Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-24 at 02:02

HEADLINES
Iran-US Clash Fears Rise After Isfahan Crash
Global Ministers Condemn West Bank Settlement Expansion
US Tightens Foreign Influence Checks on Colleges

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, President Trump denies reports that a top US general opposes war with Iran and warns that if no deal is reached it will be a 'very bad day' for Iran. An Iranian state media report describes a military helicopter crash near the fruit and vegetable market in the Khomaini Shar area of Isfahan, with the pilot and co-pilot killed. US Senate Republicans warn Iran that time is running out. In a telephonic interview, Senator Lindsey Graham said that no deal will change the regime’s evil nature, that they are committed to destroying everything by divine command; he said he is willing to talk with them but that, in the end, they must be eliminated, and he noted they are at their weakest since 1979, adding that if that condition persists, Saudi Arabia could resume talks to normalize relations with Israel.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the foreign ministers of Brazil, France, Spain, Turkey and other signatories condemned Israeli decisions they say expand unlawful Israeli control over the West Bank. They described changes as wide-ranging, reclassifying Palestinian land as so-called Israeli state land, accelerating illegal settlement activity, and further entrenching Israeli administration. The joint statement labeled the settlements a flagrant violation of international law. Israel’s cabinet on February 15 approved further measures to tighten control over the West Bank and to ease land purchases by settlers, a move Palestinians called de facto annexation.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Trump administration is stepping up work to uncover what it sees as malign foreign influence at US colleges and universities, with the State Department assisting the Department of Education in that effort. President Trump has threatened to cut federal funding to universities over issues including pro-Palestinian protests against the Gaza war, transgender policies, climate initiatives, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. In April 2025, he issued an executive order enforcing Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which requires colleges receiving federal funding to report gifts or contracts worth more than $250,000 from foreign sources, and in December the Department of Education launched a new portal for universities to report that funding. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers said the State Department would apply national security expertise to reinforce compliance and oversight.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a swastika drawn on a bathroom wall at the US Coast Guard’s Cape May recruit training center in New Jersey was removed and the incident referred to the Coast Guard Investigative Service for investigation; the Coast Guard condemned the display of hate symbols and the commandant addressed about 900 recruits and staff. David Friedman, who was the US ambassador to Israel during Trump’s first term, is again engaging publicly with Mike Huckabee, the current ambassador to Israel, and he dedicates the song Hound Dog to anti-Semite Tucker Carlson.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a wide traffic enforcement operation took place in the city of Hadera against modified cars and two-wheelers. Police from the Hadera station, along with the aerial unit and the city’s motorcycle unit, conducted targeted enforcement against noise and dangerous driving. The operation included a report of a quad rider driving in a life-threatening manner, running red lights, and traveling against traffic. Police traced the suspect with aerial support, found him hiding in a wooded area, and he was arrested and jailed.

In Uplifting News, rainfall brought blessings tonight in the Gaza Strip. Shalom from Jerusalem! Have a wonderful day, friends.

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://worldisraelnews.com/trump-dismisses-fake-news-us-planning-limited-iran-strikes-says-iran-will-face-a-very-bad-day-if-no-deal-reached/
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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887703
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-887702
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-887701
https://t.me/abualiexpress/115271
https://t.me/newssil/192524
https://t.me/abualiexpress/115266
https://t.me/hnaftali/21390