Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-19 at 10:01

HEADLINES
Israel Destroys Hamas Depot and Rocket-launching Tunnel
Drones Over Qeshm Trigger Regional Air Defenses
Tally Gotliv Indicted for Shin Bet Disclosure

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, explosions were heard on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz as air defenses were triggered, with the cause not confirmed and no official comment yet. Pro-regime footage circulated showing protesters waving Iranian flags and chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to the United Arab Emirates." Drones were reported over Qeshm on Monday, prompting air defenses to be activated, and local media said air-defense systems were activated again on Tuesday morning. A Truth Social post attributed to President Donald Trump said Gulf-state leaders had requested that he hold off on strikes against Iran.

Kurdish families displaced from Afrin in 2018 are slowly returning to their homes, though the process remains gradual. About 150,000 Kurds were forced to flee when Turkey and Syrian rebel groups moved into Afrin, which Ankara had described as run by “terrorists.” Turkish-backed rebels formed the Syrian National Army as a proxy force for Ankara. After the Assad regime fell in 2024, changes began to take shape: Turkey grew less concerned about alleged terrorists, and a new Ankara-friendly government formed in Syria. Damascus clashed with the US-backed Kurdish-led SDF, but there was room for compromise, including a March 2024 meeting between SDF leader Mazloum Abdi and Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa; clashes in January had led to an agreement to integrate the SDF into the new Syrian security forces.

In northern Gaza, the Israeli military said it destroyed a Hamas weapons depot and a rocket-launching tunnel. The depot housed dozens of weapons of various kinds, including more than 20 mortar rounds, launchers, Kalashnikov rifles, and other combat gear. The rocket-launching tunnel and its weapons were intended to strike Israeli forces along the Yellow Line and Israeli civilians, and were destroyed to remove the immediate threat. Israeli forces in the south remain deployed in line with the security arrangement and will continue operations to remove any immediate danger.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the attorney-general’s office filed an indictment against Likud MK Tally Gotliv for allegedly disclosing and publishing confidential information in violation of the Shin Bet law after she publicized the identity of Shikma Bressler’s partner, who was described as a Shin Bet employee. Gotliv posted on X praising the attorney-general and argued that the exposure was part of fulfilling her role. The indictment states she published a January 24, 2024 screenshot with the partner’s full name and claims tying him to contacts with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar before the October 7 attacks. The document was sent to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the Knesset House Committee chair, giving Gotliv the opportunity to seek immunity from prosecution.

A contentious bill to split the attorney-general’s role into separate positions advanced to its first reading in the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, in a unanimous vote of nine in favor. Opponents argued the move is unlawful, but the committee’s legal adviser allowed the process to proceed. The bill is expected to reach the plenum soon for its first reading, ahead of the Knesset dissolution vote anticipated on Wednesday. If it passes first reading, progress can continue under the continuity motion; if not, passage would not carry over into the next Knesset.

Declassified IDF testimony shows Brigadier-General “G” told the High Court of Justice that incoming Mossad chief Major-General Roman Gofman denied in 2022 that he approved the transfer of division intelligence to Telegram channels, a matter central to petitions against Gofman’s appointment. Gofman headed the IDF Intelligence Directorate’s Operational Activation Division from August 2021 to September 2024. The affidavit describes the authority over using intelligence materials for influence operations and notes that his account drew on a contemporaneous summary prepared by his assistant who listened to the conversation.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel is sending its largest Knesset delegation to New York’s annual Israel parade, with three ministers and 13 Knesset members from both coalition and opposition expected to participate as organizers coordinate heavy security amid concerns about antisemitic incidents. Tensions surrounding New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are cited as a factor that could influence crowd turnout.

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-896690
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-896691
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1323349
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-896701
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-896699
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896696
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjek7y5jml