Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-26 at 23:02

HEADLINES
Khamenei urges jihad against US Israel
Trump posts AI war imagery Iran pauses
Gaza student Saba Rabah tops Tawjihi 99.9

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei praised Hezbollah and urged continued jihad and resistance against the United States and Israel. In statements attributed to him on Sunday, released in response to a Hezbollah pledge of allegiance to Iran, he said there remains no path forward except jihad and resistance against the US and Israel. He described Hezbollah’s steadfast commitment to terrorism as an inspiring message for those seeking liberation from global arrogance and divine victory, and said defending Hezbollah is Iran’s strategic mandate. He indicated that Iran’s primary condition for reaching a peace agreement with the United States would be the halting of all Israeli operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. He lamented the killing of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, describing him as Hezbollah’s master of martyrs, who was killed by Israeli strikes in 2024.

In US Military Role, President Trump continued to threaten Iran with AI-generated posts despite a lull in fighting, sharing images of US jets blowing up Iranian ships and taking over Iranian energy infrastructure. The posts followed two days of calm after 13 days of intensified airstrikes; the Pentagon paused the bombing campaign late Friday, with no US attacks reported on Saturday or Sunday. Iran, which had been replying to US strikes with its own actions, has also held fire, saying it will continue to do so for as long as the US does. The pause came after advisers warned that there were few targets left to strike and concerns about depleting the US arsenal. Trump told the Wall Street Journal that the United States has far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need. Separately, in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly told his cabinet that Washington wants Israel to withdraw troops from Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, but he said he would resist. Oil markets opened lower in Asia, with Brent crude around $91.38 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate near $84.43, as traders weighed the pause in attacks and potential talks. Also in Canada, Toronto police are investigating a shooting at a Jewish-owned bakery in the city.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, shipping data showed Bab el-Mandeb traffic falling to 11 commodity vessels on Sunday, the lowest level in months, after Yemeni Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast. Red Sea traffic has been disrupted off Yemen as Houthis seek to blockade Saudi exports, broadening disruptions to supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz, where activity remained subdued over the weekend. Of the vessels that did pass through Bab el-Mandeb, seven were oil tankers, with three entering the Red Sea headed for loading or repositioning. Among those exiting the Red Sea were the Hong Kong-flagged VLCC New Explorer carrying about 2 million barrels of Saudi and Emirati crude to Ningbo, a tanker carrying about 1 million barrels of Russian crude to China, and another carrying Saudi crude to Pakistan. The data reflect a period of heightened tension tied to the broader US-Iran confrontation and its spillover into regional shipping routes.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Elections Committee and the Employment Service announced a joint effort to hire thousands of election-related personnel in the coming week, covering roles such as polling site staff, technical support, logistics, and more, for the October 27 elections. The plan emphasizes diversity, with a focus on recruiting people with disabilities, those displaced from homes during the ongoing wars with Iran and Hezbollah, and those who were injured. A designated site will be established and jointly managed to facilitate the process, and Acting Director General Din Livne said staff are essential to running the electoral process. Separately, as Israel nears the October 27 vote, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the main rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A Channel 12 poll suggested Eisenkot’s new party, Yashar, leading Likud with 23 seats to 22, and that 43 percent of respondents considered Eisenkot the most suitable prime minister, compared with 34 percent for Netanyahu. Eisenkot’s campaign centers on restoring security, unity, and democratic institutions, and he has dismissed calls for a future Palestinian state, reflecting a prominent shift in the race after his tenure as chief of staff from 2015 to 2019.

In Gaza, uplifting news arrives as 18-year-old Saba Rabah has achieved top honors in the Tawjihi science stream, scoring 99.9 percent and ranking first nationwide. Rabah’s achievement comes despite the severe disruption of the war, including displacement after the house opposite her temporary home was bombed and losses within her family. The Tawjihi exams were held across Gaza, the West Bank, and other locations for Palestinian communities, marking the first such administration in years amid ongoing conflict. Rabah spoke of her accomplishment amid the challenges of war and displacement, and celebrations occurred in Al-Maghazi refugee camp as she prepared to begin the next chapter of her life.

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-903737
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-27-2026/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-continues-to-threaten-iran-with-ai-social-media-posts-despite-lull-in-fighting/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903739
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjfre4vbfx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903738
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/israel-vote-ex-army-chief-emerges-main-rival-netanyahu
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/gaza-teen-triumphs-despite-war-loss-and-displacement