HEADLINES
Iran crackdown death toll disputed sparks fear
Iran mine bluff sparks Hormuz tensions
Netanyahu testimony canceled amid late defense request

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 Iranian Retaliation, Iranians are fearful that the sacrifices they made in demonstrating against the regime will be erased if a deal with Tehran is reached, two Iranians told The Jerusalem Post over the past week. The people of Iran are in a very bad psychological state and have little hope for the future, wrote Z., an older Iranian professional. The report notes that speaking to Israelis is a criminal offense in Iran, and the regime has frequently used allegations of Mossad ties to justify crackdowns. After masses of protesters were killed earlier and thousands more arbitrarily arrested or disappeared, the regime acknowledged fewer than 4,000 deaths and blamed most of them on foreign-backed rioters, while human rights groups and anonymous officials speaking to Western media have estimated the toll much higher, closer to 30,000.

In Regional Impacts, Iran’s Hormuz mine threat may have begun as a bluff, former Navy chief says. Major General (Reserve) Eliezer Marom told 103FM that Iran’s claim of mining the Strait of Hormuz may reflect a bluff that escalated, since no mines have been publicly observed and Iran later alleged American attacks on vessels linked to the plan. He suggested Iran may have decided not to reveal the bluff and instead placed a few mines. Marom noted that mine-laying in water is a dangerous tactic, warning that an explosion of a tanker could unleash catastrophic fuel spills. He added that Iran’s demand for a ceasefire to include Lebanon, and its lack of response to US strikes, could signal a willingness to continue negotiations. He also emphasized the frightening image of a massive ship exploding with fuel spreading across the sea.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, former Yesh Atid MK and INSS senior research fellow Ofer Shelah warned that Israel’s relationship with the United States has been deteriorating for a very long time. He analyzed the diplomatic track between Washington and Tehran, the political pressure on President Trump, Israel’s posture in Lebanon, and new INSS findings on Israeli public attitudes toward the war. He cautioned that any agreement missing concrete and enforceable terms on Iran’s nuclear program would be a failure for both Israel and the United States. There is no such thing as eliminating the Iranian nuclear project without an Iranian decision, he said, adding that time has favored Iran. He noted that the diplomatic picture around Iran remains unclear, but the central issue remains Iran’s enriched uranium and nuclear program, with predictions that the region could see a very long ceasefire.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony in his criminal trial was canceled after his defense clarified a last-minute request not to appear. Netanyahu had been set to testify for two hours on Wednesday morning, following an earlier agreement to shorten the hearing. Moments before the session began, his attorneys asked to cancel the testimony entirely, saying Netanyahu had been occupied until late Tuesday with diplomatic and security matters and had an early schedule on Wednesday. Netanyahu’s attorney, Noa Milstein, said that if needed, Netanyahu’s chief of staff could appear before the Tel Aviv District Court or another location the judges ordered to explain the matter in greater detail. The prosecution said it could not take a position because the reasons behind the request had not been provided.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, German police arrested a Syrian citizen on Wednesday, Khalaf A., suspected of aiding and abetting attempted murder and grievous bodily harm in an attack on a tourist at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin last year, prosecutors said. The arrest follows the March sentencing of a Syrian refugee, Wassim Al M., to 13 years in prison for attempted murder. The court found Al M. to be a radical Islamist with antisemitic views who stabbed a Spanish tourist in the memorial in February 2025, leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries. Prosecutors said Khalaf A. had spent the afternoon before the attack with Al M. and encouraged him to proceed with his plan.

Three Israeli citizens suffered a violent attack in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, said he was deeply shocked by antisemitic violence directed at Israeli citizens in Nicosia, noting that such acts have no place in Cyprus. He thanked the Cyprus Police for swift arrests and urged leaders across the country to condemn such incidents. The incident comes amid a reported rise in antisemitic violence in the region, and authorities said investigations are ongoing.

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-897472
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897442
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897466
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897469
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897479
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897461