Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-11 at 01:01

HEADLINES
Hamas FPV Drones Prompt Gaza Escalation Fears
IDF Sergeant Killed in Hezbollah Drone Attack
UK Jews Alarmed as Antisemitism Spurs Elections

The time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, IDF warns Hamas racing to build FPV drone threat seen on northern front, with military officials saying Gaza’s terror group is studying drone tactics used by Hezbollah in Lebanon as Israeli forces deepen operations along the enclave’s yellow line and prepare for possible escalation if disarmament efforts fail.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, First Sergeant (Reserve) Alexander Glovanyov, 47, from Petah Tikva, was killed near the Lebanon border, the IDF announced on Monday morning. He was a lead vehicle driver in the 6924th Transport Battalion of the Technological and Logistics Directorate, and his family has been notified. Army Radio reported that several Hezbollah drones crossed into Israeli airspace and exploded near the Lebanon border, leaving him with no advance warning. He was the fourth IDF soldier to be killed during the ongoing ceasefire with Hezbollah as a result of explosive drones. The IDF later said Glovanyov was killed in a Hezbollah explosive FPV drone attack launched from Lebanon near the border, two days after three Israeli soldiers were seriously and moderately wounded in another drone strike. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett offered his condolences to Glovanyov’s family.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, The blame for October 7 lies with more than just one camp - editorial. Two-and-a-half years on from October 7, Israelis will not reward politicians who offer the most sophisticated excuses for the attack; they will choose those who demonstrate that lessons have been learned. Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar’s remarks on Sunday morning were jarring as he argued that the then-government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid bore responsibility, suggesting Yahya Sinwar interpreted that coalition as weak and planned the attack during its tenure. He warned that if a future government relies on Arab factions, the next October 7 could be on its way. The public does not judge the response by when the enemy begins planning, but by whether the government in power can recognize the threat and avoid catastrophe.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UK Jews alarmed as anti-Israel politicians surge in elections. British Jews voiced growing concern after candidates accused of antisemitism and anti-Israel extremism made gains in local UK elections. In Hackney, Europe’s largest ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, Green Party candidate Zoe Garbett won the mayoralty after campaigning against what she called “genocide” in Gaza. Green Party leader Zack Polanski drew backlash over anti-Israel remarks and social media activity. Other controversial winners included Green candidates Ifhat Shaheen and Saiqa Ali, alongside Reform UK politician Jay Leslie Cooper, who reportedly promoted Holocaust denial online. The results come amid a surge in antisemitic attacks across Britain, intensifying fears within the Jewish community over the growing normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric in politics.

In Uplifting News, Jewish couples get married in Kyiv for first time since war started thanks to weekend ceasefire. Jewish couples from Ukraine were able to peacefully marry for the first time in more than four years, during a three-day ceasefire agreed to by both nations. The Jewish Community Center Beit Menachem in Kyiv held a mass wedding ceremony over the weekend that included couples of all ages, including a 92-year-old. Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Kyiv’s Chief Rabbi, called the scene one of the most moving moments in recent years, noting the community is intent on preserving tradition and continuing generations despite the war and daily challenges. The ceasefire made such ceremonies possible amid ongoing conflict.

For Israeli settlers, return to Sa-Nur is a dream realised, Seated at a table in a prefabricated home, Meir Goldmintz says he is finally fulfilling a two-decade dream: returning to Sa-Nur, the tiny settlement perched above Palestinian villages in the northern West Bank that was dismantled in 2005 along with other settlements. Its reopening is part of a broader wave of settlement expansion undertaken by Israel’s current government. Critics see it as a setback to the prospect of a Palestinian state, while supporters view it as a historic correction. Goldmintz notes that his brother lives nearby and that neighbors include influential settler leader Yossi Dagan, who was evacuated from Sa-Nur twenty years ago. The reopening ceremony is framed by statements from Bezalel Smotrich describing the move as a historic correction.

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
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-895745
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54176
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/by11hw60r11x
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-895718
https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-fires-back-israel-is-the-safest-place-for-christians-in-the-middle-east/
https://worldisraelnews.com/uk-jews-alarmed-as-anti-israel-politicians-surge-in-elections/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895742
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/israeli-settlers-return-sa-nur-dream-realised