Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-27 at 17:02

HEADLINES
One in three Americans back Iran war
Israel advances 20 Point Gaza Stabilization Plan
US backs phased Lebanon pullout over Hezbollah

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, a Reuters/Ipsos poll finds just one in three Americans back the war on Iran, the lowest reading since the five-month-old conflict began. Sixty-nine percent say President Donald Trump has not clearly explained the goals of US military involvement in Iran, and his approval rating sits at 37 percent, up three points from last month. Trump has offered shifting objectives for the conflict, including aiding Iranians to topple their leaders, reducing Iran's ballistic-missile capabilities and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said the president will not make decisions based on fluid opinion polls and reiterated his resolve to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. What matters most to the American people is having a commander in chief who takes bold action to keep them safe.

In Regional Impacts, Israel has approved the principles of a 20-point plan secured in October 2025, paving the way for the International Stabilization Force to enter Gaza as part of the ceasefire and peace proposal. The plan envisions reconstruction and governance under a technocratic framework, while the IDF will continue to control the Yellow Line in Gaza, about half the territory; observers say Israel actually controls up to seventy percent of the area, with Hamas controlling the rest and shaping daily life for about two million people. The Board of Peace, established after the ceasefire, has continued its work with international contributors to the ISF, even as momentum paused during broader regional tensions. In the West Bank, during a protest at the Ali junction, a Palestinian vehicle struck a 15-year-old boy; he was treated at the scene by a military medic and was later transported to Beilinson Hospital with a moderate head injury, while the driver was arrested and is being investigated.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Trump administration backs a phased IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon under a Hezbollah disarmament deal. US officials told The Jerusalem Post that the framework connects a redeployment by Israeli forces to Hezbollah disarmament and the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty, with three aims: the return of Lebanese sovereignty, dismantling Hezbollah's terror infrastructure, and a secure northern border for Israel. Pilot zone operations began July 20, including redeployment from Zawtar al-Gharbiya, and Washington says it will remain closely involved to push the agreement toward a successful conclusion. Separately, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied responsibility for the Abqaiq refinery attack in Saudi Arabia, saying Yemen carried it out and that Saudi Arabia is unable to respond to the Houthis; they warned that any attack on Iraq would be met with a firm response and expressed support for Yemen against the blockade.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump said on Monday that he would not be constrained by others in selling arms, telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “Nobody tells me what we should be selling,” as he praised Turkey as a “tremendous ally” despite tensions with Israel over potential F-35 deliveries to Ankara. Netanyahu had cautioned against the move, calling Turkey “a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood” in past remarks. Separately, the US State Department reaffirmed that Turkey remains ineligible to purchase or receive F-35 jets, while Trump said decisions on arms sales rest with Washington and indicated he would certainly consider restoring F-35 sales to Turkey, reflecting ongoing friction between US policy and Israeli objections.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Palestinians are again allowed to work in Israeli West Bank communities after the military lifted a ban imposed in the wake of the Gilad Farm attack, with the return governed by procedures for securing workers in industrial zones and communities. The crackdown that followed the attack saw more than 70 suspects arrested as Israel ramped up deployments and counterterrorism measures. Separately, Likud approved expanding Netanyahu’s control over the party list, allowing him to determine eight slots within the first 30 on the Knesset list ahead of August primaries; the vote, amid notable internal tensions and a high turnout of about 72%, also saw a top Likud internal court reject a provision that would have let the party cancel primaries in a security emergency.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/just-one-three-americans-back-iran-war-most-unsure-trumps-goals-reutersipsos-poll
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903836
https://t.me/newssil/207644
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903832
https://t.me/selena_updates/67846
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-on-israel-opposing-f-35s-to-turkey-nobody-tells-me-what-we-should-be-selling/
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-rejects-netanyahus-opposition-to-potential-f-35-sale-to-turkey/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903839
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903831