Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-22 at 10:02

HEADLINES
US to strike Iran over Hormuz attacks
Hamas tightens Gaza grip with clan councils
Israel advances judicial reform amid Case 4000

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the president said on Truth Social that the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant in retaliation for every time Iran fires on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, including targets located next to, or in, Tehran. He said this would occur from this point forward, regardless of whether Iran used missiles, rockets, drones, or any other device. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that the United States remains open to positive, constructive negotiations so long as commitments are kept, but there will be consequences when those commitments are not kept. Homeland Security Adviser and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said that Trump is the only American president who has had the courage, foresight, and willingness to take such steps.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas has intensified its effort to tighten ties with Gaza’s clan and neighborhood leadership to solidify control ahead of a planned technocratic administration. The group is promoting figures with ties to Hamas to key clan positions through elections to clan councils and the appointment of local administrators known as mukhtars, with reports indicating it does not intend to relinquish power and has dissolved its emergency committee while naming a new temporary governing body to run the Strip, accompanied by incentives to strengthen its position. Separately, Hezbollah and Amal supporters in Lebanon have raised complaints about new access restrictions to Beirut Airport’s Surveillance Radar, accusing security chief Fadi Kfoury of anti-Shi’ite prejudice. Kfoury, who took the post in January, has faced significant discontent from Shi’ite circles, after moves that kept certain Hezbollah-connected engineers from access to the sensitive system and related security measures; there were also reports of a traveler being detained as part of the security tightening, with concerns about Hezbollah gaining access to critical information.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump, while receiving the caskets of American soldiers killed in the Middle East, described the moment as among the hardest duties of his presidency but necessary, and stated that Iran would pay a heavy price.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, security preparations for Tisha B’Av have been finalized in Jerusalem as hundreds of police officers, Border Guard troops, and volunteers prepare to deploy across the city, with emphasis on the Old City, the Western Wall, and other holy sites. Forces will include overt and covert units to respond quickly to any incidents. The Women for Israel’s Future march will run from Independence Park to the Dung Gate this evening, with several streets including Gershon Agron Street, King Solomon Street, Paratroopers Road, Sultan Suleiman Street, Jericho Road, Ophel Road, and Ma’ale Hashalom Street set to close as the march proceeds from 8:30 p.m., reopening as it moves. On Thursday morning, Ophel Road and Ma’ale Hashalom Street will be closed from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. for morning prayers, and additional closures tied to the end of the fast will affect Sultan Suleiman Street, Jericho Road, Ophel Road, and Ma’ale Hashalom Street intermittently. Separately, the Knesset has told the High Court that a new judicial-selection reform could justify a professional trade-off, arguing that lower professional standards among Supreme Court appointees could be balanced by greater public trust and a more diverse judiciary. The reform would change the Judicial Selection Committee by replacing two Bar Association representatives with two senior lawyers chosen by coalition and opposition MKs, and would permit Supreme Court appointments with five votes including跨 bloc support, while none of the three justices would need to agree. Lower-court appointments would require five votes with the support of at least one judge, one coalition-side member, and one opposition-side member, and would take effect when the next Knesset begins. Meanwhile, Netanyahu and Shaul and Iris Elovitch have asked the attorney-general to state whether prosecutors will drop the Case 4000 bribery charge, arguing that the lack of a clear position is hindering defense preparations as the court plans to expand the schedule to five hearing days a week starting in October; the court previously indicated that its stance from three years earlier remains unchanged. An opinion piece accompanying the coverage argues that on Tisha B’Av Israel must confront its own internal fanaticism, warning that while the fast will be observed, there is a risk of eroding sovereignty and the rule of law if memory and restraint are neglected, citing a JPPI survey as context.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for labeling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and alleging genocide, calling the remarks dangerous and inflammatory antisemitism with no factual basis. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett joined in the condemnation, saying Mamdani has placed himself on the wrong side of history by ignoring Hamas’s actions since October 7 and aligning with protests that overlook those events.

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/iran-news/article-903322
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903313
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903311
https://t.me/abualiexpress/127061
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903294
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903316
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903308
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903269
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903301