HEADLINES
Iran vows Gulf chapter cuts US role
IDF tightens border rules amid Hezbollah attacks
Sumud flotilla detained, mayor demands release

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, a speech attributed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was read on state television and posted on his official X account. He said the “noble” Iranian population will safeguard the regime’s nuclear and missile technologies as national assets and will defend them just as they defend their maritime, land, and airspace borders. The speech spoke of a new chapter for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and argued that the US presence in the Persian Gulf is the main source of instability in the region, criticizing US bases as lacking resilience and calling for a future without the United States while stressing a shared destiny with neighbors around the Gulf.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF’s Home Front Command restored some safety guidelines for the northern border towns with Lebanon, reversing the area from Green back to Yellow after Israeli civilians were wounded by Hezbollah attacks and drone strikes continued in the area. The guidelines allow educational institutions to meet if there is a nearby safe room, and the same for businesses. Outdoor assemblies are allowed up to 200 people, and indoor gatherings up to 600. The IDF said it expects Hezbollah attacks in the area to continue for some time. Ahead of Lag BaOmer and amid rocket fire in the north, the Home Front Command also tightened restrictions in Meron and nearby border communities, planning for three bonfire lightings and sharply reduced attendance following recent impacts in the area.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Israel Navy’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the detention of 175 activists onboard were described as unlawful and a violation of international law by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a post to X. Mamdani said several of the detained New Yorkers were in direct contact with state and federal partners to confirm their conditions and whereabouts, and he called for their release. The Trump administration condemned the flotilla itself, labeling it a pro-Hamas initiative and a baseless, counterproductive effort to undermine President Trump’s Peace Plan, with officials noting the flotilla’s departure from Crete and the detention of activists aboard more than 20 ships.

In Uplifting News, Parashat Emor is highlighted as the social revolution read during the Counting of the Omer, a period in which Judaism emphasizes mutual respect and love between people as preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot. The portion discusses the unique purity obligations of the kohanim, who must avoid contact with the dead except for seven close relatives, and it carries a deeper human message about unity and the command to “Love your fellow as yourself,” a principle emphasized as the community seeks to repair past flaws when people did not treat one another with respect.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-894827
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-894833
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hktdgbgrzl
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894829
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-894773