HEADLINES
Kuwait base defenses debate rocks Senate hearing
Holocaust denier Rudolf eyed for NH panel
Artemis II crew celebrated lunar return planned

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 US Military Role, a US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing centered on the fortification of bases in Kuwait during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accusing a Republican congressman of spreading “falsehoods” about defenses. Representative Patrick Ryan of New York pressed Hegseth about an Iranian drone attack that killed six US Army Reserve soldiers in early March, saying troops knew they were in a vulnerable position and that the base had “no counter-drone capabilities, no counter-rocket systems, no counter-mortar or counter-artillery.” Survivors described the base as unprepared, while Hegseth argued the bases were placed in a maximum defensive posture before the operation, a claim Ryan said contradicted troops’ testimonies. The exchange grew tense as Hegseth interrupted Ryan, prompting a pointed exchange over what was known about base defenses at the time.

Away from the hearing room, Washington signaled a different trajectory on Iran. A senior Trump administration official said, for War Powers Resolution purposes, US hostilities with Iran that began in February have terminated, noting a two-week ceasefire that began on April 7 and has since been extended, with no exchange of fire since that date. Separately, the Trump administration argued that the Iran conflict ended before the 60-day deadline for congressional approval, while critics contend the clock cannot be paused and lawmakers are pressing for a formal vote.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a New Hampshire Republican lawmaker pushed to place Germar Rudolf, a German Holocaust denier, on the state’s Holocaust education commission, prompting outrage from Jewish leaders and lawmakers. Representative Matt Sabourin dit Choinière spearheaded a move to have Rudolf testify before the NH Commission on Holocaust and Genocide Education, and two other deniers also testified during a livestreamed committee meeting in January. Sabourin dit Choinière testified that he had visited Dachau and seen a gas chamber, then claimed he learned no one was ever gassed there, while the Dachau site notes the chamber’s lack of use remains unexplained. The push drew strong condemnation from Jewish groups and lawmakers concerned about the implications for education guidelines.

Separately, NH state Representative Travis Corcoran faced a disciplinary hearing after posting a tweet that used a “final solution” reference aimed at a Jewish colleague. Corcoran defended the remark as a joke and said he did not know his colleague was Jewish, calling disciplinary procedures a “kangaroo court” and later apologizing, saying apologies are a form of humility. These episodes reflect ongoing tensions over antisemitism within the New Hampshire Legislature and the broader political discourse.

In Uplifting News, Sheryl Sandberg announced the endowment of a new scholarship fund at Camp Ramah in California in honor of her late husband, Dave Goldberg. Sandberg said the camp is a place where Goldberg’s Jewish identity and independence took root, and where his family believes more children deserve such an experience. Rob Goldberg, Dave’s brother, joined Sandberg and her husband Tom Bernthal in making the announcement, underscoring Goldberg’s impact and Sandberg’s ongoing support for Jewish and Israeli causes.

Real Madrid edged Hapoel Tel Aviv 86-82 in Game 1 of their Euroleague series, with Facundo Campazzo scoring 21 points and contributing to a Madrid lead built early and maintained through the third period. Trey Lyles and Mario Hezonja also featured, while Hapoel’s Ish Wainright and Dan Oturu mounted late rallies; the visitors came within four as time wound down, but Real Madrid held on for the win as coach Dimitris Itoudis of Hapoel offered congratulations to the victors. The result sets the stage for a pivotal matchup in the best-of-five series.

President Donald Trump welcomed NASA Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with team member Jeremy Hansen and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, to the Oval Office to celebrate their Moon mission. Trump praised their bravery and noted the significance of their achievements for the country. Isaacman outlined plans for future missions, confirming the goal of returning a person to the Moon’s surface in 2028 and providing updates on Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, as the nation looks ahead to renewed lunar exploration.

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/international/article-894808
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/war-powers-resolution-purposes-us-hostilities-iran-began-february-have-terminated
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rymga00zczl
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894811
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-894806
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894810
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-894812
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894807