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

HEADLINES
Iran vows Gulf sovereignty, demands US exit
US weighs strikes on Iran's infrastructure
Spain summons Israel over Gaza flotilla detentions

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei's message was read on state television and posted on his official X account, in which Iranians are described as safeguarding the regime's nuclear and missile technologies as national assets and vowing to expel foreign forces. The speech says Iranians will safeguard these assets just as they do their maritime, land, and airspace borders, and it speaks of a new chapter for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz unfolding. It asserts that the United States' presence and establishment in the Persian Gulf is the main source of instability in the region, dismissing US bases as lacking resilience and capability to ensure security. The statement envisions a brilliant future for the Persian Gulf region without the United States, with progress, comfort, and prosperity for its nations, and it says the peoples of the region share a common destiny with neighbors around the Gulf waters.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump told Newsmax that Iran would use a nuclear weapon if it had one and said stronger guarantees are needed to prevent that outcome, arguing that the regime must never be allowed a nuclear capability. He claimed that the United States has already dismantled much of Iran's military, including its navy, air force, anti-aircraft equipment, radar, and leadership, and asserted that only a solid guarantee against nuclear development would secure lasting peace. He also cited the achievements of Operation Epic Fury as evidence of American action. Separately, Trump was reportedly briefed on new military options against Iran by CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, with discussions describing a focused escalation that could include a short, powerful wave of strikes on Iranian infrastructure, a possible operation to seize control of parts of the Strait of Hormuz to restore shipping, and a special-forces mission to secure Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. The proposals are framed as a rapid, decisive “final blow” without a prolonged campaign, and US Senator Richard Blumenthal indicated an imminent strike is very much on the table.

In Regional Impacts, Spain’s Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires Dana Erlich after Israel's seizure of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla, with the detentions totaling 175 activists, including 31 Spanish citizens. The flotilla had sailed from Barcelona in mid-April, and Spain’s Albares remained in contact with the flotilla organizers and the foreign ministers of countries with citizens aboard. Protests erupted outside Israel’s Consulate in Barcelona late Thursday night, with about 400 people participating, initially forming a march in support of the detained activists. In Syria-related trade, Russia has emerged as Syria’s primary oil supplier despite a Western pivot, underscoring Moscow’s continued influence and the economic constraints facing Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Maine Governor Janet Mills dropped out of the Democratic primary for US Senate, clearing the path for anti-establishment candidate Graham Platner to face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Mills said financial pressures made it impossible to sustain a competitive statewide campaign, noting she lacked the resources required today. Platner has built his campaign on an anti-establishment message and has drawn scrutiny, in part for rhetoric on the Middle East, as he positions himself in contrast to Mills and in the race against Collins.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, retired and sitting Israeli judges describe life beneath the robe, including isolation, fear, and rising public distrust, while rejecting claims that judicial appointments are driven by cliques or connections.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, British police charged a 45-year-old man with two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in relation to an antisemitic stabbing in Golders Green, north London. The attack contributed to the United Kingdom’s elevation of the national terrorism threat level to severe. Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged stronger action to protect Jewish people, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned what he called a horrific wave of antisemitism and Jew-hatred, noting that the UK must actively fight incitement against Jews.

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/iran-news/article-894827
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-894818
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-briefed-on-final-blow-iran-strike-plans/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894824
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h19tmjm0bl
https://worldisraelnews.com/janet-mills-drops-out-of-maine-senate-democratic-primary-clearing-path-for-anti-israel-candidate-graham-platner/
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/b1dyz0tpbl
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894821