Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-03 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Gaza airstrikes kill three as ceasefire stalls
Trump Netanyahu call signals Iranian leverage
Families demand full accounting of Oct 7

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Israeli strikes kill three people in Gaza, medics say, three Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Wednesday in separate Israeli airstrikes, with medics reporting one fatality near the Mughraqa area in central Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck a person acting suspiciously near forces operating in an Israeli-controlled area to remove the threat. Separately, medics said two brothers, Saqer and Moamen Khalil Abu Karim, were killed in the courtyard of a house in the Maghazi refugee camp, and there was no immediate comment from Israel on the incident. The ceasefire brokered by the United States has failed to halt the attacks, and indirect talks on implementing the second phase of the deal, including disarmament and Israeli army withdrawals, remain deadlocked, with sources indicating further negotiations were expected this week.

In Trump-Netanyahu call, restraint on Beirut strike signals 'Iranian victory,’ INSS researcher warns, analysts say the phone conversation between the US president and the Israeli prime minister is viewed by some as signaling Iranian leverage, with INSS researcher Beni Sabti saying the United States appears to rebuke Israel and not allow an attack near Beirut. He added that Hezbollah has recovered and that the exchange has created a perceived split between Washington and Jerusalem. Yaki Dayan, a former Israeli consul, cautioned that difficult conversations over Lebanon may be necessary as regional dynamics shift. Sabti argued that the Middle East is entering a period of growing Iranian confidence. Iran-backed militias in Iraq signal move to place weapons under state control amid US pressure, with militias signaling a possible break from the government-backed Popular Mobilization Forces and a transfer of some weapons to the state, though it remains unclear whether this represents a real change or a redefinition while preserving control. The PMF expanded after ISIS’s surge in 2014, with Ayatollah Ali Sistani’s fatwa drawing more than 100,000 volunteers into dozens of brigades; estimates suggest up to 74 armed groups emerged, and Iraq later formalized the PMF as a state paramilitary force, shaping the context for ongoing US pressure on disarmament and governance.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States is increasing pressure on Hezbollah and seeking to persuade Israel to avoid striking Beirut as Washington hosts Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington, DC US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Hezbollah is an enemy of Israel, America, and Lebanon, and noted that communications via the Lebanese government indicated Hezbollah would refrain from attacking Israeli territory if Israel did not strike in Beirut. Rubio spoke before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as part of a broader set of hearings and meetings. The discussions also touch on a plan to support training portions of the Lebanese army, reflecting Washington’s interest in stabilizing the region, though it remains unclear what concrete changes will emerge from these talks.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, bereaved families, former military officials, and defense experts debated the IDF’s handling of its October 7 investigations at the Israel Bar Association’s conference in Eilat, focusing on transparency and public trust. Eyal Eshel, father of Sergeant Roni Eshel, who was killed at the Nahal Oz base, said families faced deep frustration over what he described as missing information and incomplete answers from the defense establishment. He described the concealment of information and the cutting of corners, saying families want a full accounting of the events and the dangers their loved ones faced, while the military seeks to preserve candid operational debriefings and the public interest in understanding how the Hamas attack unfolded.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the real threat behind Europe’s crackdown on brit milah - opinion argues that Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland’s criminal investigations into mohalim threaten religious freedom and the practice of brit milah, noting debates over Metzitzah B’peh and historical alternatives while warning against echoes of oppressive eras and urging protections for religious tradition. Separately, ‘Lefty Jew’ who accused Israel of genocide advances in San Francisco congressional primary reports that California state Senator Scott Wiener won his party’s primary to succeed retiring Nancy Pelosi, to face San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan in November. The race highlighted debates over housing, immigration, and other policy priorities, with Wiener framing his victory as a signal of a new approach to governance and civic challenges.

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/2026/06/israeli-strikes-kill-three-people-gaza-medics-say
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898249
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-898241
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-898244
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898245
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-898089
https://www.timesofisrael.com/lefty-jew-who-accused-israel-of-genocide-advances-in-san-francisco-congressional-primary/