Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-23 at 21:01

HEADLINES
Iran's Swarm Boats Seize Ships Near Hormuz
Eight Nations Condemn Jerusalem Status Quo Violations
Jerusalem Rioter Flaunts Swastika Flag

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Iran's use of a swarm of small, fast boats to seize two container ships near the Strait of Hormuz challenges the notion that US forces have eliminated Iran's naval threat and highlights the difficulties of reopening one of the world's most important oil export routes. President Trump acknowledged that while Iran's conventional navy has been largely destroyed, its fast-attack ships have not been viewed as a major threat; he said any such vessels approaching a US blockade outside the strait would be eliminated using the same system of kill deployed in the Caribbean and Pacific, where US air strikes have killed at least 110 people. The boats are armed with heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, and in some cases anti-ship missiles, and experts describe speedboat attacks as part of a layered system of threats alongside shore-based missiles, drones, mines and electronic interference that can create uncertainty and slow decision-making. The incident underscores the challenges to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, a crucial oil export route.

In Regional Impacts, a separate incident in Judea and Samaria reports two men, both around 40, killed in a two-vehicle crash on Route 60 near the Rekhalim junction. Seven Palestinians sustained minor injuries and were evacuated by the Red Crescent to areas under Palestinian Authority control. Paramedics described a wrecked vehicle and said the two men were found unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, and could not be saved, while additional medics treated the seven lightly injured before their evacuation.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries condemned what they described as Israel's repeated violations of the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites in a joint statement by Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. They criticized continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into al-Aqsa Mosque/al-Haram al-Sharif under Israeli police protection, and the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards, calling these provocative actions a flagrant violation of international law. The ministers stressed the importance of preserving the status quo and recognizing the special role of the historic Hashemite custodianship, and they denounced accelerating illegal settlement activity.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel Police arrested a Jerusalem rioter who assaulted an officer and waved an Israeli flag with a swastika painted on it in front of police on Yehezkel Street. The suspect attempted to flee but was immediately arrested and taken to the police station for questioning as police and Border Police dispersed the disturbance.

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/middle-east/article-894036
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1313334
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894034
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894033