HEADLINES
US strikes suspected narcotics ship four dead
Xi thanks Trump for Gaza ceasefire support
Trump orders resume nuclear tests

The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

A US military strike against a vessel suspected of narcotics smuggling left four people dead, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said intelligence identified the ship as involved in illicit trafficking. Officials described the operation as targeted and conducted to disrupt illicit networks linked to violence and organized crime in the region.

In broader diplomacy, Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking during a meeting in South Korea, thanked President Donald Trump for backing a Gaza ceasefire and discussed trade. Both leaders stressed an interest in strengthening bilateral relations and managing competition in ways that avoid confrontation while pursuing common economic interests.

On nuclear policy, President Trump announced on social media that the Pentagon has been instructed to resume testing nuclear weapons, arguing that the United States must maintain parity with other nations that have conducted tests. The move follows recent tests by Russia and is framed as part of a broader effort to sustain deterrence and national security capabilities.

Within domestic political and community circles, Brooklyn’s Satmar leadership said that candidate Zohran Mamdani is not antisemitic, describing him as a liberal Muslim. The clarification comes amid ongoing debates over rhetoric and representation in American politics and public life.

Cultural developments from Israel’s creative communities continue to reach international audiences. Two Israeli filmmakers received recognition in the United States despite the difficult climate surrounding the Gaza conflict and industry debates over boycotts. Yuval Hadadi’s A Man Walks Down the Street won the Narrative Feature Award at the Austin Film Festival in Texas. Meyers Levinson-Blount’s Butcher’s Stain earned the Silver Medal in the narrative category at the Student Academy Awards in New York. Hadadi spoke of facing concerns about reception given his Israeli origins, yet noted the audience and festival environment focused on the stories themselves. He described how the film, which centers on a gay man returning to Tel Aviv after years abroad, reflects life in Israel in the wake of the war. A Man Walks Down the Street is slated for a general release in Israel in 2026. Levinson-Blount, a Tel Aviv University student, said the project drew on experiences working in a lower-income Israeli supermarket and aimed to explore questions of discrimination in the aftermath of October seventh.

In related developments, a report in Channel twelve details new testimony from Eli Feldstein, the former spokesman for the prime minister’s office, who described a late-night meeting during which a senior official allegedly suggested the possibility of suppressing a covert IDF investigation. The prime minister’s office rejected the report as inaccurate, saying it was a fabrication.

Elsewhere in Europe, early exit polls in the Netherlands point toward a centrist party led by Rob Jetten ahead of the vote, with Geert Wilders’ party continuing in opposition. The result could influence European attitudes toward security policy and regional diplomacy, including conversations about Israel and regional stability.

From Tel Aviv to Washington and beyond, these strands—security, diplomacy, culture, and domestic politics—reflect a world in which strategic calculation, alliances, and everyday life intersect in real time. And that, as always, is the way it is.

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/american-politics/article-872122
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-872120
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-872119
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-872118
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-filmmakers-snag-prizes-in-us-pushing-against-industry-boycott-narrative/
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-872117
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-testimony-pms-ex-spokesman-said-to-hint-at-coverup-attempt-in-leaked-documents-case/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1246552
https://t.me/newssil/177337