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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-07-03 at 12:05
HEADLINES
1. Israel Devastates Hezbollah Amid Regional Warfare
2. Gaza Crisis Deepens as Casualties Surge Rapidly
3. Israel Pushes for Judea Samaria Sovereignty
The time is now 08:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today, at 8:00 in the morning, we begin with a situation of high tension and ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Israel continues its defensive operations amid a broad and complex regional confrontation involving Iran and its proxy groups. Reports confirm that Israel has been engaged in a direct war with Iran, with military actions targeting Iranian-backed forces and infrastructure. Israel maintains that its operations are aimed at neutralizing threats posed by Iran’s expanding missile and drone capabilities, which have been used from Yemen and other regions to attack Israeli territory.
In Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces report significant losses inflicted on Hezbollah during recent hostilities. According to Saudi sources, some 4,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed, with thousands more deserting or wounded during a 14-month conflict. High-profile losses include the assassination of Hezbollah’s secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah. The group’s military capabilities have been degraded, with most of its heavy weaponry destroyed or confiscated, and control over southern Lebanon increasingly transferred to the Lebanese army. Financial strains are also mounting for Hezbollah, which has suspended payments to damaged homeowners in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the humanitarian toll continues to rise sharply. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports over 118 deaths and nearly 590 injuries in the last 24 hours, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties. Families of hostages, including Bar Kupershtein and Maxim Herkin, have released footage describing their plight, with both saying they are “dying with a pulse” underground, unable to contact their loved ones.
In diplomatic developments, senior Hamas leaders in Doha have been instructed by mediators to surrender their firearms as part of ongoing negotiations brokered by the United States. These talks are aimed at securing a ceasefire and ending the Gaza conflict, with Israel reportedly open to a temporary halt in hostilities. The proposed agreement includes the release of some hostages and the return of bodies, with staged exchanges planned over the next 60 days. Israeli officials, however, emphasize that disarmament and the dismantling of Hamas are necessary for lasting peace.
Amid these developments, political shifts are also underway. The Palestinian Authority faces severe economic instability, with analysts warning of potential leadership succession amid the crisis. In Israel, efforts to extend sovereignty over Judea and Samaria are gaining momentum. All members of the ruling Likud party have signed a letter urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to proceed with applying Israeli law to these territories before the end of July, citing security concerns following recent attacks and the need to prevent future threats.
Internationally, voices grow more critical. The United Nations’ Francesca Albanese has called for an arms embargo and the severance of trade ties with Israel, condemning what she describes as a “genocidal campaign” in Gaza. Meanwhile, the United States under the current administration continues to support Israel’s right to defend itself, with some lawmakers proposing legislation to supply Israel with advanced bunker-busting bombs should Iran resume nuclear activities.
In other regional news, Saudi Arabia reports the decimation of Hezbollah’s ranks, and Qatar has ordered Hamas commanders in Doha to surrender their weapons, in a move seen as part of broader efforts to broker peace. Israeli security agencies have announced the arrest of individuals in connection with espionage activities linke
Published on 4 days, 12 hours ago