Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-19 at 19:02

HEADLINES
- Netanyahu says strikes blocked Iran atomic bomb
- Iran: US breaches ceasefire; drones hit ships
- IDF Probes Soldier Smashing Jesus Statue

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Independence Day torchlighters that if Israel had not attacked Iran in February 2025 and again in June, the Islamic regime would now have an atomic bomb to use against Israel. He warned this would be "the beginning of the end for the Jewish people" and said Israel acted with the spirit of "a nation rising like a lioness and roaring like a lion" to compel action. He noted that what changed is Israel's ability to repel attacks and that antisemitism persists despite the lessons of the Holocaust.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's armed forces said the United States violated the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian container ship en route from China to Iran. In response to the ceasefire violation, Iranian forces attacked US military ships using drones.

In Regional Impacts, the IDF confirmed the authenticity of an image showing a soldier smashing a statue of Jesus in Debel, a Maronite Christian village in southern Lebanon near Ain Ebel, calling the act severe and wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops; the incident is being investigated by the Northern Command, with appropriate measures to be taken and assistance to restore the statue. A separate video of the same incident circulated online, with the IDF reiterating that the conduct is inconsistent with its values.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Tony Greenstein, suspended from the British Green Party over antisemitism allegations, told The Jerusalem Post he will "fight the spurious allegations" and seek to retain his membership, disputing the charges and arguing the accusations.

In Uplifting News, Argentina's president Javier Milei, chosen to light a torch at the ceremonies and on a diplomatic visit to Israel, was seen singing during the rehearsal for the torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl, with meetings planned with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog, potential signing of cooperation accords, an announced direct air link between Israel and Argentina, and a plan to move Argentina's embassy to Jerusalem. Separately, Israel released 24 more Gazan prisoners of war back to Gaza, transferring them to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical checkups in the central Gaza Strip.

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/israel-news/article-893552
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75249
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-893544
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syliopm6zx
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-893551
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1311926
https://t.me/selena_updates/62191