills four people in Gaza, including a child, medics say, the strike on an apartment building in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza killed Omar Abu Qassem, his wife Asma, and their six-year-old daughter Habeeba, with their three-year-old son Sami surviving but injured, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas militant. Friends and relatives gathered at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah to say goodbye, while the wider toll on Gaza’s civilians and children continues to weigh on regional hopes for a ceasefire as talks falter.

In Blockades and fees: Why are the US’s actions in Hormuz legal while Iran’s are not? - interview, legal authorities explain that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz can be legal if it adheres to the San Remo Manual, with belligerents and neutrals fully notified, the blockade effective and impartial, and humanitarian relief allowed; it would be illegitimate if used to starve civilians or to discriminate between civilian vessels, and a key distinction cited is that Iran did not distinguish between enemy and neutral in its own blockade responses.

In Rahm Emanuel’s Tel Aviv audition - opinion, the piece portrays Rahm Emanuel presenting in Tel Aviv with a tone of friendship, realism, and concern, not as an adversary but as a trusted ally; it notes he framed American pressure as a form of responsibility and warned of limits, using a blend of credential and Jewish identity to press for a particular approach, while critics say his presentation relies on partial truths about Israel’s failures to press for cooperation.

In Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer pulls out of 2026 election, Sofer said he will not run for re-election but will continue to serve as Aliyah and Absorption Minister until the end of his term; Bezalel Smotrich reacted on X/Twitter, lamenting his departure but expressing confidence that Sofer will find another path to serve Israel beyond politics, while Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel (New Hope-United Right) had already announced her resignation; the situation is described as developing.

In High Court freezes Knesset law stopping arrests of haredi military draft evaders, the High Court issued a provisional order freezing the law’s entry into force and directing the Knesset and government to explain why the law should not be struck down; four petitions were filed, with an expanded panel to hear them, and replies due four days before the hearing, though a date has not yet been set.

In Church of England backs document branding Israel a ‘racist colonial state’, Synod members voted to hear the Kairos II document despite warnings from Britain’s chief rabbi that it distorts the conflict, undermines Israel’s legitimacy and threatens Jewish-Christian relations.

In Chabad launches 'Born to Be a Yid' billboard campaign across New York City, Chabad has launched a campaign titled Born To Be A Yid to confront Jew-hatred with Jewish confidence and joy; the campaign centers on a message attributed to the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks about non-Jews respecting Jews who respect Judaism; billboards feature a Jewish couple under a chuppah and two Jewish children in yarmulkes and tzitzit, with the banner and URL Chabad.org/JewishAndProud; the effort is directed by Rabbi Motti Seligson of the Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center and Chabad.org, and is now visible at high-traffic locations across New York City.

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/DefenderDome/22190
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22189
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902592
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/israel-kills-four-people-gaza-including-child-medics-say
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902608
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902605
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902601
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902598
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjc118mr4mg
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902602