Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-03 at 00:02

HEADLINES
Trump weighs resuming attacks on Iran
Hamas leadership race tests Gaza crisis
Noose cake at Ben-Gvir birthday sparks outrage

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Trump on the possibility of resuming attacks in Iran: This is a possibility that could happen.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas has completed internal voting to choose a new head of its political bureau, replacing October 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar, but the winner has not yet been revealed. The race is between Khalil al-Hayya, seen as closely aligned with Iran’s IRGC, and Khaled Mashaal, who maintains ties with Turkey and other Arab states—highlighting internal divisions within the terror group. The vote comes as Hamas faces one of its worst crises since its founding, with declining support in Gaza and mounting pressure following Israel’s blows after the October 7 massacre. Israeli forces struck and dismantled a loaded and ready-to-launch launcher in southern Lebanon.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Police officials criticized for attending Ben-Gvir's birthday party. Many senior officers from the top ranks attended National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s 50th birthday party in Emunim, despite criticism that the move was inappropriate for uniformed officials. Attendees included Jerusalem District Commander Avshalom Peled, Judea and Samaria District Commander Moshe Pinchi, Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, Superintendent Sami Marciano, Ben-Gvir’s security secretary, Central District Commander Amir Cohen, and others; the event featured a cake decorated with a drawing of a hanging noose. Police Commissioner Danny Levy had approved attendance by senior officers from the national general command staff, clarifying that officers not part of that staff were prohibited from attending. IDF, Border Police raid illegal weapons production site in Nablus. The IDF, Israel Police, and Border Police raided an illegal weapons manufacturing site in Nablus, finding a lathe used to make weapons, and firearms including an M16 rifle, a pistol, and a shotgun, along with combat vests, a helmet, and a dagger and assorted cartridges. One man was arrested in connection with the incident. Border Police teams also found and destroyed seven explosive devices in the West Bank village of Arana, some improvised, as part of a broader counter-terrorism operation that included interrogating dozens of suspects in multiple West Bank villages.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Laurie Cardoza Moore: The difference between Tucker Carlson and a real Christian - opinion. The piece presents Cardoza Moore arguing for Christian responsibility to oppose antisemitism and to strengthen Jewish-Christian ties, framing her approach as an effort toward reconciliation rather than accusation, and situating her views in a broader discussion sparked by a recent incident in Debel and the historical context of persecution of Jews.

In Uplifting News, Golden Tempo wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby.

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://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75812
https://worldisraelnews.com/hamas-power-struggle-new-leader-to-be-announced/
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53782
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894901
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-894898
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894718
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53791