Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-03 at 18:02

HEADLINES
Israel US Brace for Iran Strike
IDF Extends Service Two Months
Entebbe Rescue Marks 50th Anniversary

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump on Friday and congratulated him on the 250th anniversary of US independence. Netanyahu told Trump that the United States is a "guarantor of global freedom" and that Israel values the close relationship between the two countries, the Prime Minister’s Office said. Additionally, the two leaders agreed to meet soon in the United States. Netanyahu and Trump last met on February 11, 2026, and later that month the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran. Their February meeting focused on how the United States and Israel would respond if negotiations with Tehran failed to produce an agreement, with Netanyahu requesting that any attack also target Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile. The possibility of another joint US-Israeli attack has not been ruled out. Trump described the meeting as positive and touted the relationship between the US and Israel, "It was a very good meeting, and the tremendous relationship between our two countries continues," he wrote in a statement. The president told Netanyahu that pursuing negotiations with Iran remains his priority.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF is extending the service of soldiers scheduled for discharge by two months, with affected troops receiving orders delaying their release, according to Israeli Channel 12. The move is aimed at meeting growing operational demands, though it is expected to significantly increase government costs by keeping more personnel on active duty. Netanyahu’s New York visit becomes Mamdani’s 'huge headache' as the prime minister is expected to attend the UN General Assembly in September, forcing New York’s anti-Israel mayor to confront the limits of his campaign pledge to arrest him, while Israeli and US security teams search for a hotel after a previous security lapse.

In Uplifting News, there are reflections on a historic rescue. July 3, 1976, marks 50 years since Entebbe, when Israel carried out Operation Jonathan to rescue hostages from a hijacked Air France flight, demonstrating that distance is no barrier when duty calls. The piece notes that Israel faced a stark choice between surrender and a military response, and emphasizes how global indifference at the time shaped events. Separately, celebrations of America’s 250th birthday featured ceremonial flyovers by B-1 Lancer bombers and a B-2 Spirit over the National Mall, marking the United States' 250th anniversary, and a pilot traced a giant USA outline in the sky with a GPS-guided Cessna, with the route recorded for posterity. Another account highlights a rare F-35 hovering over the National Mall as preparations continue for the anniversary festivities.

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-901357
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56670
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https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1k63qsxfe
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901235
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56674
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56675
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56667