Episode Details

HEADLINES
- Netanyahu urged Trump to attack Iran
- Turkey indicts Netanyahu over Sumud Gaza flotilla
- Trafalgar arrests after unlawful Palestine Action ban

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, former secretary of state John Kerry says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented plans to attack Iran to presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, and that all three declined before Donald Trump signaled openness to consider action after Netanyahu’s outreach. Kerry, citing a New York Times article, describes Netanyahu’s four‑point pitch to persuade Trump—arguing they could kill Iran’s leadership, force regime change, and cripple its military—while emphasizing that Kerry believes there was no imminent Iranian threat. He adds that Trump agreed to strike following Netanyahu’s persuasion, then later distanced himself from the prior agreement with Iran, not for substantive reasons but in the wake of Obama’s handling of the deal.

In Regional Impacts, London police said 523 people were arrested at a Trafalgar Square protest opposing Britain's ban on the Palestine Action group, with officers reporting arrests for showing support for a proscribed organization. The gathering was the first since the High Court ruled in February that the ban was unlawful, and Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood has won permission to appeal. Palestine Action was banned last July after some members breached an RAF base, and protesters at the rally carried Palestinian flags and wore scarves as they sat on the ground or on camping chairs. The report notes Israel has repeatedly denied abuses in Gaza as part of the broader regional narrative.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Israel Foreign Ministry expressed deep sadness at the passing of Eliot Engel, calling him a true friend of Israel and a lifelong public servant who worked to strengthen the bond between the United States and Israel, offering condolences to his family and colleagues and pausing to remember him as a blessing. A separate Hebrew-language report describes, after 15 hours of negotiations with Pakistan over Iran, that the US Vice President will address Pakistani media about the talks. It notes discussions that some describe as positive and others as challenging, with commentary framing the talks as part of a broader strategic effort around Iran, including references to ongoing pressure and the possibility of changes in approach, and mentions regional dynamics such as continued tension involving Lebanon.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Turkey has indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 35 other Israeli officials over the October 2025 Sumud Gaza flotilla, seeking up to 4,596 years in prison in a single punishment scale. The docket also names Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, with prosecutors arguing for a minimum of 1,102 years if convicted. Turkey’s justice minister described the move as a commitment to international law, and Turkey previously issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and other senior Israeli figures. The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail late in August, with dozens of vessels and activists from many countries; Israel detained more than 400 flotilla participants, including Greta Thunberg, before deportation, and Netanyahu, Katz, and Ben-Gvir responded publicly on X.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892647

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