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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-26 at 07:02
Published 3 hours ago
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HEADLINES
Hezbollah shifts to deniable network near Damascus
Shin Bet indicted as Gaza tunnels found
Netanyahu Modi ink sweeping defense AI deals
The time is now 7:02 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, Hezbollah has moved from a large, openly deployed force in Syria to a smaller, deniable network operating near Damascus with drones and Katyusha rockets, with officials saying some weapons originated in Lebanon. Syrian authorities say they dismantled a cell near Mezzeh and a nearby military airport that fired rockets, though Hezbollah denies any presence on Syrian soil. The post-Assad era is reshaping Hezbollah’s role as the Syria corridor to Iran’s supply networks is being cut from multiple directions. In early February, the Lebanese army uncovered details of such activity. Separately, Shai Kalach, a former combat pilot, predicted that any attack on Iran’s soil would be fast and decisive, with the campaign potentially decided within an hour of its opening.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), an indictment has been filed in Lod District Court against a Shin Bet employee and several Israeli citizens on suspicion of smuggling goods into Gaza for payment, in a case handled under a publication gag. The joint statement from Israel Police and the Shin Bet said the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office filed the indictment, and the State Attorney’s Office confirmed the indictment includes charges of aiding the enemy in wartime, obtaining property by fraud under aggravated circumstances, prohibited action in property for terror purposes, taking and giving bribes, deceit, subterfuge, and prohibited dealings in property. Details remain subject to a gag order. In a separate operation, IDF engineers under the Southern Command said they located and dismantled underground tunnel routes spanning about five kilometers in Beit Hanoun, with a weapons stockpile found inside an underground tunnel route, including surveillance gear, explosives, ammunition, grenades, launchers, rifles, and RPG rockets; the troops said they will continue operations to remove threats and secure the western Negev.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn faced sharp criticism after sharing unverified claims that the IDF removed organs from Palestinian bodies, describing it as a modern blood libel. The Israeli Embassy in London rejected the allegations as recycled smears, and Jewish groups condemned the claims as baseless. Corbyn’s remarks referenced boxes said to have been delivered to Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, with assertions that skulls and missing organs were contained, a narrative criticized by Jewish organizations as a modern blood libel. Separately, during a San Francisco political event, chants of “Tax the Jews” replaced “Tax the Rich.” Mayor Daniel Lurie said such calls are antisemitic and have no place at events aimed at expanding economic opportunity, underscoring ongoing concerns about antisemitism in the community.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel’s Holy sites bill sparked a religious power struggle as a preliminary vote advanced a measure amending the Law for the Protection of Holy Places. The bill, promoted by Noam party leader Avi Maoz, would define desecration to reflect directives from the Chief Rabbinate and would designate the chief rabbis as the exclusive representatives of the Jewish religion for implementing the law. Supporters say the change would reinforce religious authority in sacred spaces; opponents warn of reduced judicial balance and greater state oversight over religious affairs and diaspora ties. The issue has long layered into debates over religion, state power, and ties to Jewish communities abroad.
In Israeli Economy and Business, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indi
Hezbollah shifts to deniable network near Damascus
Shin Bet indicted as Gaza tunnels found
Netanyahu Modi ink sweeping defense AI deals
The time is now 7:02 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, Hezbollah has moved from a large, openly deployed force in Syria to a smaller, deniable network operating near Damascus with drones and Katyusha rockets, with officials saying some weapons originated in Lebanon. Syrian authorities say they dismantled a cell near Mezzeh and a nearby military airport that fired rockets, though Hezbollah denies any presence on Syrian soil. The post-Assad era is reshaping Hezbollah’s role as the Syria corridor to Iran’s supply networks is being cut from multiple directions. In early February, the Lebanese army uncovered details of such activity. Separately, Shai Kalach, a former combat pilot, predicted that any attack on Iran’s soil would be fast and decisive, with the campaign potentially decided within an hour of its opening.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), an indictment has been filed in Lod District Court against a Shin Bet employee and several Israeli citizens on suspicion of smuggling goods into Gaza for payment, in a case handled under a publication gag. The joint statement from Israel Police and the Shin Bet said the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office filed the indictment, and the State Attorney’s Office confirmed the indictment includes charges of aiding the enemy in wartime, obtaining property by fraud under aggravated circumstances, prohibited action in property for terror purposes, taking and giving bribes, deceit, subterfuge, and prohibited dealings in property. Details remain subject to a gag order. In a separate operation, IDF engineers under the Southern Command said they located and dismantled underground tunnel routes spanning about five kilometers in Beit Hanoun, with a weapons stockpile found inside an underground tunnel route, including surveillance gear, explosives, ammunition, grenades, launchers, rifles, and RPG rockets; the troops said they will continue operations to remove threats and secure the western Negev.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn faced sharp criticism after sharing unverified claims that the IDF removed organs from Palestinian bodies, describing it as a modern blood libel. The Israeli Embassy in London rejected the allegations as recycled smears, and Jewish groups condemned the claims as baseless. Corbyn’s remarks referenced boxes said to have been delivered to Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, with assertions that skulls and missing organs were contained, a narrative criticized by Jewish organizations as a modern blood libel. Separately, during a San Francisco political event, chants of “Tax the Jews” replaced “Tax the Rich.” Mayor Daniel Lurie said such calls are antisemitic and have no place at events aimed at expanding economic opportunity, underscoring ongoing concerns about antisemitism in the community.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel’s Holy sites bill sparked a religious power struggle as a preliminary vote advanced a measure amending the Law for the Protection of Holy Places. The bill, promoted by Noam party leader Avi Maoz, would define desecration to reflect directives from the Chief Rabbinate and would designate the chief rabbis as the exclusive representatives of the Jewish religion for implementing the law. Supporters say the change would reinforce religious authority in sacred spaces; opponents warn of reduced judicial balance and greater state oversight over religious affairs and diaspora ties. The issue has long layered into debates over religion, state power, and ties to Jewish communities abroad.
In Israeli Economy and Business, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indi