Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-21 at 08:02

HEADLINES
Israel Launches NILI to Pursue Hamas
Hezbollah rockets hit Debel, Lebanon
Ireland to curb West Bank settlement trade

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Israel established elite task force to hunt down terrorists who took part in Oct. 7 - report, the unit is named NILI. NILI, an acronym for Netzach Yisrael Lo Yeshaker, signals that no victim will be forgotten. The Wall Street Journal reports the task force aims to locate and kill or capture every Hamas participant, from the lowest rung to the leadership. NILI maintains a list of thousands of names, with many already crossed off. Shalom Ben Hanan, a former Shin Bet official, said the message to future enemies is that they should rethink the price of such an operation. The WSJ described the reach of the effort, including examples of operatives linked to the attack who were targeted years later.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, rockets launched yesterday and today by Hezbollah into Israel fell in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon. Fadi Felfle, the local priest, reported on these incidents.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israeli sources to Reuters say Trump promised Israel that the enriched uranium would leave Iran, and any possible deal would include this clause. The claim, attributed to Israeli sources speaking to Reuters, notes that this condition would be part of any future agreement.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Poland's foreign minister calls to ban Ben-Gvir from entering country as flotilla storm continues. Poland’s foreign ministry spokesperson said there is a plan to bar National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering Poland, amid outrage over the detention of Gaza flotilla activists, including Polish nationals. Consular access was sought for detainees, and two Polish nationals were detained with repatriation expected on Thursday night; Minister Sikorski said he would press the Interior Ministry to implement the ban. Separately, police in southern Israel will deploy drones to aid in the fight against crime. The drones, capable of vertical takeoff and landing and flying tens of kilometers with day and night surveillance, are designed to provide real-time data and broad, continuous coverage to help prevent major crime. Funded by the National Security Ministry and approved by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Danny Levi, the system is described by authorities as a game-changing addition to field operations and intelligence sharing.

In Israeli Economy and Business, All city buses in Eilat, Kiryat Shmona to be replaced with electric ones by end of 2026. As part of the Green Cities project, Egged and the Transportation Ministry will replace about 40 buses in Eilat and roughly 20 in Kiry Shmona with electric models by year-end, bringing Egged’s total electric fleet to about 900 buses nationwide, including 200 intercity buses. The effort follows pilots in Carmiel and Dimona, and charging infrastructure will be installed at Egged’s depot with support from the Transportation Ministry; routes will also be extended from the city centers to Ramon Airport. In Kiryat Shmona, about 20 electric buses are planned. Ireland will also weigh in on the economic landscape, with Foreign Minister Helen McEntee saying Ireland will introduce a bill in coming weeks to curb trade with settlements in the West Bank. The bill’s scope has been the subject of debate, with opposition urging inclusion of services in addition to goods; Spain has already enacted similar curbs, and Ireland has discussed extending the scope beyond goods alongside plans with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. The proposed measure has drawn scrutiny from Israel and US lawmakers and faces a complex legal and diplomatic landscape.

In Building Israel, delivering returns: Inside Keystone’s infrastructure strategy, Keystone Infra is positioned as a gateway for investors seeking long-term exposure to Israel’s infrastructure economy. The firm emphasizes public-private partnerships to finance, build, and operate infrastructure through Build-Operate-Transfer arrangements for revenue-based projects such as toll roads, bridges, and power plants. Since its founding in 2019, Keystone Infra has expanded into power, transportation, and data centers and remains a notable player on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s TA-90 index, led by Navot Bar, its CEO and co-founder, who describes the company as an infrastructure powerhouse for national projects.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-896955
https://t.me/selena_updates/64146
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76585
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896966
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-896959
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896964
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896961
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-896930