HEADLINES
Ahmadinejad under house arrest, Israel eyed asset
WFP aid raid in Jabalia, civilians harmed
Hormuz standoff deepens, Iran refuses retreat

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 Operation Lion's Roar, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence arm after Iranian authorities uncovered a significant portion of his contacts with Israel, The New York Times reported, citing four senior Iranian officials. The report says Israel conducted a covert operation aimed at recruiting Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset and, at a later stage, even planned to install him as Iran’s leader following the regime’s overthrow. An unusual chapter in early 2024 saw a Hungarian official ask Gergely Deli, rector of the Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest, to invite Ahmadinejad to a conference on climate change; Deli said he was told the conference would be a cover for secret talks between Ahmadinejad and Israeli intelligence officials. He invited him because he believed that if two enemies were willing to talk, they should be allowed to.

In Regional Impacts, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov condemned an incident in Jabalia where staff at a World Food Programme distribution point were assaulted during a raid attributed to “de facto authorities,” with two drivers harmed. Alakbarov said there is a dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction by those authorities, including smuggling attempts, that jeopardizes humanitarian operations. He warned that the expansion of areas under Israeli control is reducing space for civilians and must not hinder aid deliveries.

Analysts say the current confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz shows no willingness by either side to back down. Dani Citrinowicz, an Iran researcher, said the campaign to weaken the Iranian regime and deny it the ability to reach nuclear weapons has shifted to a struggle over who will control the Strait, with Iran signaling it will not retreat and the United States issuing ultimatums as part of a broader strategic tension.

The European Commission announced a Team Gaza Initiative to deliver €883.6 million ($1 billion) in aid to Gaza, launched at the Palestine Donor Group meeting in Brussels. The effort involves 15 partners, with twelve European countries and Japan joining, along with the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, to support ongoing and planned early recovery projects for Gaza.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acting on the recommendation of security officials, instructed the Shin Bet to investigate an alleged leak of the start date of Operation Roaring Lion to an unnamed media outlet. Shin Bet chief David Zini noted that many people with access to the secret could complicate the inquiry and that uncovering the truth would be difficult. Following an internal Shin Bet review, officials determined that the investigation could proceed without involvement from the attorney-general, since the inquiry would focus on defense establishment personnel rather than journalists, and would be conducted under the powers granted to the agency.

Almost half of Israelis, 46%, and half of Jews, 50%, support more pressure to enlist young Haredi men into the IDF, a July poll by the Jewish People Policy Institute shows. About 31% support conscription only with the agreement of Haredi leadership, and 11% believe efforts to draft Haredi men are futile and should stop. Political divides run along lines of ideology, with right-wing respondents favoring a compromise (59%), while center and left groups favor sanctions (73% and 79%, respectively). Among Likud supporters, 75% favor compromise, while Yisrael Beitenu backs sanctions at 84%. Among Haredi respondents, 45% say conscription could be possible if leadership agreed, and 15% support sanctions. The poll also gauged views on anti-draft protests linked to judicial reform, with about 32% of the public and 36% of Jews expressing a view.

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-902349
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902341
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902338
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/eu-launches-1-billion-aid-initiative-gaza
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902325
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902297