Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-17 at 23:01

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The time is now 11.01 pm in New York.

I'm Noah Levi and this is the latest Israel today.

Ongoing war report.

In regional impacts, a Hebrew university study found that during the Iran War Israelis

faced negative effects on health-related behavior.

There's nearly two-thirds experiencing a sharp decline in overall physical activity and

a reduction in sleep duration.

And just over half reporting increased intake of ultra-processed foods, such as sweets and

pastries, while produced consumption fell and alcohol use rose.

The research notes no link between higher ultra-processed food consumption and reduced produce,

attributing the rise in ultra-processed foods to a general increase in total food intake.

The impact on food consumption was more pronounced among women, and a correlation was observed

between increased ultra-processed foods and reduced physical activity.

In NatiVot, two men aged 17 and 30 were seriously and moderately injured in a shooting.

Emergency teams provided medical care, and evacuated them to Soroka University Medical Center

in Beishiba, with penetrating injuries.

In Gaza, UNICEF said two water truck drivers contracted to deliver clean water to families

in the Gaza Strip were killed by Israeli fire at the Mansoura Water, filling point in

northern Gaza, with two others injured.

UNICEF suspended activities at the site and called on Israeli authorities to investigate.

Stressing that humanitarian workers, civilians and vital water infrastructure must be protected

under international humanitarian law.

In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies, ex-Al-Qaeda member and former British

Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Aiman Deen, claimed on ex-slash Twitter that the

US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is being used as leverage against Iran.

Arguing Tehran is withholding serious engagement and progress on nuclear talks until there is

a Lebanon ceasefire.

He suggested that Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to halt fighting not out of good will,

but to buy time for more military assets and supplies to reach the region.

And he asserted that Iran would have no cover if real pressure were applied.

IDF officers in southern Lebanon said they were not informed about the ceasefire and only

learned of it through foreign media and telegram posts.

Warning that these are dangerous hours as they try to keep soldiers alert.

The IDF also indicated it will continue to hold captured Lebanese territory, with operational

plans to deepen Lebanon operations if needed, and noted that five IDF divisions are in the

area awaiting orders.

Earlier, the army announced it had taken control of a key ridge in southern Lebanon minutes

before the ceasefire, with soldiers parachuting onto Krista Fahni Ridge to maintain an operational

presence.

In the US policy concerning Israel, Jewish groups urged President Trump to prioritize

Americans held in Iran during ceasefire talks.

With the American Jewish Committee joined by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies,

the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, the Railroad Wallenberg Center for Human Rights,

and united against nuclear Iran.

The coalition called on the administration to make the return of Americans in Iranian

custody, an urgent national priority, stating that wrongful detention or hostage-taking

will not be accepted, and that the United States should pursue their release with unwavering

resolve.

Highlighting the administration's track record in negotiating hostage releases as a precedent,

in anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish hate, is jealousy the root of anti-Zionism.

Opinion, a Lanna Newhouse, Editing Chief of Tablet, argues that a rudaless, identity-emaciated

Western world envies the Zionist nation states perceived success, and wants its societies

to resemble Israel.

Treating Zionism as a pejorative in liberal and some conservative circles, Newhouse contends

that envy, not straightforward critique, fuels anti-Zionist sentiment, while acknowledging

the risk of invoking age-old antisemitic tropes when discussing Jewish self-determination.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel today, ongoing war report update.

I'm Noah 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.