Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-18 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Gaza Flotilla Stalled Intercepted at Sea
PIJ Commander Wael Abd al-Halim Killed
US Signals Flexibility on Iran Talks

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, a Gaza land convoy that set out from Zalitan toward Rafah stalled in Sirte Sunday night as organizers from the Global Sumud Flotilla said security risks were being evaluated, with indications Libyan forces were waiting to confront them. The convoy, about 200 participants and 30 vehicles, most of them mobile homes, had reached Sirte Sunday morning after departing Zalitan as part of an activist push to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Global Sumud Flotilla asked the world to demand safe passage, and a video published by the Maghreb Sumud Organization shows tents set up near buses in the outskirts of the city, reflecting a stoppage similar to a June convoy halted under the same circumstances after Egyptian authorities informed Libyan factions entry into Egyptian territory would not be permitted. In a separate development, Israeli naval forces moved on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla on Monday, boarding vessels and detaining activists in an operation that was unfolding as footage appeared. The Foreign Ministry had earlier urged the convoy to turn back, framing it as a provocation tied to Hamas and to IHH, a group designated as a terrorist organization. The flotilla did not retreat, and detainees were transferred to a larger Israeli Navy vessel and directed toward the port of Ashdod as the ships were intercepted at sea.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Wael Mahmoud Abd al-Halim in a targeted strike in Lebanon’s Baalbek area in the Bekaa on Sunday night, with the military saying Halim led the integration of PIJ operatives into Hezbollah’s combat operations and that steps were taken to mitigate civilian harm before the strike. The attack comes after an Israeli strike that killed Hamas military leader Izz ad-Din al-Haddad in the Gaza Strip on Friday, a development the IDF described as a significant operational achievement, with Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir vowing continued action against enemies. Separately, footage circulated of an Israeli drone strike described as a blue-and-white explosive drone targeting two terrorists on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon, with the Yiftach Unit contributing to the operation as part of the Technological Brigade. In the wake of Haddad’s death, Hamas’ military wing reportedly selected a new leader, Mohamad Odeh, viewed by Hamas as Haddad’s replacement.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States has shown flexibility on Iran maintaining limited nuclear activities, a source says, even as President Trump warns Iran has days, not weeks, to break the deadlock; Tehran says Washington has softened on nuclear limits but remains steadfast against a full unfreezing of assets, with talks focusing on ending the war and reopening Hormuz. In domestic politics, a GOP rebellion seen as challenging Trump’s posture on foreign policy centers on a lawmaker who opposed the Iran war and Israel aid being labeled as a target by Trump, as pro-Israel groups pour money into the costliest House primary in history while debates over the influence of foreign policy on US politics intensify.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Jewish and Arab Israeli activists launched a Hasbara flotilla opposing Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, with Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad declaring, “We did our own flotilla,” and asserting that the Gaza-bound flotilla would not reach Gaza and that its organizers are Hamas supporters. He told the Hasbara flotilla participants to be warned that they were not welcome; the initiative included prominent pro-Israel figures. Separately, the High Court of Justice ordered that the classified affidavit submitted by Brigadier-General “G” in petitions against Mossad chief designate Major-General Roman Gofman be transferred to the government and Prime Minister Netanyahu, cleared of classification, before the court decides how to proceed. The affidavit, deemed top secret by the military, must be shared with those with proper clearance and updated to reflect its transmission. An opinion piece argued that the term “settler violence” is often used to imply state policy where none exists, warning that criminal acts by individuals or groups must be punished under the law and that calling them state-sanctioned violence misleads the public. Finally, IDF Central Command chief Major-General Avi Bluth signed an amendment to implement the death penalty for terrorists in the West Bank, allowing the use of the death sentence by a simple majority in military courts and removing the option to pardon or commute sentences; the measure does not apply to Israeli citizens, and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the era of leniency is over.

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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