Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-01 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Three Killed in Gaza City Drone Strikes
Harris Quietly Rekindles Progressives Ahead of 2028
Herzog Sees Israel-Lebanon Framework Breakthrough Hezbollah Disarmament

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 Regional Impacts, three people were killed in two Israeli drone strikes in Gaza City today. One strike hit Omar al-Mukhtar Street in the city’s center, killing Mohammed Jandiya. A second strike near the Dar al-Arqam School in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the northwest of Gaza City killed two people.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, former vice president Kamala Harris held a private call with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani last week and has been holding closed-door meetings with prominent progressive figures, including pro-Palestinian activists, according to an Axios report. The discussions reportedly focused on the future of the Democratic Party and plans for further conversations. Harris has also exchanged text messages with Mamdani in recent months, and the report suggests these moves aim to repair and strengthen ties with left-wing members to lay groundwork for a 2028 presidential run, including reconnecting with the pro-Palestinian Uncommitted National Movement. In a related development, Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the Romanian Parliament during a state visit, praising President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their role in negotiating a recently signed framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon. He called the accord a major breakthrough and urged the European Union and the international community to support it, as the framework outlines a staged withdrawal by Israel from parts of Lebanese territory, the Lebanese Armed Forces taking full sovereignty by disarming Hezbollah, and US monitoring of the process.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Boaz Bismuth, chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, sent a letter to Shin Bet Director David Zini seeking intervention against the High Court of Justice and possibly in the upcoming Knesset elections. He hinted that the High Court’s interim order freezing the election of Michael Rabello as comptroller after tampering allegations around secret ballot rules could lead to judicial interference in elections, though critics note that polling has shown the opposition bloc often leading. Separately, former Supreme Court justice Edna Arbel died on Wednesday. Arbel served as state attorney for 16 years before joining the Supreme Court in 2004 and retiring in 2014, and she chaired key prosecution committees and participated in international legal discussions.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Mor Institute has launched what it calls Israel’s first comprehensive preventive genetic test, a saliva-based screening for genetic predisposition to 173 genes linked to hereditary cancers, cardiovascular conditions, metabolic diseases, and other serious disorders. The test is available to healthy adults aged 18 and older and aims to help individuals and physicians identify risks before symptoms appear, enabling earlier, personalized surveillance, prevention, and treatment planning. It covers hereditary cancers including BRCA1 and BRCA2 related risks, as well as other conditions such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders.

In Uplifting News, Soroka University Medical Center announced a new partnership with Azerbaijani healthcare providers and hospitals, signing strategic cooperation agreements with TABIB Health Services, the Mirgasimov Republican Medical Center, and the Garayev Children’s Medical Center in Baku. Senior teams from Soroka have begun working in Azerbaijani hospitals to assist with research and collaborate with local doctors, spanning pediatrics, neurosurgery, and child development, with neonatal intensive care and pediatric services expanding and nursing education discussions underway. Azerbaijani Health Minister Timur Musayev awarded Soroka’s Dr. Mickey Gidon the “Excellence in the Health System” award in recognition of his work in pediatric neurosurgery. In a lighter moment, Mexican doctors Dr. Norma Espinoza and Dr. Homero Salcido welcomed their first child at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center while Mexico’s national team advanced in the World Cup, a moment noted for its joyful intersection of medicine and sport.

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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