Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-21 at 11:04

HEADLINES
- IDF builds 23km Gaza barrier isolating Hamas
- Anduril Thunder autonomous rotorcraft reshapes warfare
- West Bank PA arms surge alarms Israel

The time is now 11:03 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, a new concept from US defense firm Anduril highlights how manned-unmanned teaming and drone swarms could reshape the battlefield of tomorrow. A video introducing Thunder, described by Anduril as an autonomous attack rotorcraft designed to multiply the combat power and increase the survivability of current and next-generation crewed attack and assault aircraft, has been released as Farnborough Airshow opened in the United Kingdom. The footage underscores how vulnerable traditional, large drones can be to air defenses, signaling a shift as the drone revolution expands in the United States, Israel, China and other nations and suggesting that older systems may become less relevant. Anduril says Thunder is equipped with payload capacity and an open architecture to deliver overwhelming effects for any mission, engineered with survivability, speed and range for the deep fight, and built on flight-proven autonomy that enables validated, high-performance teaming with crewed assets.

In Regional Impacts, satellite imagery and on-the-ground developments frame a widening and increasingly contested security landscape. The IDF has been building a large sand-wall barrier extending across the Gaza Strip, isolating the 50-70% of the territory it controls from areas held by Hamas. Planet Labs’ imagery obtained by the Associated Press shows more than 23 kilometers of barrier built in recent months, running through areas where Palestinian communities once stood before their demolition. The size of the project would amount to over half the length of Gaza, which measures about 40 kilometers end-to-end, though officials have not specified whether the barrier will cover the entire Strip or confine Hamas to roughly 30% to 47% of the territory. The IDF declined to elaborate to The Jerusalem Post on the scope, aims or details of the construction. In a separate development, the IDF said pilot operations of a “Safe Zone” in southern Lebanon began in coordination with the US and Lebanese militaries, after Lebanese soldiers were reported to have crossed into designated zones near Nabatiya. The Lebanese Armed Forces described the incident as an attempt to obstruct the pilot program, which seeks to verify clearance of Hezbollah operatives and weapons as part of a trilateral framework.

Also in this topic, assessments warn that the Palestinian Authority’s military buildup in the West Bank presents a potential threat to Israelis comparable to past incursions. A new analysis from Lieutenant-Colonel (ret.) Maurice Hirsch argues the West Bank now hosts an armed force ten times larger than the number of terrorists who breached Israeli lines from Gaza on October 7, with tens of thousands of weapons and a larger personnel presence than previously agreed, creating risk for communities across central Israel and near the Mediterranean corridor that includes Qalqilya and surrounding towns.

Iran’s actions add another layer to the regional dynamic, with reports that an attack drone launched by Iran targeted an Arab country in the Middle East and carried an image of Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal holding a Palestinian flag. The drone attack and its imagery illustrate the broader messaging associated with Tehran’s regional posture.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, questions about pilot zones reflect broader strategic tensions. There appears to be a disconnect among Beirut, Washington and Jerusalem over the purpose and expectations for Lebanese Army pilot zones in southern Lebanon. While all three parties publicly support greater LAF involvement, they seem to diverge on what success looks like and how to address Hezbollah. The US Department of State described pilot-zone operations as beginning in villages including Froun, Srifa and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya under the trilateral framework, with ongoing coordination between the IDF, the US military and the Lebanese Armed Forces. Lebanon’s leadership has emphasized using the zones to secure an Israeli withdrawal or redeployment, while the practical deployment involves the presence of Lebanese forces and military hardware as a visible stake in the ground.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a notable incident appears from a different arena. A video report documents an unusual confrontation in which the head of Yeruham’s municipal council was involved in a physical clash with police, including an attempted restraint. The footage, reported in Hebrew, highlights tensions at the local level and adds to a broader conversation about civil institutions and security.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a government-commissioned study on Berlin’s LGBTQ+ scene finds antisemitism has grown more visible since October 7, 2023. The report notes that antisemitism in Berlin’s queer spaces is not new but has intensified, with Jewish LGBTQ+ people reporting increasing feelings of exclusion, intimidation and insecurity. Protests and anti-Israel demonstrations have linked antisemitism to the BDS movement, though organizers and participants emphasize that attitudes vary and are not exclusively motivated by antisemitism. Keshet Deutschland’s Ari Elbert said Jewish LGBTQ+ organizations have been invited to far fewer events, while some participants suggest that not every instance is driven solely by antisemitic motives, underscoring a complex social dynamic.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the Netherlands announced a forthcoming ban on goods, services and trade from Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories. The policy, set to take effect on September 22, 2026, follows a May 22 decision and a Council of State advisory, and the government argues the settlements are unlawful under international law. Beginning in late September, it will be prohibited to import, purchase or sell goods from settlements, provide services facilitating such trade, or circumvent these prohibitions. Officials acknowledge enforcing the measure will be challenging, and local voices have criticized the policy as more symbolic than practical.

In Uplifting News, interfaith work in Azerbaijan was highlighted at a Religious Freedom Forum on Capitol Hill. Rabbi Zamir Isayev, head of Baku’s Sephardi Jewish community, described life for Jewish communities in a Muslim-majority country at the event organized by the IRF Secretariat. He stood with Pastor Rasim Khalilov, leader of Azerbaijan’s Protestant community, as US officials and lawmakers heard about religious tolerance beyond legislation. The pair also met with Eric Trump, who expressed interest in strengthening ties with Azerbaijan. Isayev argued that genuine tolerance is measured by the ability of minority faith communities to maintain their institutions and practice openly, a point underscored by the presence of Jewish and Protestant representatives in a country where Islam is the majority faith.

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
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https://t.me/selena_updates/67504
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903204
https://t.me/newssil/207181
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903195
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-903205
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-903201