Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-08 at 12:02

HEADLINES
US disables four Iranian tankers, blockade stands
Gaza flotilla heads to Turkey after interception
Netanyahu Mossad appointment security is my duty

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

In US Military Role, US jets fired on Iranian-flagged tankers attempting to breach the blockade of Iran's ports, with a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet disabling both tankers after precision munitions were directed into their smokestacks, the US Central Command said, preventing the ships from entering Iran. The command noted that four vessels have now been halted since the blockade began on April 13. Iranian media reported sporadic clashes with US forces in the Strait of Hormuz, and an Iranian official said overnight attacks struck an Iranian cargo vessel, leaving five crew missing and 10 wounded. Separately, CENTCOM said the US military struck two empty Iranian-flagged oil tankers on Friday that were seeking to violate the blockade, and had previously disabled a third Iranian-flagged vessel on Wednesday; all three vessels are no longer transiting to Iran. A Nour agency report described ongoing exchanges of fire between American and Iranian ships in Hormuz.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, some 30 vessels from the Gaza-bound flotilla that set sail from Crete are now heading toward Turkey, flotilla organizers said, a week after the Israeli Navy intercepted more than 20 boats and detained activists involved in the mission. The flotilla leadership will hold an emergency meeting in the Turkish port city of Marmaris to develop an updated legal strategy and revised operational plans for the disrupted mission, with representatives from more than 50 countries expected to attend. A Greenpeace vessel that had accompanied the flotilla has left the convoy and continued on its own route. In a separate development, Palestinian-American developer Bashar Masri asked a US judge to throw out a lawsuit accusing him of supporting Hamas through his Gaza projects, arguing that it equates participating in Gaza's economy with terrorism. Masri built luxury hotels in Gaza and the Palestinians' first planned city in the West Bank, and the civil complaint, filed on behalf of around 200 American plaintiffs, alleges that Masri knew about Hamas tunnels under his hotels and that the tunnels were used to stage attacks, with power drawn from solar panels in an industrial zone he operated.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the family of Yemanu Binyamin Zalka accused the prosecution of taking a lenient approach toward indicting the murder suspect, calling on the public to rally after the investigation’s completion and the case file’s transfer to the Central District Attorney with recommendations to indict several minors on serious charges. They argued the anticipated sentence would allow the suspect to be released in a few years while Yemanu remains deceased. Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's security is “only” his responsibility in a response to petitions before the High Court of Justice over the appointment of Roman Gofman as Mossad chief, a stance seen by some as dodging responsibility for Oct. 7.

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/war-middle-east-latest-developments-6
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/us-forces-strike-two-empty-iranian-oil-tankers-central-command-says
https://t.me/newssil/201229
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895575
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/palestinian-american-developer-asks-us-judge-dismiss-lawsuit-alleging-he-aided
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-895577
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rktuyti0bx