Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 26, 2026, 05 AM Eastern

0:00Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire? Try them all only at my dogs. You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi. We begin with a significant development regarding Gaza. An investigation by the Atlantic has revealed that Egyptian intelligence chief Arbars-Kamel secretly visited Israel on September 26, 2023, just 11 days before the October 7 attack. During his brief visit, Kamel reportedly warned Israeli officials that Hamas was preparing for a major assault and urged economic de-escalation in the Gaza Strip. A former Israeli official briefed on the meeting described the Egyptian message as, if you don't change course, Gaza is going to explode in your face.

1:01While Kamel did not provide specific details or a date for a potential attack, officials briefed on the visit believe the urgency and the messenger himself should have alerted Israel's leadership. However, the Prime Minister's office later denied that Egypt had issued a warning before the attack. Turning to international diplomacy, discussions at the United Nations included significant exchanges between American and Iranian officials. According to reports, these were the first shuttle talks between the two sides since a July ceasefire collapse conducted through mediators. During the UN General Assembly, the US was threatening to annihilate. Iran and Iran was accusing the US of abullying mentality. A senior Iranian official, indicated Tehran was reviewing US proposals that included lifting a naval blockade on Iranian ports and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that a deal would involve hard work over time. In parallel, US Secretary of State Rubio also held talks with Russian foreign minister

2:03Sergei Lavrov discussing a possible limited ceasefire concerning grain and energy targets. Meanwhile, according to the Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal for a seven-day ceasefire, which included reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to nuclear negotiations. Trump reportedly believes US attacks on Iran may resume after the November 3 midterm elections. In the wider region, Saudi Arabia's security strategy is being tested by Houthi attacks. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman finds himself in a challenging position, seeking defensive capabilities like air defense systems. Reports indicate he twice asked US President Donald Trump to attack the Houthis, but the US agreed only to provide intelligence assistance. While Saudi Arabia received support and expressions of solidarity from allies like Turkey and Pakistan, including a joint defense agreement signed in Mecca, these nations have not committed to direct military intervention.

3:03Saudi Arabia is currently focused on securing interceptors and assistance against Houthi missiles and drones. Alongside early warning capabilities and protection for its energy infrastructure, and finally in Lebanon, Hezbollah is reportedly preparing for the second anniversary of the assassination of its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, which occurs tomorrow. Social media sentiment is noted to be intensifying around this commemoration. For continuing coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to antisemitism watch from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockwekmedia.org slash watch. I'm Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today, ongoing war report in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view.