Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-14 at 05:01

HEADLINES
US strikes Iran as Hormuz blockade restarts
Katz seeks Azaria pardon
Antisemitic influencer Clavicular allowed into Israel

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, The United States launched a third night of strikes on Iran as President Donald Trump reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports and proposed that all ships pay a fee to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade is to begin at 2000 GMT on Tuesday. Jordan's army said it had shot down four missiles fired from Iran as Tehran pressed attacks on US allies in the region. Explosions were heard in the Bahraini capital after sirens sounded for the third time since dawn. The UAE said Iran attacked two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and wounding eight, with a missile also hitting a tanker off the Omani port of Limah.

In Regional Impacts, one Indian crew member was killed and eight others wounded when two Emirati oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE Ministry of Defence said. The tankers Mombasa B and Al Bahyah sustained significant damage, with ADNOC L&S confirming the damage. US Central Command said it had facilitated the transit of more than 800 vessels and over 400 million barrels of crude through the Strait in the previous two months. The UAE described the strikes as targeting the southern lane of the strait. Iran fired missiles at Jordan, then appealed to the Jordanian people; Jordan said it intercepted repeated missile launches but avoided direct confrontation, described by analysts as a calculated move to protect security without widening the escalation.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanon said the army is ready to take over areas vacated by Israel as US-mediated negotiations resume in Rome. Beirut is demanding an immediate pullout from two pilot zones, while Jerusalem seeks guarantees that Hezbollah will not return.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Defense Minister Israel Katz submitted a presidential pardon request on behalf of Elor Azaria, ten years after the Hebron shooting that tested the IDF’s ethics. Azaria was convicted in January 2017 of manslaughter for shooting an incapacitated Palestinian man, and his 18-month sentence was later commuted to 14 months. Katz’s letter to President Isaac Herzog is a formal recommendation to erase Azaria’s criminal record. The decision rests with the president. Five Hasidim were arrested after about 100 Breslov followers entered the Palestinian village of Kifl Haris to visit graves, saying residents threw stones and injuring two; police and IDF forces responded but those involved had already left; an investigation is underway.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, AI explains: Why wasn't Clavicular arrested upon entry to Israel after singing "Heil Hitler"? American influencer Braden Peters, known online as Clavicular, sparked controversy over antisemitic remarks and was allowed into Israel; artificial intelligence was used to determine whether his mere presence could constitute a crime. Peters was seen in Tel Aviv clubs and was photographed with PM adviser Topaz Luk, who said the meeting was incidental and that Peters apologized for the remarks attributed to him. Reports also claimed he was removed from a beach club after a companion filmed patrons; the controversy traces to a January 2026 video at the Vendôme club in Miami Beach, where Peters and other influencers sang along to a Ye song, with footage showing a Nazi salute.

In Uplifting News, Elisha Wiesel, Elie Wiesel’s son, describes the lessons he inherited from his father and the battle over language and memory that he believes must now be fought in public discourse. He recalls the moment of asking about his heritage and later retracing his father’s steps through Sighet, Auschwitz, and Paris. He says his father would not want words spoken for the dead and that he fights antisemitism by living Jewish values in public. The broader fight, he suggests, centers on how language shapes memory and collective understanding.

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-902441
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902433
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902431
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902430
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-902380
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/uae-says-iranian-missiles-struck-oil-tankers-strait-hormuz-one-sailor-killed
https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-accuses-mamdani-of-siding-with-terrorists-defies-threats-to-arrest-him-in-nyc/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hk4fldxnfx
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-iran-strikes-latest-developments-1
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skopxwq4gl