Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-04 at 23:02

HEADLINES
Iran Plans Fees for Hormuz Transit
Arab Israeli Youth Violence Surges, 140 Killed
Patriot Front Marches DC Ahead of Independence

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

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s ambassador to China said new fees would be charged for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a move Washington has rejected. He added that friendly nations could receive special treatment. The initial deal ending the conflict allowed commercial ships to transit free for 60 days, but it remains unclear what will be in place after that period. Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said Iran is pursuing new arrangements for the Hormuz in collaboration with Oman. He stressed that, as a country where the strait is part of its territorial waters, Iran “will definitely charge service fees,” though such charges would not be a toll. He described the arrangements as aimed at guaranteeing the security of passage through the straits, supervising vessel movement, and addressing environmental consequences of the heavy shipping traffic, and he said Iran would definitely consider special treatment for friendly countries.

In Regional Impacts, new satellite images show activity at Pickaxe Mountain, an underground site in the Zagros Mountains that has not been accessible to IAEA inspectors, even as sites at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow show little movement since last year’s US strikes. The reporting frames Pickaxe Mountain as part of Iran’s apparent “insurance policy,” highlighting the ongoing contrast between activity at this hidden facility and the relative quiet at other known facilities.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a violent crime wave is beleaguering Israel’s Arab youth. In the four years since her father was fatally stabbed near their home in northern Israel, 10-year-old Shireen has carried grief that weighs on her and her family. She is one of many young people affected by spiralling violence in Israel’s Arab minority, driven by criminal gangs, family feuds, easy access to firearms, and what the community says is a lack of police enforcement. So far this year, more than 140 Arab citizens of Israel have been killed in such violence, a 12 percent rise over the same period last year, with the pace threatening to surpass the 252 killings recorded in 2025 if it continues. The family described the assailant who killed Shireen’s father as a minor who was not previously known to them.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, hundreds of masked Patriot Front white nationalists marched through Washington, DC, ahead of Independence Day celebrations. The group posted that it had arrived in the capital with about 400 members, and video footage showed hundreds of people dressed in Patriot Front attire traveling on DC Metro trains. They were seen marching near the US Capitol and Union Station, carrying the group’s flag, Confederate flags, and variations of the US flag, while chanting “Reclaim America.” Police say there were no arrests, complaints filed, or calls for assistance tied to the event as participants moved about the city.

In Uplifting News, Israeli Olympic judo bronze medalist Peter Paltchik is auctioning the judo gi he wore in Paris to fund PTSD treatment for ZAKA volunteers. The auction has a minimum bid of $50,000, and Paltchik said he would personally call the winner to thank them. Beauty mogul Terry de Gunzburg, founder of By Terry, explains her aliyah to Israel, describing a childhood journey from Egypt to Israel and France, her new home in Herzliya, and her view that war has not driven her from the country she calls home. Day two aboard the 2026 Bible Prophecy Cruise to Alaska featured a day of shared gratitude as one family during America’s 250th birthday celebration, with messages from pastors and plans to continue the journey to Juneau, followed by an evening teaching and prayers for the voyage.

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.timesofisrael.com/iranian-diplomat-says-country-will-definitely-collect-hormuz-fees-defying-us/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjenvbd7gl
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/violent-crime-wave-beleaguers-israels-arab-youth
https://www.timesofisrael.com/masked-patriot-front-white-nationalists-stage-july-4-march-through-dc/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901403
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rkciozm7fl
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/78114