Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-01 at 00:02

HEADLINES
Senate grills Hegseth on Kuwait base vulnerabilities
West Bank checkpoint clash leaves suspect injured
Ceasefire holds as US says hostilities ended

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced a grilling at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing as Representative Patrick Ryan of New York pressed him on the handling of security at Kuwaiti bases during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Ryan questioned what he described as a vulnerability revealed by an Iranian drone attack that killed six US Army Reserve soldiers in early March, saying the base had “no counter-drone capabilities, no counter-rocket systems, no counter-mortar or counter-artillery.” A survivor recalled the base was “unprepared to provide any defense for itself,” and another described the protection as “about as weak as one gets.” Hegseth countered that before Epic Fury the bases in the region were “put in maximum defensive posture,” a claim Ryan labeled a direct contradiction to the testimonies of troops present at the time of the attack. Hegseth interrupted Ryan at one point, prompting the question, “Can I speak, or are you just going to monologue falsehoods.”

In Regional Impacts, police opened fire at the wheels of a stolen vehicle after the driver breached a checkpoint, struck a patrol car, and sped toward IDF forces in the West Bank. The suspect is receiving medical treatment as authorities launch an investigation to clarify the circumstances. The incident follows a pattern of checkpoint incidents, including a April episode in which about 20 Palestinians breached entrances to enter Jenin refugee camp, with dozens of barricades breached and several people detained as part of IDF operations in the area.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a senior official in the administration said that for War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on February 28 have terminated. The statement comes as the US-Iran ceasefire, in effect since early April, has halted active fighting for the purposes of congressional war-power deadlines, though officials noted that the timing of any extension or new authorizations remains a matter of congressional consideration. The official also noted that there has been no exchange of fire since the fragile ceasefire began more than three weeks ago, and that the 1973 War Powers law allows the president 60 days to wage military action unless Congress is notified or a shorter extension is issued for unavoidable military necessity.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Editor’s Notes say Israel shifted decisively to the right after October 7, while Naftali Bennett has moved left in the political landscape as he and Yair Lapid announced a merger of their parties. Analysts say the new Together list is expected to win about 25 seats, with Likud at around 28; Eisenkot’s Yashar trails at about 13, placing the anti-Netanyahu bloc at roughly 55 seats and Netanyahu’s bloc at about the same, leaving the overall picture deadlocked. The merger is aimed at unifying opponents of Netanyahu, but the arithmetic remains unsettled and the political dynamic continues to defy easy coalition formation. Separately, in a separate line of commentary, the piece notes that the country faces a troubling example of youth crime, with a 21-year-old man killed and teenagers arrested in Petah Tikva, prompting questions about social factors and public safety, and calling for responsible reporting and policy responses to protect communities and address root causes.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis urged that the silent majority raise their voices, stressing that the time has come for broader public engagement in confronting antisemitism and defending Jewish life in the United Kingdom.

In Uplifting News, Sheryl Sandberg announced the endowment of a new scholarship fund at Camp Ramah in California in honor of her late husband, Dave Goldberg. Sandberg noted that Ramah was formative for Goldberg, shaping friendships and Jewish identity, and described his belief that “More children deserve a summer like that,” a sentiment carried forward with the support of Goldberg’s brother Rob and Sandberg’s current husband, Tom Bernthal. The scholarship honors Goldberg’s impact and aims to extend similar opportunities to other campers.

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/international/article-894808
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894816
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894814
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894790
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894787
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53729
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894810