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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-16 at 10:02
Published 2 weeks ago
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India intercepts three sanctioned tankers near Mumbai
Italy trains Gaza police amid stabilization push
France: Jews targeted in 53% anti-religious acts
The time is now 10:02 AM 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, India seized three US-sanctioned tanker ships linked to Iran this month and has stepped up surveillance in its maritime zone to curb illicit trade, a source said. The aim is to prevent ship-to-ship transfers that obscure the origin of oil cargoes. The vessels Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia, whose owners are overseas, were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai and escorted to Mumbai for further investigation. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed in the area. The move comes as Washington and New Delhi have strengthened ties, including a cut in import tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% after New Delhi agreed to stop Russian oil imports.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Italy ready to help train police forces in Gaza, Palestinian territories, FM says. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome is ready to train a new Gaza police force and a Palestinian police force, as Rome aims to help stabilize the Middle East. Bloomberg previously reported that the United States proposed Italy join the International Stabilization Force for Gaza as a founding member; the proposal would not require Italian troops to be physically present in Gaza but would involve Italy training Gazan police. Tajani confirmed Rome was ready to participate as an observer in Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative and was invited to attend a meeting in Washington this week. Italy officially rejected an invitation to join the board, citing constitutional barriers that prevent it from joining international organizations in which the group would operate.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, What did the Netanyahu-Trump meeting on Iran accomplish? - opinion. The piece notes that the 165-minute meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Wednesday was not accompanied by an operational briefing and left readers without a clear read on outcomes. There are heavy issues on the agenda, and the outcome is described as resting largely with Trump, including questions about whether negotiations are preferable to a military operation, what is meant by the term “settlement,” and what might convince Trump that negotiations have failed.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Jews were the target of 53% of antireligious acts in France in 2025. The Interior Ministry's Anti-Religious Acts Report 2025 shows nearly 2,500 anti-religious acts were carried out last year, with antisemitic acts numbering 1,320 and representing 53% of the total. While antisemitic acts were down 16% from 2024, they remain at historically high levels since the October 7, 2023 attack. The report notes multiple high-profile antisemitic assaults, including attacks on Rabbi Arié Engelberg and Rabbi Elie Lemmel, and that verbal or online hatred accounted for 67% of the antisemitic acts. The ministry also recorded 843 anti-Christian acts (up 9%), most of which were property crimes, while anti-Muslim acts numbered 326.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, IDF clashes with police over Bnei Brak incident, says attacked soldiers did not distribute leaflets. The IDF spokesperson rejected a police claim that the female soldiers attacked in Bnei Brak were there to distribute recruitment flyers, saying the soldiers had come for a home visit to a pre-draft candidate prior to enlistment. The leaflets in the soldiers’ possession were an informational booklet given to every recruit at the Havat Hashomer base, and the military source said the police’s explanation was inappropriate. The IDF added that the police had acted disres
India intercepts three sanctioned tankers near Mumbai
Italy trains Gaza police amid stabilization push
France: Jews targeted in 53% anti-religious acts
The time is now 10:02 AM 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, India seized three US-sanctioned tanker ships linked to Iran this month and has stepped up surveillance in its maritime zone to curb illicit trade, a source said. The aim is to prevent ship-to-ship transfers that obscure the origin of oil cargoes. The vessels Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia, whose owners are overseas, were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai and escorted to Mumbai for further investigation. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed in the area. The move comes as Washington and New Delhi have strengthened ties, including a cut in import tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% after New Delhi agreed to stop Russian oil imports.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Italy ready to help train police forces in Gaza, Palestinian territories, FM says. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome is ready to train a new Gaza police force and a Palestinian police force, as Rome aims to help stabilize the Middle East. Bloomberg previously reported that the United States proposed Italy join the International Stabilization Force for Gaza as a founding member; the proposal would not require Italian troops to be physically present in Gaza but would involve Italy training Gazan police. Tajani confirmed Rome was ready to participate as an observer in Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative and was invited to attend a meeting in Washington this week. Italy officially rejected an invitation to join the board, citing constitutional barriers that prevent it from joining international organizations in which the group would operate.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, What did the Netanyahu-Trump meeting on Iran accomplish? - opinion. The piece notes that the 165-minute meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Wednesday was not accompanied by an operational briefing and left readers without a clear read on outcomes. There are heavy issues on the agenda, and the outcome is described as resting largely with Trump, including questions about whether negotiations are preferable to a military operation, what is meant by the term “settlement,” and what might convince Trump that negotiations have failed.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Jews were the target of 53% of antireligious acts in France in 2025. The Interior Ministry's Anti-Religious Acts Report 2025 shows nearly 2,500 anti-religious acts were carried out last year, with antisemitic acts numbering 1,320 and representing 53% of the total. While antisemitic acts were down 16% from 2024, they remain at historically high levels since the October 7, 2023 attack. The report notes multiple high-profile antisemitic assaults, including attacks on Rabbi Arié Engelberg and Rabbi Elie Lemmel, and that verbal or online hatred accounted for 67% of the antisemitic acts. The ministry also recorded 843 anti-Christian acts (up 9%), most of which were property crimes, while anti-Muslim acts numbered 326.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, IDF clashes with police over Bnei Brak incident, says attacked soldiers did not distribute leaflets. The IDF spokesperson rejected a police claim that the female soldiers attacked in Bnei Brak were there to distribute recruitment flyers, saying the soldiers had come for a home visit to a pre-draft candidate prior to enlistment. The leaflets in the soldiers’ possession were an informational booklet given to every recruit at the Havat Hashomer base, and the military source said the police’s explanation was inappropriate. The IDF added that the police had acted disres