Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-06 at 16:02

HEADLINES
Hamas keeps Gaza power, eyes technocratic rule
GOP backs Israel; Netanyahu shapes NATO talks
Israeli voters tire; new party hints emerge

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Palestinians say Hamas has not ended its rule in Gaza and intends to keep both military power and governmental authority, even as it dissolves its emergency committee and signals a temporary governing body would run the Strip with a leader appointed to head it. A senior official in Ramallah says Hamas wants to hand over authority to a technocratic committee, but this may be a tactic in Cairo to buy time while broader regional dynamics unfold, with the central question focusing on how the principle of one authority and one weapon would be implemented in practice. In the West Bank city of Qalqilya, several Israelis deliberately entered the area while one man searching for a stolen motorcycle refused to leave as residents gathered around him; the army notes that entering Area A is illegal and dangerous, and troops intervened to rescue those involved.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a Washington Free Beacon poll finds Republican primary voters continue to back candidates who support Israel and denounce antisemitism, with 57% preferring a candidate who supports a strong US-Israel relationship and 52% favoring a candidate who explicitly denounces antisemitism. Voters also indicated they would be less likely to back someone who describes Netanyahu as a war criminal (25% margin), who favors economic isolation of Israel (43%), or who votes against resolutions denouncing antisemitism (43%), while concerns about the economy and immigration dominate, including cost of living at 31% and immigration at 13%. In a separate assessment, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s two Fox News interviews in rapid succession are presented as a diplomatic move tied to the Trump-Erdogan NATO meeting, designed to influence Washington and project a united line on Iran, with the two appearances framed as a coordinated effort to shape decisions ahead of the summit.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Shin Bet will receive about half a billion shekels to combat crime in Arab communities, funded from the 550 Plan budget and reallocated across ministries, bringing the total for Shin Bet and police to roughly 567 million shekels and expected to be approved at the next cabinet meeting, with Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praising the move as a win for citizens and a blow to crime networks. Analysts say the public is tired of the Likud-led coalition and is calling for a right-wing alternative, with talk of a new party potentially winning eight to thirteen seats and broad Zionist unity gaining appeal as boycotts lose traction. Opposition leader Yair Lapid warned that the government’s refusal to comply with a High Court ruling on the Second Authority Council signals a broader bid to influence elections, raising the prospect of a constitutional crisis if the court’s decisions are sidelined and the rule of law is tested.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned Turkey’s foreign minister for what he called a “clear call for genocide,” citing dehumanizing remarks aired on television and emphasizing that history shows the danger of such rhetoric as he met Rwanda’s minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and issued a joint statement with him. Separately, Israeli academic Dr. Ofek Reimer described a “silent boycott” affecting Israeli scholars, recounting a conference rejection linked to the sponsor’s policy on cooperation with Israeli institutions; he says boycotts defund, demoralize, and silence critical thought, and he was later re-invited after organizers acknowledged the issue.

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/middle-east/article-901649
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bj0011aotmfe
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-901638
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901644
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901654
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901554
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901651
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901640
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-901652