Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-05 at 16:01

HEADLINES
Ten Sailors Die in Hormuz, US Vows
Gaza Disarmament Talks Stall, Board of Peace
Trump Demands Iran Surrender, Praises Blockade

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, ten civilian sailors have died in the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House. He said the United States would continue to deploy assets to defend freedom of navigation in the key thoroughfare. “They're isolated, they're starving, they're vulnerable and at least 10 sailors have died as a result,” Rubio said, without providing additional details.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post that the gaps between Hamas and the Board of Peace on Gaza’s disarmament are very wide, and bridging them appears almost impossible. Negotiations between Hamas and Board of Peace officials have not produced an agreement, with Hamas’s response effectively “yes, but” and extensive demands. An Israeli official said Israel is coordinating with the Board of Peace and the US administration to plan the next steps following Hamas’s refusal to disarm. The official added that no one should be surprised Hamas refuses to disarm, including the mediators. Also this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Nickolay Mladenov, the US ambassador to Israel, and other senior Board of Peace officials.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said Iran should “wave the white flag of surrender,” dismissing Tehran’s military capabilities as weakened and describing them as firing “peashooters.” Trump praised the US blockade of Iranian ports as highly effective, likening it to a steel barrier that no one can challenge. He urged Iran to capitulate and said if this were a fight, they’d stop it, while declining to specify what actions would violate a ceasefire.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a new poll from IDI’s Viterbi Center shows 64% of Jewish Israelis say the current security situation regarding Iran is incompatible with Israel’s interests, while 48.5% of Arab Israelis view it as compatible. On the question of whether fighting will resume, a majority of both groups believes it will, with 62% of Israeli Jews and 52% of Arab Israelis predicting an early restart. The survey also finds 51% of Israelis believe the Trump administration has more influence over Israel’s defense decisions than the government, with 56% of Jewish Israelis sharing that view and Arab Israelis saying both the government and the US administration have equal influence. Optimism about national security fell from 47% in March to 39% in April, and optimism about social cohesion slipped to 22.5% over the same period. Separately, in a controversial interview, Bezalel Smotrich’s claim that forming a coalition with an Arab party was worse than Oct. 7 drew swift backlash, with Bennett distancing himself in a video and opponents condemning the remarks. Additionally, Netanyahu’s demand for ten reserved spots on Likud’s national list sparked a political storm, with a senior party official calling the move “crazy” and warning it could push many ministers and MKs off the list or even push Netanyahu to run independently if not granted the seats.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Yeshiva University president Ari Berman discusses his friendship with Charlie Kirk and how Kirk’s views have been received by Jewish leaders. Berman describes Kirk as someone who, despite controversy, was appreciated by some and warned about misperceptions about him. The interview touches on Ger Toshav, the Halachic term for a resident alien, and how such ideas have shaped Orthodox thought toward broader issues. In New York City, anti-Israel activists are set to protest outside Park East Synagogue against what PAL-Awda NY/NJ calls the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, which they claim is advertising settlements and selling “stolen Palestinian land.” Park East did not comment, security barriers were being prepared, and event organizers did not respond to requests for comment, while PAL-Awda argued that the event promotes ethnic cleansing in the neighborhood.

In Uplifting News, Our escort to the runway presents a brief, uplifting moment described in a short piece titled Our escort to the runway, highlighting a hopeful pause and a note of guidance on the runway.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/ten-civilian-sailors-have-died-strait-hormuz-rubio-says
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-895228
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-says-iran-should-wave-the-white-flag-of-surrender-and-its-military-strikes-resemble-peashooters/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895224
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-895225
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895222
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895232
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895231
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75939