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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-13 at 13:03
Published 2 weeks, 6 days ago
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HEADLINES
Zelensky meets Iran opposition leader on sanctions
UNRWA future uncertain as funding freezes loom
Measles death toll hits fifteen in Israel
The time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Iran's opposition leader Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on Friday during a trip to Munich. Zelensky said Ukraine supports the Iranian people as they are fighting for their future; we also express our sympathy to all the victims of the Iranian regime. The two discussed the situation in Iran and the areas where the Iranian people need support, and they talked about strengthening sanctions against the Iranian regime and other dictatorial regimes. Pahlavi has been a central figure in the current round of anti-regime protests that began in December, pushing for regime change and the establishment of a democratic government. This is a developing story.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States remains unsure about UNRWA’s future role, with its head Philippe Lazzarini warning that jettisoning the agency would create a black hole similar to Iraq after 2003. Washington froze funding in January 2024 after evidence emerged that multiple UNRWA staff participated in Hamas’s October 7 massacre. Lazzarini told Reuters there is no definitive answer yet, and cautioned that discarding UNRWA before an alternative exists would leave a huge vacuum. He said UNRWA would not foresee further immediate cuts and would continue to offer public health and education services, while urging Gulf Arab countries to boost support.
A separate Hebrew report notes questions about why a second aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, with Donald Trump replying that a carrier would be needed if a deal with Iran were pursued, and that it would depart for the region very soon.
Also, at a briefing with reporters, Trump was asked whether he believes Prime Minister Netanyahu will receive a pardon, and Trump answered, yes.
Meanwhile, a new interactive map displays the deployment of US military assets and other relevant players in the Middle East. Based on open-source intelligence assessments and media reports, the map lets viewers track movements and delve into the significance of developments on the ground.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, a nine-year-old unvaccinated child died of measles, marking the 15th death in the ongoing outbreak. The Health Ministry reiterates its policy that children should be vaccinated against measles between ages 1 and 6 as part of the routine program, stressing that vaccines save lives and urging prompt medical care when symptoms appear. In outbreak areas, the ministry recommends a second dose for children around 18 months and an additional dose for infants 6–11 months before exposure risk.
Former Shin Bet chiefs and 31 former department heads published a letter opposing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks about former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, criticizing what they called unprecedented slander and demanding a strong response from Shin Bet chief David Zini to defend the agency and its personnel.
In a related item, a journalist asked whether Netanyahu would be pardoned, and Trump replied that he thinks so.
Police and Border Police officers halted a wedding in Lod over reports of gunfire, arresting the groom and bride for questioning, and dismantling the wedding tent as part of the investigation.
In Uplifting News, Jerusalem’s new indoor tennis courts are a game changer. On a rainy day, the indoor courts at the Jerusalem Tennis and Education Center were bustling with children practicing and playing under coaches’ guidance, while the city’s outdoor courts and padel facilities remained quiet. The center, founded in 1981, sits near Teddy Stadium, the Aren
Zelensky meets Iran opposition leader on sanctions
UNRWA future uncertain as funding freezes loom
Measles death toll hits fifteen in Israel
The time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Iran's opposition leader Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on Friday during a trip to Munich. Zelensky said Ukraine supports the Iranian people as they are fighting for their future; we also express our sympathy to all the victims of the Iranian regime. The two discussed the situation in Iran and the areas where the Iranian people need support, and they talked about strengthening sanctions against the Iranian regime and other dictatorial regimes. Pahlavi has been a central figure in the current round of anti-regime protests that began in December, pushing for regime change and the establishment of a democratic government. This is a developing story.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States remains unsure about UNRWA’s future role, with its head Philippe Lazzarini warning that jettisoning the agency would create a black hole similar to Iraq after 2003. Washington froze funding in January 2024 after evidence emerged that multiple UNRWA staff participated in Hamas’s October 7 massacre. Lazzarini told Reuters there is no definitive answer yet, and cautioned that discarding UNRWA before an alternative exists would leave a huge vacuum. He said UNRWA would not foresee further immediate cuts and would continue to offer public health and education services, while urging Gulf Arab countries to boost support.
A separate Hebrew report notes questions about why a second aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, with Donald Trump replying that a carrier would be needed if a deal with Iran were pursued, and that it would depart for the region very soon.
Also, at a briefing with reporters, Trump was asked whether he believes Prime Minister Netanyahu will receive a pardon, and Trump answered, yes.
Meanwhile, a new interactive map displays the deployment of US military assets and other relevant players in the Middle East. Based on open-source intelligence assessments and media reports, the map lets viewers track movements and delve into the significance of developments on the ground.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, a nine-year-old unvaccinated child died of measles, marking the 15th death in the ongoing outbreak. The Health Ministry reiterates its policy that children should be vaccinated against measles between ages 1 and 6 as part of the routine program, stressing that vaccines save lives and urging prompt medical care when symptoms appear. In outbreak areas, the ministry recommends a second dose for children around 18 months and an additional dose for infants 6–11 months before exposure risk.
Former Shin Bet chiefs and 31 former department heads published a letter opposing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks about former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, criticizing what they called unprecedented slander and demanding a strong response from Shin Bet chief David Zini to defend the agency and its personnel.
In a related item, a journalist asked whether Netanyahu would be pardoned, and Trump replied that he thinks so.
Police and Border Police officers halted a wedding in Lod over reports of gunfire, arresting the groom and bride for questioning, and dismantling the wedding tent as part of the investigation.
In Uplifting News, Jerusalem’s new indoor tennis courts are a game changer. On a rainy day, the indoor courts at the Jerusalem Tennis and Education Center were bustling with children practicing and playing under coaches’ guidance, while the city’s outdoor courts and padel facilities remained quiet. The center, founded in 1981, sits near Teddy Stadium, the Aren