Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-24 at 16:01

HEADLINES
- Hezbollah Refuses Disarmament Lebanon Shield
- Iranian Regime Telegram Recruitment Britain Protests
- Oil Shock Fears Drive Gulf Iran Warnings

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem used Resistance and Liberation Day to insist there is no disarmament of Hezbollah, arguing that disarming would strip Lebanon of its defensive capability and amount to extermination that the group cannot accept. He also praised Hezbollah’s FPV drones, saying they made Israel dizzy and listing attacks on IDF officers, while criticizing the United States as not a true mediator and condemning sanctions, and voicing support for Iran and Gaza while denouncing Bahrain’s crackdown on the IRGC. Separately, a reporting detail describes an operation believed to be run by the Iranian regime that is using Telegram to recruit Britain-based individuals to organize anti-Israel protests and publish anti-Zionist and antisemitic posters, offering money and seeking to enlist more participants with claimed ties to Iranian intelligence.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Gulf states argued that restarting a war against Iran would impose heavy costs on their economies and security, urging President Trump to avoid an attack to prevent an oil-price shock ahead of the midterm elections and predicting he would seek a negotiated outcome instead. Israeli officials, meanwhile, warned that the emerging framework could limit Israel’s freedom of action in Lebanon and across the region if an agreement is reached. Analysts noted that the framework could extend a ceasefire by 30 or 60 days, though final decisions would hinge on moves by both sides, and Israeli officials said ultimate blocking power would rest with Iran’s Supreme Leader.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Liberman warned that any Iran deal would be a catastrophe and would leave all the ayatollahs in power, criticizing Netanyahu for letting Trump drive issues concerning Iran and Lebanon without pushing Israel’s position and saying Netanyahu had turned Israel into a banana republic. Netanyahu, for his part, said he discussed with Trump a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to negotiate a final Iran nuclear agreement.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, authorities reported a suspect was arrested after months-long antisemitic and threatening graffiti spree at San José State University, with messages targeting Jewish, Muslim, Black, and Asian students since fall 2025; university leadership condemned the acts as causing real harm and pledged solidarity while increasing campus patrols.

In Uplifting News, Herzog presented the Jerusalem Unity Prize 2026 to individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing mutual respect and tolerance and working toward harmony in the societies where they live, honoring a legacy linked to the 2014 abduction and killing of three teenagers that sparked a global outpouring of support and national unity.

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-897173
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897132
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897180
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897174
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897170
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897179
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897178
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897177