Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-05 at 14:02

HEADLINES
War scars kids 6-9, suicide up 53%
IDF-Hezbollah clash near Naqoura after ceasefire
Netanyahu pushes reserved spots sparks Likud Rift

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

In Iranian Retaliation, President Trump says it’s over for Iran. Time to wave the white flag. President Trump declares it’s over for Iran and that it’s time to wave the white flag.

In Regional Impacts, Israeli children's mental health plummets as a result of ongoing war experiences. A new annual report from Israel's National Council for the Child shows a sharp rise in mental health struggles among children aged six to nine since the Israel-Hamas war began. The report records a 53 percent increase in suicide attempts among children aged six to nine, alongside rises in diagnoses of depression and anxiety. It also notes 69 children murdered since October 7 and more than 1,500 minors hospitalized for war-related injuries. The home front weighs on families as about 275,000 minors cope with the absence of a parent serving in the reserves. In the second year of the war, anxiety diagnoses rose 31 percent and depression diagnoses rose 9 percent.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Reporter's Notebook: A look at developing Israel-Hezbollah conflict after a half-capsized ceasefire. The piece describes what the IDF’s fight with Hezbollah looks like up close in southern Lebanon after the April 17 ceasefire began to collapse by the end of April. The Jerusalem Post, escorted by the IDF, visited Naqoura and an IDF position in the Ras al-Bayada region, reaching about 10 kilometers deep into southern Lebanon. The tour showed heavily destroyed villages, with Hezbollah storing weapons in many houses, according to IDF sources; Christian villages such as Alma a-Shaab were left intact because Hezbollah did not set up positions there. The area is under IDF Division 146, with senior commanders noted, and for almost a week after the ceasefire, the IDF and Hezbollah limited friction as the fighting continued.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Bennett responds to Smotrich comments that coalition with Arab party 'worse than Oct. 7'. In a controversial interview, Bezalel Smotrich said forming a coalition with Mansour Abbas’s Ra'am party was worse than the October 7 massacre, replying "obviously" when asked. The remarks drew swift backlash across the spectrum; Naftali Bennett released a video distancing himself from Smotrich’s comments, and Yair Golan condemned Smotrich, accusing him of exploiting the deaths of Israelis for political gain.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Likud political storm: Netanyahu's demand for reserved spots sparks tension. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on securing ten reserved spots on Likud’s national list, a demand described as non-negotiable by a senior party official. If unmet, the PM could pursue an independent list, a move seen as potentially ejecting a large share of ministers and Knesset members from the next slate. With the Norwegian Law in play, hundreds of positions could shift, and the party’s current tally of 32 seats would be affected as ministers and Knesset members recalibrate their positions.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israeli court extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists until Sunday. The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who were aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla intercepted near Crete, as authorities continue questioning them on charges including aiding the enemy during wartime and contact with a foreign agent or terrorist elements. The period of remand was extended to Sunday morning as investigators advance their case.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Outgoing air force chief Tomer Bar calls for independent inquiry of October 7. At a ceremony marking the transition to a new deputy, Bar urged an independent inquiry into the October 7 disaster, arguing that the political class has not been probed for two and a half years. He praised the air force for probing its own errors but said the broader inquiry should be independent, while stopping short of specifying a state inquiry, and he emphasized that the public deserves accountability to move forward.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Amsterdam war memorial vandalized by anti Israel activists on Remembrance Day eve. The National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam was defaced with red paint and the word genocide on the eve of Remembrance Day, with police seeking at least three suspects. Activist groups said the act was a protest tied to the pro-Palestinian movement, and the paint was cleaned ahead of the national ceremony.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Labour Party releases video ft. antisemitic quotes said by Green Party candidates. The UK Labour Party released a video containing antisemitic quotes attributed to Green Party candidates ahead of local elections. The footage includes statements such as ramming a synagogue isn’t antisemitism, it’s revenge, and references to Jews as money-grabbing and “cockroaches.” The video features a woman who says she has lived in the UK for almost 60 years in a diverse community, and Labour says the quotes are unacceptable and not representative of Green Party candidates.

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/ILtoday/18977
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895098
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-895215
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-895225
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895222
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895211
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895217
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895220
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895219