Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-23 at 23:01

HEADLINES
- Iran peace deal nears, Hormuz to reopen
- IDF sergeant killed by Hezbollah drone
- Usyk retains heavyweight titles after controversial stoppage

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

In Regional Impacts, a largely negotiated memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping lane whose closure upended global energy markets after the conflict began in February when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, though Iran’s Fars news agency disputes the claim. The president said final aspects and details of the deal are being discussed and will be announced shortly. Iran had indicated it was working toward a memorandum of understanding on ending the war after top officials met with Asim Munir, the army chief of Pakistan. In a separate note, the president reiterated that an agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization with the United States, Iran, and the various other countries listed.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Noam Hamburger, a 23-year-old from Atlit and a sergeant (ret.) who served as a technology and maintenance fighter in the 9th Battalion of the 401st Brigade, was killed yesterday by a Hezbollah explosive drone strike on an IDF position inside Israeli territory.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the United Nations legal office has warned that Israel’s plan to build a Defense Ministry complex on the site of a former UNRWA compound in east Jerusalem may be an escalatory step, while Israeli envoy Danny Danon says Israel will not be intimidated by legal threats.

In Uplifting News, Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight titles after a dramatic and controversial stoppage of Rico Verhoeven with a second left in the 11th round in Egypt, near the Great Pyramid of Giza. Verhoeven had appeared to hold the upper hand before Usyk forced a finish, and Verhoeven later said he believed the stoppage was premature. Usyk spoke of pride in his performance and left open the possibility of a rematch, while Verhoeven expressed respect and noted the extraordinary effort of both fighters as Ukrainians and others watched from bomb shelters and across a closed arena.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/trump-says-iran-deal-largely-negotiated-dispute-over-strait-reopening
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54708
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54711
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byoapkxxme
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/usyk-rocked-stopping-verhoeven-retain-heavyweight-belts