HEADLINES
Iran Seizes Ships Near Hormuz Sailors Safe
US Boards Oil Tanker Overnight Indian Ocean
Netherlands Boosts Jewish Security Funding Two Million

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the US military says a board boarded and searched another tanker overnight in the Indian Ocean, a vessel described as transporting oil from Iran.

In Regional Impacts, two container ships seized by Iran near the Strait of Hormuz have been bound for Bandar Abbas as countries check on their sailors’ wellbeing. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the ships on Wednesday, with about 40 crew aboard, and moved the vessels to a position nine nautical miles from the Iranian coast while negotiations between MSC and Iran continue and sailors are reported safe. One of the ships is the MSC Francesca, with its Montenegrin captain and Croatian crew among those aboard. Separately, experts warn that the Strait of Hormuz has become a central, unpredictable flashpoint in the broader US–Iran dynamic, with Islamabad hopeful for a deal yet US and Iranian delegations not yet committing to terms, and past actions in the region cited as context for current tensions as the crisis continues to unfold.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran is reportedly relying on militias from Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan to curb renewed protests, a move seen by analysts as reflecting growing regime pressure. Effi Banai, a lecturer and researcher of social networks, says these foreign militias operate in trucks and civilian clothing, armed with machine guns, speaking Arabic rather than Persian, and are helping impose order as the regime seeks to prevent widespread street demonstrations.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the opinion piece argues that Israel must welcome all Jews, not only those who fit a narrow mold. It critiques calls for aliyah that focus on Americans moving to Israel, arguing the aliyah and integration minister’s emphasis on immigration from North America—primarily from the religious community—is tone-deaf and narrows the Zionist vision. The author urges a broader, inclusive Zionist ideal rooted in dignity and shared purpose.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the Dutch government is boosting security funding for its Jewish community after a wave of antisemitic incidents in 2025. The security fund, which has had a structural annual allocation of €1.3 million since 2025, will see total annual funding rise to €2 million in 2026, with Justice Minister David van Weel telling parliament the increase will help protect Jewish institutions. The move comes as police records for 2025 show 867 antisemitic incidents, more than 400 of which targeted Jews or perceived Jewish people.

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://t.me/JewishNews24/53210
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-893974
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-893965
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-893959
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893808
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-893970