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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-27 at 16:05
HEADLINES
1. Israel Denies Targeting Civilians Amid Gaza Toll
2. Israel Threatens Greater Force After Hamas Attack
3. Iran Claims Victory Despite Nuclear Infrastructure Damage
The time is now 12:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At noon, we begin with the latest developments from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Israel’s government has publicly rejected recent reports suggesting that its military instructed troops to fire on unarmed civilians in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued statements emphasizing that the Israeli Defense Forces operate under strict directives to avoid harm to civilians, asserting that these reports are false and serve to smear Israel’s military reputation. They reaffirm that Israel’s military actions aim to protect its citizens from terrorist threats, particularly from Hamas, which continues to pose a significant security risk despite internal and external pressures.
In Gaza, the civilian toll continues to climb. Gaza’s civil defense reports at least 62 Palestinians killed today, including ten individuals who were reportedly waiting for humanitarian aid. These incidents mark a troubling pattern of fatalities near aid distribution points, raising serious concerns about the safety of civilians in the conflict zone. Israel’s military maintains that it is not targeting civilians and is actively working to facilitate humanitarian assistance, with the IDF spokesperson asserting that their operations are designed to secure aid routes and prevent Hamas from exploiting them. Nonetheless, reports from Gaza highlight the ongoing danger faced by residents, with some sources claiming that dozens of civilians have been killed since the start of intense Israeli strikes.
Internationally, the situation remains tense and complex. France’s family of two detainees in Iran has called for proof of life after Israel reportedly targeted Tehran’s Evin prison in an airstrike earlier this week. The families of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, held since May 2022 on espionage charges, have expressed deep concern over their uncertain fate following the strike. Iranian authorities claim the prisoners are uninjured, but their whereabouts remain unknown, with some reports suggesting they may have been transferred or are missing. Human rights groups have raised alarm over the conditions in Evin prison, which has housed numerous political prisoners.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues to deny reports of deliberate targeting of civilians seeking aid in Gaza. Spokespersons reiterate that their operations are aimed solely at neutralizing Hamas’s military infrastructure and that any claims of intentional harm to civilians are false. The IDF has conducted numerous targeted strikes in Gaza’s northern and southern regions, often after issuing warnings to minimize civilian casualties. Despite these efforts, the humanitarian situation deteriorates, with reports of dozens of deaths near aid centers, and accusations from international organizations like Doctors Without Borders criticizing the aid distribution process as dangerous and ineffective.
On the northern front, Israel reports that its operations in southern Lebanon targeted Hezbollah positions, but denies carrying out an attack that caused civilian casualties. Lebanese authorities reported an explosion that resulted in one death and several injuries, which Israel attributes to a Hezbollah rocket that malfunctioned during ongoing strikes. Israeli officials have condemned Hezbollah for storing weapons near civilian areas and have emphasized their commitment to eliminating threats from the group, asserting that Lebanon bears responsibility for its failure to disarm Hezbollah.
Amidst these hostilities, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel’s recent operation, dubbed “Risi
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