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

HEADLINES
Iran attacks US-linked bases in Bahrain, Kuwait
Hamas financing exposed via Spanish shell company
Lod court blocks Likud delegate vote

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Iran says it attacked US-linked military, intelligence and fuel facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait after a seventh night of American strikes, while Bahrain reported interceptions and Kuwait temporarily suspended airport operations.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar revealed links between Global Sumud Flotilla activists and Hamas during a conference on the rise of political terrorism led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Sa’ar described the links between radical left-wing political movements in the West and Islamist terrorist organizations, asserting that the alliance is “a real challenge to the values of democracy and freedom.” He highlighted the Global Sumud Flotilla as a prime example of how terrorist organizations hide behind leftist activist movements. The flotilla attempted to breach Israel’s legal naval blockade on the Gaza Strip multiple times under the guise of attempting to deliver humanitarian aid, but, according to Sa’ar, carried no aid materials. Hamas documents seized by the IDF indicate financing, operational involvement, and covert ownership of the vessels through a Spanish shell company.

A CONVENIENT DOUBLE STANDARD Tehran says any country hosting American forces participating in attacks on Iran becomes a legitimate target. That's a remarkably familiar principle. For years, Israel has argued that territories used by Hamas or Hezbollah to launch attacks cannot expect immunity while those attacks continue. Yet when Israel strikes Hamas in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon, critics often dismiss that logic as "collective punishment," insisting the host territory bears no responsibility for armed groups operating from within it. If the principle is considered valid when Iran invokes it, why is it rejected when Israel does? The standard shouldn't change depending on who's making the argument.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, The Lod District Court issued an injunction on Thursday blocking a planned Likud vote after accepting a petition filed by the Social Forum affiliated with the National Labor Federation. The vote, which was scheduled to begin at noon, was intended to determine new rules for selecting the Likud’s candidate list ahead of the election for the 26th Knesset. Likud officials announced the vote would not take place following the court order. Likud's legal adviser Ilan Bombach requested that the party convention vote be postponed due to delays in the legal proceedings, while the Likud court convened to discuss the matter. The Social Forum alleged that the Likud administration had acted in direct violation of a party court ruling by preventing the forum’s proposed election rules from being brought to a vote. The petition was filed by attorney Eric Twito, and the court issued a temporary order barring the vote unless the forum’s proposal was presented to the delegates, in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling.

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.ynetnews.com/article/s1gpj5d4mg
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902865
https://t.me/ILtoday/19578
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902863