Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-22 at 15:01

HEADLINES
1) Hormuz Blockade Deepens Sailor Suffering
2) France Pushes UN Resolution to Free Hormuz
3) Democrats Oppose Israel Aid, Poll Finds

The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Iran's intensified closure of Strait of Hormuz piles misery on stranded sailors. Iran’s publication of a new map asserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz risks extending an already punishing ordeal for thousands of mariners trapped on ships in the Gulf. More than 20,000 sailors are stuck on around 2,000 vessels in the Gulf, many of them unable to leave their ships, lacking adequate supplies of food and fresh water, and fearful of an uncertain future at sea in a war zone. Sailors interviewed by Reuters described the hardships and anxieties of their experience, and a federation representing them warns of dire conditions. “The only thing we do here is plan how to spend the night and pray to God that we do not get hit during an attack,” Indian sailor Salman Siddiqui said by phone from his stranded ship last month. When Reuters traveled on a resupply boat to vessels moored off the Saudi coast this week, sailors on a tanker gathered by the handrail to wave, a rare moment of contact with the outside world. For nearly three months, the sailors trapped in the Gulf have led isolated lives, each with a small group of shipmates, moving between tiny living quarters, communal dining areas, and scorching, sun-baked decks. Tehran closed the Strait and a new map asserting control risks prolonging the sailors’ ordeal; the scene is set in a war zone with oil markets watching closely.

France readies UN resolution on Hormuz as vote on US text stalls. France has drafted a UN Security Council resolution to establish an international mission to restore movement in the Strait of Hormuz and could submit it if conditions are right, the foreign ministry said on Friday, as Washington struggles to bring a text to a vote that Russia and China may say is biased against Tehran. Control of the narrow waterway, a vital artery for global energy trade whose virtual closure has led to spiraling oil prices, is a major obstacle in talks to end the three-month-old US-Iran war. A US-Bahraini resolution on the Strait has been under discussion for more than two weeks, with a vote repeatedly delayed as China and Russia signal they could veto it. The US-backed text has drawn broad international support, with almost 140 countries co-sponsoring, while France has thus far refused to back the US proposal. There is a draft resolution between the US and Bahrain currently under discussion, forming the basis of the ongoing discussions as Western powers seek a path forward to restore freedom of movement in the Strait.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Pakistan military chief arrives in Tehran in push to end Iran war. Pakistan’s powerful army chief arrived in Tehran on Friday, with Islamabad mediating as the Islamic republic examines a new US proposal to end the Middle East war. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the visit did not necessarily mean “we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation,” adding that the disagreements between Iran and the United States were “deep and extensive.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier voiced hope of progress on ending the war, which broke out on February 28 when the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran. A ceasefire on April 8 halted the conflict, but negotiation efforts, including historic face-to-face talks hosted in Islamabad, have so far failed to yield a lasting agreement. Pakistan’s military said Munir had arrived in Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts and had been welcomed by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and other officials.

It's an important time: Trump cancels son’s wedding trip as Tehran warns breakthrough is far off. Pakistan’s army chief and a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran as reports of a possible US-Iran draft deal surfaced, but Iran warned the gaps remain “deep,” insisting talks on enriched uranium must wait until the war ends. The moment underscores how unsettled the path to any breakthrough remains, even as external mediators press for progress and domestic political calculations in Washington and Tehran churn in the background.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Three-quarters of Democrats oppose aid to Israel, poll finds. A survey by The New York Times and the Siena Research Institute found that 74% of Democratic voters opposed providing additional economic and military support to Israel, while 20% were in favor. The poll also showed 60% sympathizing more with the Palestinians and 15% with Israel. Additionally, 48% said the party has been “too supportive of Israel,” 34% said backing is “about right,” and 90% disapproved of President Donald Trump’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with 94% opposing his approach to the war with Iran. A sizable share of respondents, 84%, said the war with Iran was not worth the costs.

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/article-897022
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897023
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/pakistan-military-chief-arrives-tehran-push-end-iran-war
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjeqczrkgx
https://www.timesofisrael.com/three-quarters-of-democrats-oppose-aid-to-israel-poll-finds/