Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Lebanon Charges Hezbollah Over Explosives Shipment

Transcript

Lebanon Charges Hezbollah Over Explosives Shipment · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: In Lebanon, the military court has charged 13 members of
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Hezbollah in connection with a half-ton shipment of explosives seized
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: earlier this month. Lebanese officials announced the charges over the weekend.
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: Judge Claude Gaynam issued the indictments, which include endangering state
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: security and membership in a banned organisation. while Hezbollah claimed
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: the explosives were destined for Israel. Lebanese commentators noted similarities
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: to materials used in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: Minister Rafik Hariri. The incident comes as Israel awaits evidence
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: that Beirut can contain the threat posed by Hezbollah. Hezbollah
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: parliamentary bloc MP Hassan Hach, Hassan criticised the charges, claiming
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: the defendants were performing a national duty in defence of
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: their country. Meanwhile, a report from the London-based Ashark Alorsat,
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: alleges that Israel's Shin Bet has adopted a practice of
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: threatening targets in Gaza by phone, forcing them to choose
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: between having their entire family bombed or being killed alone.
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: The outlet reportedly interviewed several Gazans described as Palestinian faction
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: activists and their families, who described similar experiences. The report
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: cited an incident involving Mohammed al-Bayouk in Khan Yunis, who
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: allegedly chose to go to the roof to be targeted
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: alone rather than have a shelter with his family bombed.
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: a source told Ashark Al-Ossat that targets were typically activists
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: who had a connection to military action. The IDF and
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: Shin Bet have not been approached for comment on this
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: specific report, though the IDF regularly announces strikes on high-profile
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: terror targets based on Shin Bet intelligence. In Gaza, the
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: funeral of Hamas member Arafat Al-Ariya saw hundreds of attendees
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: chanting anti-Israel slogans and firing numerous rounds into the air.
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: This scene, described as laying bare the terror group's intentions,
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: renewed calls among many Gazans for disarming the Strip's clans
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: and militias. Reports suggest that these armed groups often avoid
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: direct confrontation with the Israeli military, but readily turn their
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: weapons on other Palestinians. On the diplomatic front, Israel reportedly
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: urged the British government to postpone recognising Palestinian statehood until
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: after the release of Gaza hostages. According to the Jewish Chronicle,
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: Israel warned that unconditional recognition could endanger captives and undermine negotiations.
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: Despite these warnings, Britain formally recognised Palestinian statehood on September 21, 2025,
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: a move Israeli officials feared would strengthen Hamas's bargaining position. Domestically,
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: President Isaac Herzog called on Israel's political leaders to show
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: flexibility in coalition negotiations and accept the election results to
• 2:52
  Speaker 1: avoid another election. Speaking at a memorial ceremony, Herzog stated
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: he would receive the official election results on Wednesday. and
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: begin consultations at the President's residence. Reports also indicate potential
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: political manoeuvring, with hints from Likud suggesting strategic messages about
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: its voter base. However, significant hurdles remain, including opposition to
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: proposed confidence votes from figures like Liberman, and ongoing debates
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: over ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions. In economic and diplomatic news, the
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: groundbreaking for the establishment of the Israeli embassy in Somaliland
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: and the accreditation of its first ambassador, Michael Lotum, took
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: place in Hargeisa. This marks an important step in strengthening
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: bilateral relations. On a more uplifting note, Israel's universities and
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: colleges have significantly expanded accommodations for military reservists and career
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: soldiers for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year. The new plan
• 3:49
  Speaker 1: provides enhanced support, including alternative assessment options and eased scholarship eligibility.
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: to help students whose service has disrupted their studies. Elsewhere,
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: a man was shot dead in the Druze village of Isfiyah,
• 4:02
  Speaker 1: bringing the annual Arab homicide toll to 193. This follows
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: a string of shootings reported this week across various locations.
• 4:11
  Speaker 1: For continuing coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism,
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: watch from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch.
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: I'm Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: ongoing war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today,
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: ongoing war report in your podcast app so you don't
• 4:30
  Speaker 1: miss the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: a comprehensive view.