Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-26 at 14:01

HEADLINES
- Gaza War Could Drag U.S. Toward Iran
- Kasau Disappearance Triggers Protests, Shin Bet Demand
- Bashir Gets Life for Manchester Plot

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Biden administration officials told The New Yorker that they blame President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu for allowing the Gaza war to widen toward Iran, according to a detailed long-form report. The piece portrays officials who warned that Israel could broaden its Gaza operations to threaten Iran and Hezbollah-backed targets in Lebanon as part of a broader confrontation with Tehran. It notes that during Biden’s presidency Israel carried out strikes on significant parts of Iranian infrastructure and IRGC-backed groups, and that some officials argued Biden believed pressuring Israel would provoke larger Iranian attacks and potentially draw the United States into a bigger regional conflict. Brett McGurk, the former White House coordinator for the Middle East, argued that unwavering support for Israel would help contain Iran. Although Washington told Netanyahu on multiple occasions to refrain from provoking Iran or its proxies, the prime minister continued to carry out strikes with little advance notice. The article cites these dynamic tensions as illustrating how a Gaza war that is not carefully managed could draw in broader regional risk.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Dozens of protesters entered the Ayalon Highway near Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Center on Sunday evening, blocking traffic as they pressed for an expansion of the investigation into Haymanut Kasau’s disappearance and for the Shin Bet to take over the case from police. Kasau has been missing since February 25, 2024, from an absorption center, and relatives and campaign activists say the police have exhausted their capabilities and demand a new investigative team, with some calling for Shin Bet involvement. They describe the case as an abduction and criticize the handling by authorities, saying there has been little response since the case was moved to Lahav 433, the National Crime Unit. The family says only a new investigative team can provide answers. Separately, the state submarine and naval vessel affair inquiry announced 18 closed hearings for five senior officials, to be held between November 1 and December 31, with warning notices that allow them to challenge evidence and question witnesses as the inquiry moves toward its final report. The five individuals are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon; former National Security Council chief Yossi Cohen; former Navy commander Ram Rothberg; and former NSC official Avner Simchoni. The commission also granted extended time to submit witnesses and proposed questions, with requests for more time ranging up to two to four months; Netanyahu’s attorney did not specify a desired length of extension. In the West Bank, Nablus Governor Ghassan Douglas told The Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu appears to be avoiding action against violent settlers ahead of the October Knesset elections, warning of further escalation. He described a deadly shooting in the Tell area south of Nablus that killed an IDF commander and a member of a security squad, stating that a wave of what Palestinians call “revenge attacks” by Israeli extremists has followed. Palestinians have urged harsher steps against radical settlers and denounced statements by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to accelerate legalization of settlement outposts in response to the Tell incident, arguing that the election climate has made authorities reluctant to act against supporters, potentially fueling further clashes.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Mohammad Asim Bashir was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years and 135 days and will face mandatory terrorism notification requirements for the life of his sentence after being jailed for his role alongside the Manchester synagogue attacker in hostile reconnaissance at a UK military base. Bashir, 31, was identified as a close associate of Jihad al-Shamie, the attacker who targeted Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, October 2025. Counter Terrorism Policing North West led the investigation, with phone data from al-Shamie showing Bashir as an associate who discussed preparing for “war” and shared antisemitic remarks. In December 2024, al-Shamie expressed envy of Syrian mujahideen, and Bashir told him that he had researched the group HTS and hoped it could establish Sharia in Syria, underscoring the antisemitic and extremist ideologies linked to the case.

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/defense-news/article-903717
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903718
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903721
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903716
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903723