Episode Details

HEADLINES
Mossad Deputy Ousted Espionage Threat Critical
Hamas Operative Arrested in Crete Amid Explosives
US Drafts IAEA Iran Site Resolution

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the Pentagon has raised the Israel espionage threat to critical as Mossad chief ousts his deputy.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Greek authorities arrested a Palestinian-born Hamas operative who resided in Crete on Saturday night. The 37-year-old was charged with joining Hamas, traveling and receiving training for terrorist purposes, and with ordering explosives online; laboratory equipment was found in homes raided in Crete and Athens, and the suspect reportedly trained in synthetic explosives. The investigation is ongoing and the individual is linked to others suspected of terrorism offenses in Europe. The IDF will continue its mission to disarm Hamas, with Chief of the Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir telling soldiers in Gaza that the army will not give up, will strengthen on‑ground control, and will erode Hamas’s power until its goal is achieved. He stated the IDF will act as needed to ensure Israel’s security, including offensive actions when necessary and within the framework of the Yellow Line. Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that Israel currently holds about 60% of its territory and said the goal is to move toward 70%. In southern Lebanon, the IDF continued strikes in the Tyre area in the most recent hours. The terrorist who opened fire in Kokhav Ya’ir today has been identified as Omar Yassin from the nearby town of Tayibe; Hamas’s military wing spokesperson Abu Obaida 2 praised the attack and urged Arab citizens of Israel to escalate their actions in the framework of the Al-Aqsa Flood campaign. The attack left at least one reserve soldier seriously injured, and the army later confirmed that a 55-year-old reserve Civil Defense member was killed in the same incident.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States is circulating a draft resolution for the IAEA Board of Governors urging Iran to inform the agency about the fate of nuclear sites bombed by Israel in 2025 and again in early 2026, including Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz, where large rubble piles remain. The draft could pressure Iran into a new nuclear deal or provoke a hardening of its position, as Iran currently has no functioning centrifuges to enrich uranium. Separately, in an NBC interview, President Trump said he is not demanding that Lebanon be part of any peace deal with Iran, arguing that Lebanon would like to be included but that it is not a condition for negotiations. He said the United States and Iran are very close to a deal and claimed Iran has conceded that it will not have nuclear weapons; he added that if a deal is not reached, the United States will act, and that Iran has demanded the release of about $12 billion in frozen assets held in Qatar as a precondition. A video clip from that interview has also been highlighted in coverage.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court of Justice ruled that Justice Minister Yariv Levin must cooperate with Court President Isaac Amit on measures requiring joint action, including appointments of court presidents and vice presidents, associate judges, registrars, and judges or retired judges serving on parole committees. Levin responded, saying he agrees with the ruling and that cooperation is necessary. Attorney Amit Bachar, head of the Israeli Bar Association, voiced support for the ruling, saying there are judges in Jerusalem and that Levin has duties to citizens. Opposition figures criticized Levin, arguing that his conduct undermines the judicial system. With developments in Lebanon and Iranian threats, Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to convene a late-evening discussion with Defense Minister Katz and heads of the security apparatus.