Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-07 at 18:03

HEADLINES
Pakistan demands urgent two-week Hormuz ceasefire extension
UN probes Indonesian peacekeepers' deaths in Lebanon
US races toward Israel deal before deadline

The time is now 6:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on President Trump to add a two‑week extension to the deadline set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, posting the appeal on X Tuesday night and urging both Iranian leadership and the US leader to implement a two‑week ceasefire that would allow diplomacy to achieve a substantive end to the war. The deadline remains 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios that Trump has been made aware of the proposal and that a response will come. Trump told Fox News that the United States is in heated negotiations ahead of the deadline. Iran’s representatives have signaled they are positively reviewing Pakistan’s request, with one senior Iranian official noting that Iran is prepared for peace as well as for war. Reuters also reported that Iran’s top joint military command threatened to strike critical military, security, and economic infrastructure in Israel and the United States if attacked. Reports from Iran described strikes on the Arak aluminum plant and the Mahshahr petrochemical complex as part of ongoing regional tensions, while discussions about a broader ceasefire and regional roles continued. Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said progress had moved forward beyond the critical stage, and Kuwait and Bahrain moved to preemptive measures, closing the main Bahrain–Saudi bridge route and urging citizens to stay near protected areas from midnight to 6 a.m. as a precaution against potential Iranian‑linked attacks on transport links. The region also saw Saudi Arabia’s involvement in high‑level discussions with Pakistan over regional developments.

In The Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a United Nations probe into the deaths of Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon found that one soldier was killed by an Israeli tank round and two others by an improvised explosive device most likely planted by Hezbollah. The UN spokesperson called the incidents unacceptable and said the cases should be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities, with the investigation still ongoing. The killings followed a weekend marked by Israeli strikes that also affected Lebanese journalists and medics, and a bombardment in southern Lebanon forced a Vatican aid convoy to turn back. Separately, the IDF issued an evacuation warning for a building in Tyre, south Lebanon, ahead of airstrikes targeting terrorist infrastructure.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, hours before the deadline a White House message arrived with few specifics, signaling that events may be moving but leaving details unclear. A Middle East source told CNN that good news could arrive soon and that a deal could be closed tonight. A separate report warned that minutes before the eight o’clock Eastern deadline there could be a major breakthrough or claims that a deal is near, while cautions that negotiators may use delaying tactics, potentially postponing or canceling the ultimatum.

In Uplifting News, movie theaters nationwide are reopening just in time for the Passover break, with approval from the Home Front Command that requires protection nearby for everyone. Some locations advise staying seated during alerts and directing patrons to garages or nearby bomb shelters, while a number of newer releases, including Hoppers from Pixar‑Disney, are among the options. The reopenings extend to Hot Cinema and Movieland chains, as well as select Cinema City locations and Planet theatres, along with Tel Aviv’s Cinematheque; check theatre sites or Seret.co.il for exact listings. In a related celebratory note for Passover viewing, Miriam on screen highlights the biblical trailblazer Miriam as a defiant, pivotal figure, with discussion of her role in cinema’s biblically inspired works and the legacy she represents, including reference to the film The Prince of Egypt and its musical numbers that accompany the Exodus story.

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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