Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-11 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Trump weighs renewing Project Freedom through Hormuz
Lebanon seeks US pressure as 74 killed
Israel arrests man over Ben-Gvir threats

The time is now 12:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said on Fox News and from the Oval Office that he is weighing a renewal of Project Freedom to push ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with the possibility of expanding beyond escort duties. He has not made a final decision, the remarks indicate, as negotiations with Iran continue and the ceasefire with Tehran remains on life support after he labeled Iran’s latest terms “totally unacceptable.” Trump noted that while a US-Iran deal has not been finalized, Iran has signaled the United States would need to retrieve uranium from its facilities, describing it as buried too deep for Iran to reach, and he suggested any renewed operation could be part of a larger military move rather than a standalone effort.

In Regional Impacts, the IDF sentenced a soldier to 21 days in military prison for desecrating a Virgin Mary statue in Debel, southern Lebanon, and an additional soldier was sentenced to 14 days for filming the incident after posting photographs online. The army said the act occurred weeks ago and that it respects freedom of religion while reinforcing procedures around sensitive sites. Debel is a Maronite Christian village near the Israeli border. In April, a separate soldier who smashed a statue of Jesus in the same village was sentenced to 30 days and removed from combat duty, alongside the other inmate.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Lebanon’s president urged the United States to pressure Israel to halt attacks and stop home demolitions in south Lebanon as hostilities persist since a truce declared last month. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes in the past three days killed 74 people, as fighting between Hezbollah and Israel continues in the area near the Israeli-occupied security zone. The broader regional dynamics remain tied to the ongoing conflict and the stalled diplomacy that followed the rejection of Iran’s peace proposal by Washington.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Jerusalem man in his 60s was arrested after a complaint alleging threats to harm National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir; Judea and Samaria District Police opened an investigation, located the suspect, and transferred him for questioning. Ben-Gvir has previously been the subject of threats and alleged plots, including a Shin Bet and police joint announcement in September 2025 about an explosive drone plot targeting him during a visit to Hebron, which investigators said was abandoned after a partial test. Interrogations indicated the plot involved Hamas funding from officials in Turkey. Separately, Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s refusal to cooperate with senior judicial officials was criticized by the Attorney-General as harming the Israeli public and hindering the appointment of key judicial personnel; the state argued in a High Court petition that executive actions must work with the judiciary as a foundation of democracy.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a Sydney woman was charged for antisemitic abuse directed at a Jewish girls’ netball team during a Maroubra game, allegedly shouting “F— the Jews” and that they “should have all been eradicated.” NSW Police charged her with use of offensive language near a public place, and Netball Australia suspended her from league activities pending investigation. The incident involved a match between Saints Netball Club and Maccabi Netball Club for girls aged 12 and under. In London, a 64-year-old man, Francis Achile, was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of assault by beating, and racially aggravated harassment and assault for an attack on Orthodox Jewish women at a bus stop; Shomrim and the Metropolitan Police responded quickly, and a Community Protection Team has been deployed to safeguard Jewish residents amid a spike in antisemitic incidents, with related cases in Enfield noted.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Cypriot Member of the European Parliament Fidias Panayiotou claimed Israel is buying the island through aggressive real estate purchases and land development, a charge that Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik said is deeply concerning. Anolik stressed that the Israel-Cyprus relationship rests on shared values and mutual respect and accused Panayiotou of fueling antisemitism with his remarks. Panayiotou, a 26-year-old online influencer who won a seat in 2024 and later founded the Direct Democracy party, has drawn attention for his comments about Israel’s influence on Cyprus.

In Uplifting News, an opinion piece argues that Israel has become an indispensable military and technological power and a reliable ally in hard times, noting how global alignments have shifted since October 7 and that the world is being reordered around a divide between supporters of Israel and blocs aligned with Hamas. The piece suggests growing support for Israel among many in the West as the conflict reshapes international politics. In Geneva, Mathias Döpfner, chief executive of Axel Springer, declared he is “a Zionist,” telling the World Jewish Congress that Jews and non-Jews alike must confront antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and online radicalization to defend Western democracy, urging action beyond “Never Again” rhetoric and calling for vigilance as antisemitism resurfaces across institutions and public life.

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.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-895813
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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-895807
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-895812
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895808
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895801
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895810
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895806
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895804
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-895760
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895802