Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-20 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Iran tightens Hormuz control as tanker passes
Lebanon attack wounds Brigade commander three soldiers
Bereaved petition to preserve Kfar Aza site

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 Iran is consolidating control of Hormuz with checkpoints, diplomatic deals, and fees, a pattern described in current reporting. The 330-meter tanker Agios Fanourios I, carrying Iraqi crude to Vietnam, moved along a route Iran designated, hugging the coastline and threading between island checkpoints in the Strait of Hormuz. The voyage followed a direct deal overseen by Iraq’s prime minister. Iran’s orders to the tanker are part of a multi-tiered mechanism for clearing vessels through the Strait, with government-to-government arrangements, intense vetting by Iranian authorities, and sometimes fees in exchange for safe passage. In Vietnam, Iraq, Greece, and beyond, observers monitored the ship’s progress, including two people interviewed. Periodically the transponder went dark, but the Agios Fanourios I kept on. Not far away that same day, another ship was struck by a projectile, causing a small fire, according to a British maritime safety agency.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, three soldiers were wounded by an explosive drone during operations in southern Lebanon. The injured were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and their families were notified. The IDF’s 401st Brigade Commander, Colonel Meir Biderman, was severely injured, and one reserve officer was moderately injured, while a second non-commissioned officer was lightly injured. The injured were evacuated for medical care, and as Biderman undergoes treatment, his position will be temporarily filled by the Brigade Chief of Staff, Colonel (Res.) H. Biderman. Biderman’s predecessor and the brigade’s previous commander, Colonel Ehsan Daxa, was killed in combat in northern Gaza on October 20, 2024. This remains a developing story.

In Trump says Netanyahu 'will do whatever I want him to do,' amid concerns of Iran war restarting, the tone from the United States centers on a close, high-stakes relationship. US President Donald Trump said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will “do whatever I want him to do” and praised the premier as “a very good man,” while noting cooperation on Iran and differences over domestic politics. He said, “Don’t forget he’s a wartime prime minister, and he’s not treated right in Israel, in my opinion.” He added that the two are coordinating efforts on Iran and, when asked about a limited deal that would cover just the Strait of Hormuz, he said, “We’d have to open the Strait; that would open immediately. We’re gonna give this one shot. I’m in no hurry.” He also remarked, “Ideally, I’d like to see a few people killed, as opposed to a lot. We could do it either way, but I’d like to see few people killed.”

In Bereaved families petition High Court to preserve Kfar Aza massacre site, bereaved families from Kibbutz Kfar Aza filed a petition with the High Court of Justice seeking to halt evacuation, demolition, or relocation of the kibbutz’s “Young Generation” neighborhood, one of the most recognizable and devastated sites of the October 7 massacre. The petition was filed by parents of five young residents of the neighborhood—Sivan Elkabetz, Naor Hassidim, Aviad Edri, Nirel Zini, and Yotam Haim—who were murdered or abducted by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023 attack. They asked the court to issue an interim injunction barring demolition or relocation until the state completes a formal administrative process on the fate of the site and to explain why the neighborhood should not be preserved in its original location as a national heritage or memorial site. “Their loved ones’ homes are the scenes of the murder, fighting and abduction themselves,” the petition reads, calling the buildings “the last physical remains of the horror that took place there.” Kfar Aza was among the communities hit hardest on October 7; some 64 kibbutz members were killed.

In "'He stabbed me and shouted Allahu akbar': Rabbi stabbed in Ramat Gan attack recounts ordeal," Rabbi Gedaliahu Ben-Shimon recounted the moments two months after a stabbing near a shelter in Ramat Gan. He described how, after returning from the shelter following a siren, an attacker shouted “Allahu akbar” and stabbed him. He described crying out “Shema Yisrael” during the struggle as life hung in the balance. At the scene, Hatzalah volunteers moved quickly; ICU nurse Bentzi Forgas coordinated timely hospital care to save his life and remained on scene to help ensure he received urgent treatment.

In Ben-Gurion Canal: Israel needs a Suez alternative, the Ben-Gurion Canal offers one - opinion, the argument is that a strategic shipping corridor linking Eilat to the Mediterranean near Ashkelon or Ashdod would provide a viable alternative to the Suez Canal. The piece argues that the global trade system faces instability and that Egypt’s role in regional tensions and weapons movements into Gaza raises concerns about relying on a single route. It contends this project would bolster Israel’s economy and its strategic standing, framing the canal as a geopolitical doctrine rather than a purely engineering concept and calling for action to diversify global trade routes.

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-896851
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-896855
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896856
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896861
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-896840
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896624