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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-18 at 16:02
Published 4 weeks, 1 day ago
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HEADLINES
Khamenei approves Iran-Israel MOU, watches effects
Hamas no longer controls Gaza; ISF deploys
Trump says Iran deal outshines 2015 JCPOA
The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on X that he eventually approved the memorandum of understanding based only on promises from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the negotiating team. He noted he had a different view, but out of the commitment given by the president and other members regarding safeguarding the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, he granted his permission. He argued that it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this about. The Iranian leader then said that Iran would wait to see the deal’s effects, but that in-person negotiations did not constitute acceptance of the American position. This is a developing story.
In US Military Role, Israel was stunned by Vance’s sharp criticism but avoided a response to prevent a deeper rift with Trump; Ben-Gvir and Zohar publicly replied while an official said Netanyahu brought Trump “the headache.”
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas doesn’t call the shots in Gaza anymore, a source familiar with the diplomatic efforts told The Jerusalem Post, and it controls less of Gaza than it did in the past. The Board of Peace, created after the US-backed Gaza ceasefire deal, said Hamas will not have veto power over the next steps as it pursues progress on security and the economy and as plans for Gaza advance. A Kosovo ambassador to Israel, Ines Demiri, visited the Life Support Area Endurance on the Gazan border, which the Board said would serve as a vital waypoint for the International Stabilization Force to refit while supporting restoration and humanitarian efforts; the ISF is expected to deploy to Gaza. Separately, Israel is pursuing a response to Hezbollah’s explosive drones, with the Israel Aerospace Industries chief stating that a solution should emerge in weeks. He outlined a multi-stage approach—detection, identification, and destruction—with several ideas already implemented, including methods to destroy attacking drones using kinetic and electronic means. He also criticized France for barring Israel from the Eurosatory weapons exhibition, noting that embargoes have a long history and that Israeli capabilities remain products of its technological development.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump has insisted that the deal he reached with Iran is superior to the 2015 agreement sealed by his predecessor, while critics say he has gained less and given up more to Tehran. The memorandum of understanding is a one-and-a-half-page, fourteen-point framework negotiated over several weeks and launched a sixty-day negotiation period to seek a full settlement of the nearly four-month war, with many hurdles still to overcome on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Obama’s pact, by contrast, was a finished, detailed document titled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that extended to more than 160 pages and was built through negotiations involving China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and the European Union. Trump’s approach has been bilateral, between the United States and Iran, whereas Obama’s agreement involved multiple countries. A related development shows the Iranian president publishing the memorandum document signed by the United States, Iran and Pakistan in a publicly circulated photo.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett presented his vision for Israel’s future, calling for the establishment of a constitution “in the spirit of the United States Declaration of Independence” and outlining plans for his govern
Khamenei approves Iran-Israel MOU, watches effects
Hamas no longer controls Gaza; ISF deploys
Trump says Iran deal outshines 2015 JCPOA
The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on X that he eventually approved the memorandum of understanding based only on promises from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the negotiating team. He noted he had a different view, but out of the commitment given by the president and other members regarding safeguarding the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, he granted his permission. He argued that it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this about. The Iranian leader then said that Iran would wait to see the deal’s effects, but that in-person negotiations did not constitute acceptance of the American position. This is a developing story.
In US Military Role, Israel was stunned by Vance’s sharp criticism but avoided a response to prevent a deeper rift with Trump; Ben-Gvir and Zohar publicly replied while an official said Netanyahu brought Trump “the headache.”
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas doesn’t call the shots in Gaza anymore, a source familiar with the diplomatic efforts told The Jerusalem Post, and it controls less of Gaza than it did in the past. The Board of Peace, created after the US-backed Gaza ceasefire deal, said Hamas will not have veto power over the next steps as it pursues progress on security and the economy and as plans for Gaza advance. A Kosovo ambassador to Israel, Ines Demiri, visited the Life Support Area Endurance on the Gazan border, which the Board said would serve as a vital waypoint for the International Stabilization Force to refit while supporting restoration and humanitarian efforts; the ISF is expected to deploy to Gaza. Separately, Israel is pursuing a response to Hezbollah’s explosive drones, with the Israel Aerospace Industries chief stating that a solution should emerge in weeks. He outlined a multi-stage approach—detection, identification, and destruction—with several ideas already implemented, including methods to destroy attacking drones using kinetic and electronic means. He also criticized France for barring Israel from the Eurosatory weapons exhibition, noting that embargoes have a long history and that Israeli capabilities remain products of its technological development.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump has insisted that the deal he reached with Iran is superior to the 2015 agreement sealed by his predecessor, while critics say he has gained less and given up more to Tehran. The memorandum of understanding is a one-and-a-half-page, fourteen-point framework negotiated over several weeks and launched a sixty-day negotiation period to seek a full settlement of the nearly four-month war, with many hurdles still to overcome on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Obama’s pact, by contrast, was a finished, detailed document titled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that extended to more than 160 pages and was built through negotiations involving China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and the European Union. Trump’s approach has been bilateral, between the United States and Iran, whereas Obama’s agreement involved multiple countries. A related development shows the Iranian president publishing the memorandum document signed by the United States, Iran and Pakistan in a publicly circulated photo.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett presented his vision for Israel’s future, calling for the establishment of a constitution “in the spirit of the United States Declaration of Independence” and outlining plans for his govern