Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-06 at 00:02

HEADLINES
Two dead in Haifa as rescue scrambles
Hormuz closed until Iran pays war damages
High Court weighs wartime protest limits

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, overnight Haifa rescue finds two dead from Iranian missile barrage, efforts continue to find others. Rescue teams from the Haifa Fire Station, the Lahav Unit and Home Front Command retrieved two individuals trapped under rubble; they were found without signs of life. The recovery operations stretched through the night into the early hours of Monday. During the deployments, advanced tools including phone tracking helped pinpoint the approximate locations of the trapped. Rescue operations are continuing to reach two additional missing or trapped individuals. In Haifa, four people were treated for smoke inhalation with minor injuries, and medical teams assisted others in the area as authorities responded to the broader attack. Red alert sirens resumed in central Israel. Authorities reported more than 10 impact sites across Haifa after the latest barrage, with damage to property noted and reports of a strike on Highway 6 near Elikim. Two people have been murdered by an Iranian missile in Haifa; their bodies were recovered from under the rubble. In Tehran, a column of thick black smoke was seen above Azadi Square. This is a developing story.

In Regional Impacts, the Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until Iran is compensated for war damages, Iranian official says. The IRGC Navy posted that the Strait will never return to its pre-war state and that it is completing preparations for a "new order in the Persian Gulf," with emphasis on changes “especially for America and Israel.” Iran’s deputy for communications in the president’s office said the Strait would reopen only after damages from the war are fully compensated from transit toll revenues. Iran is currently allowing select non-Iranian ships to transit the strait, charging up to seven-figure fees for some to do so. Iraq’s SOMO has asked its customers to submit crude lifting schedules within 24 hours. South Korea’s president said the country must balance risk in importing crude oil from the Middle East amid Hormuz disruptions, noting that there are not many alternative routes. Authorities are consulting with other oil-producing countries to secure replacements, including Saudi Arabia, Oman and Algeria. The Industry Ministry is pushing a plan to deploy five South Korean‑flagged vessels on the Red Sea route and to use government-held oil reserves to supply private refiners first, with swaps to be made once replacement cargoes arrive in the country.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Unlawful or unequal: The High Court's struggle to draw a legal line during wartime - editorial. As the war with Iran continues, a consequential clash has emerged between the High Court of Justice and Israel’s police over the limits of protest and freedom of speech in wartime. The police arrested 17 protesters after about 600 gathered at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square, following an earlier court ruling that had granted interim approval for up to 600 demonstrators to assemble. The state did not present its position in time for the Friday hearing, prompting the judiciary to set a framework that would permit demonstrations while wartime restrictions were in place. The piece underscores the tension between security measures and democratic norms during a time of conflict.

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.

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