Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-09 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Iran Strikes US Assets; 90 Sites Hit
Iran Demands Control of Hormuz Strait
Gaza Aid Tops 1.78 Million Tons

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 Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the report centers on a question about whether Israel sent a Mossad agent to the funeral of Iran's former supreme leader. The material provided repeats the video title and summary but offers no independently verifiable details in the text presented.

In Iranian Retaliation, sirens sounded across the Middle East as Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US assets in the Gulf, following American strikes on sites inside Iran. Iran's air force reportedly scrambled fighter jets to secure the skies over the funeral procession of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, according to state-backed outlets. The United States said it had struck around 90 sites overnight to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and mariners in the Strait of Hormuz, with CENTCOM describing the effort as part of those ongoing operations. Iranian officials and state media reported casualties from the strikes, including dozens killed or injured across multiple provinces. Kuwait’s armed forces said it engaged with missiles and drones in its airspace, and reported one person injured by falling shrapnel.

In Regional Impacts, Tehran is using military coercion to press Gulf states to accept Iranian administration of the Strait of Hormuz, a move analysts say undermines any durable peace framework in the Gulf. A briefing from the Institute for the Study of War notes that the memorandum of understanding intended to reduce tension has exposed gaps in a lasting security arrangement. Some Iranian officials have pressed for traffic through the strait to be overseen by Iran, with emphasis on the IRGC Navy guiding safe passage, while others contend that Iran bears responsibility for coordinating vessel movement within a framework of international law and shared transit obligations.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called for the full release of communications between Pramilla Patten, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to expose influence over her decision to include Israel on a UN blacklist. The UN added Israeli entities to the blacklist at the end of May 2026 alongside Hamas and other groups. Danon criticized Patten’s conduct in a Security Council discussion, saying she deflected verification and defended the report, and he urged Patten to resign, arguing the process reflected pressure rather than independent assessment.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Norway dropped a case against Bassam Hussein, a project management professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, who had described the October 7 massacre as “the most beautiful thing this century” during an April lecture. The Jerusalem Post reported the incident, and NTNU said the event occurred off campus and was not the university’s responsibility. An anti-antisemitism group had lodged a complaint, but authorities dismissed the case, citing insufficient grounds. Separately, an opinion piece argues that messianic extremists have weaponized archaeology to promote their ideology and undermine diplomatic efforts, detailing how groups have used archaeological narratives to push political objectives and disrupt negotiations.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court blocked Walla from pursuing layoffs and organizational changes before completing talks with the Union for Journalists in Israel. The court ruled that a unionized workplace cannot proceed with job cuts or structural changes without providing the union with the information needed to understand, question, and propose alternatives, and that the process must follow the collective agreement, including sharing financial and organizational data and the economic basis for the proposed changes and the available alternatives.

In Uplifting News, Gaza’s humanitarian situation during the ceasefire period has shown improvement, according to COGAT. The agency reported that the amount of food and other humanitarian supplies entering Gaza from October 2025 through June 2026 significantly exceeded UN requirements, totaling about 1.78 million tons of food—more than three times the World Food Programme’s identified needs. Food prices fell roughly 72% from September 2025 to May 2026, influenced by market conditions. Water and sanitation provisions were also strong, with daily water supply exceeding 70,000 cubic meters, indicating ample WASH support during the period.

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://t.me/hnaftali/23843
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902037
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902040
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902046
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902038
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901837
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902043
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902024