Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-22 at 16:02

HEADLINES
Iran Threatens Retaliation as U.S. Expands Strikes
Hebron Sewage Crosses Green Line Toward Negev
US Plans Saudi Nuclear Pact, Israel Questions

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 Iranian Retaliation, Iran's parliament speaker retorts to President Trump’s threats of targeting a bridge or power plant for every ship attacked in Hormuz, saying “If we cannot sell oil, no one will,” as the United States briefs Israel on plans to expand strikes and heavy bombers are reportedly poised to return to Iran.

In Regional Impacts, Hebron’s sewage crisis flows south toward the Negev, with untreated sewage and industrial stone waste crossing boundaries over roughly 43 kilometers, from Palestinian towns around Hebron through Area C and across the Green Line toward Israeli communities and the Beersheba Stream system, threatening land and groundwater. Separately, the IDF detained several Israeli settlers after they attempted to breach into Syrian territory from the Hermon area, the group’s third such crossing attempt, with police involvement ongoing and the military condemning the act as a criminal offense endangering civilians and forces. Additionally, the IDF identified 12 terrorists within Gaza’s professional soccer community, including Mohammed Mohammed Hassan Barakat, known as the Khan Yunis Legend, who infiltrated Israel during the October 7 attacks, as well as other individuals linked to Hamas and PIJ, underscoring a broader effort to portray them as players while they carried out extremist activities.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States is expected to move forward with a Saudi Arabia pact focused on civilian nuclear power, per a New York Times report, a development that raises questions in Israel and the region since it does not appear to involve Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords or normalizing ties with Israel, and with Congress seeking more detail on the arrangement. Separately, Mossad chief Roman Gofman met CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Washington to coordinate on Iran and the nuclear issue ahead of ongoing negotiations, with Axios noting that Ratcliffe remains pessimistic about the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran and that both the CIA and Mossad declined to comment on the meeting.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has walked back his campaign pledge to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city, saying the ICC warrant cannot be enforced given NYC’s lack of independent legal authority and questions about feasibility, with critics asking whether the promise was a political device for votes. On the eve of Tisha B’av, Netanyahu framed the past three years as Israelis uniting to avert national peril, claiming the nation prevented the destruction of the Third Temple, and signaling an aim to form a broad national government to safeguard Israel’s security and future despite ongoing challenges.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the UK Scouts Association is examining the UK Muslim Scout Fellowship after allegations tied to a “Paint for Gaza” activity that featured the antisemitic slogan “From the river to the sea,” with the Scouts saying they take the concerns seriously and have a process in place to investigate under policy, while the think tank Henry Jackson Society had raised the initial complaint.

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/b1aldyreme
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903359
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903355
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903351
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903360
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903358
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903357
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903350
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903353