Episode Details

HEADLINES
Iran vows harsher retaliation after tanker strikes
Former UTrade analyst convicted aiding 77m fraud
Israel medical workforce shrinks as doctors flee

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the rules of the game in war against Iran have changed before it is too late, and that from now on any attack against Iran’s interests and security will receive a faster, heavier and more painful response, in a speech published on his Telegram channel. The remarks came after the United States struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf. Tehran has signalled it retains the capability to strike back as tit-for-tat actions have continued and diplomacy has stalled. Iran also warned of a painful response if subjected to further attacks as six months after US-Israeli strikes the conflict remains at a stalemate. US Central Command said it hit three Iranian tankers on Saturday in response to missiles fired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at two US Navy ships.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, threats against Jews and Israelis abroad are rising, and a Gazan activist has called for peace with Israel, according to a Jerusalem Post roundup of top stories and commentary.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the Tel Aviv District Court convicted former UTrade chief analyst Roy Cuzin of aiding aggravated fraud in a scheme that netted about 77 million shekels from roughly 600 clients. Cuzin admitted to multiple counts under a plea agreement, and prosecutors and the defense will seek a sentence of 22 months in prison and a 25,000 shekel fine. Cuzin served as UTrade’s chief analyst from 2012 to 2015, and the company offered automated trading; prosecutors say the recruitment relied on false claims and concealment of important information about client funds, conflicts of interest, and regulatory oversight. Separately, a Tel Aviv University study finds that Israel’s medical workforce is shrinking, with about 1,370 doctors leaving the country for periods longer than 12 months over the past three years, a 94% rise from a similar period a decade earlier. In 2023, 416 doctors left; in 2024, 530; and a preliminary 2025 figure sits around 419. Net losses for 2023 and 2024 totaled approximately 509 doctors. Departure rates were highest among pediatricians, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, and ear-nose-and-throat specialists, with notable shares of surgeons, intensive-care physicians, and internal medicine doctors also leaving. The study notes a shift in the composition of departures, with about 14% of reporting physicians leaving for reasons not specified.

In Uplifting News, Freedom 250 in Jerusalem: America celebrates 250 years at a defining moment, as the US Embassy in Jerusalem hosts a 250th birthday celebration at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. Led by Ambassador Mike Huckabee and conducted in partnership with the Museum for the second year, the event marks a milestone in the US–Israel partnership. The occasion comes amid a period of strengthened cooperation between the two allies, including coordinated actions during the recent broader regional tensions with Iran. The Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem emphasizes freedom, democracy, human dignity, and the fight against antisemitism and hatred in all its forms. In a message recorded for the event, Huckabee called the museum an international beacon of hope and a strategic partner of the US Embassy, saying, “This year, we gather at a truly historic moment.”

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.