Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-07 at 15:02

HEADLINES
Israel aid tops $30M in four weeks
Iranian cyberattacks escalate against US infrastructure
Kataib Hezbollah vows to free Shelly Kittleson

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 Operation Lion's Roar, Jewish Federations of North America say they have raised more than $30 million in emergency aid for Israel during the first four weeks of Operation Roaring Lion, with funds directed toward terror victims, displaced families, reservists, and mental health and resilience services. The group notes the total does not include tens of millions more that support the emergency work of the Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and partnerships between North American Jewish communities and Israeli towns and kibbutzim. “We are proud to make a difference in the lives of Israelis, those who have been displaced, who have lost loved ones, who need shelter, economic support, or other essential services,” Gary Torgow, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, said. He added that funding provided since October 2023 was being deployed alongside new resources to meet evolving wartime needs.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iranian hacking campaigns targeting equipment used across multiple US critical infrastructure sectors are escalating in response to hostilities, according to the advisory by US cybersecurity, law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The hackers are targeting publicly exposed programmable logic controllers and supervisory control and data acquisition displays, the advisory said, with the aim of causing disruptive effects within the United States. In some cases the hackers have interacted with data files to alter display data, while also extracting device project data. The advisory notes that the operations targeted unnamed critical infrastructure across sectors, and that “a few cases” have resulted in operational disruption and financial loss. The warning comes as President Donald Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to make a deal with the US, while Iran said it would attack additional infrastructure targets across its Gulf neighbors.

In US Military Role, Tucker Carlson urged US officials to oppose any efforts by President Donald Trump to authorize large-scale attacks that would harm Iranian civilians, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. "Now it’s time to say no, absolutely not, and say it directly to the president, no," Carlson said, further stating that officials should tell Trump to “figure out the codes on the football yourself,” referring to the briefcase containing the nuclear launch codes. In comments on his podcast, Carlson also condemned Trump’s remarks about opening the Strait of Hormuz, calling them “evil” and accusing Trump of mocking both Christianity and Islam. Trump responded to Carlson's accusations in an interview, dismissing him as a “low-IQ person who has absolutely no idea what’s going on.” The WSJ report also notes that longtime Trump ally turned critic Marjorie Taylor Greene called on Tuesday for Trump's removal after the President made additional threats against Iran in a Truth Social post.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iraqi terror group Kataib Hezbollah, which is Iran-aligned, said on Tuesday it would release abducted US journalist Shelly Kittleson, adding that she must leave Iraq immediately. Kittleson was abducted in late March in Baghdad. Middle East news site AL-Monitor said Kittleson was a US freelance journalist based in Rome who had covered several wars in the region and had contributed articles to the outlet. This is a developing story.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, London’s Wireless Festival has been canceled after the British government denied entry to Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, following mounting pressure from Jewish groups over antisemitic remarks. The organizers confirmed the cancellation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, stating that the government had withdrawn Ye’s electronic travel authorization, barring entry into the United Kingdom. “Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognize the real and personal impact these issues have had,” the statement read, while Ye had previously been granted permission to enter the United Kingdom; the organizers added that Ye hoped to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.

In Uplifting News, three pieces offer a message of resilience centered on Miriam’s leadership. On the seventh day of Passover, Miriam steps forward with rhythm, taking a tambourine and guiding the women with timbrels and dance, a leadership that is immediate, collective, and embodied. The crossing at the sea is seen as the beginning of a long journey, not the end. Passover and Song of Songs: What spring teaches us about freedom describes an Israeli spring that arrives with defiance, even as weather challenges continue; the narrative connects spring’s vitality with the tradition of reading Song of Songs at Passover. The hidden well: Exploring Miriam's leadership as a source of hope in war's shadow highlights Miriam as a partner who defies decree to save life, encouraging her father Amram and guiding acts that sustain hope amid cruelty.

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/diaspora/article-892341
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/iranian-hackers-targeting-us-critical-infrastructure-has-escalated-start-war-us
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892339
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892340
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-892342
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/article-892129
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-892122
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/article-892131