Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-02 at 08:01

HEADLINES
AI Driven LOCHEM Accelerates Israel Iran War
Trump Rejects Iran Shipping Proposal
Two Teens Detained in Zalka Killing

The time is now 8:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Colonel Rotem Beshi, commander of the IDF unit known as Matzpen, described how artificial intelligence and big data intelligence have transformed the air force’s effectiveness in the war with Iran. He said the LOCHEM system managed all planning for attacks on Iran, coordinating with the air force’s Iran unit. Beshi noted that data gathering and decision-making that formerly took days can now occur in hours, and in some cases minutes, accelerating responses to emerging situations. He added that a brigade-sized IDF unit formed in December is addressing the spread of AI across the military, including Matzpen, as part of a broader AI initiative.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an Iranian proposal reportedly rejected by US President Donald Trump would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade of Iran, while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear program to resume later, according to a senior Iranian official. Trump said on Friday that he was “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest proposal, without detailing which elements he opposes. Washington has said it will not end the war without a deal that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon; Iran says its program is peaceful. Four weeks since the United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran, no deal has been reached to end the conflict, and Iran has been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf except its own for more than two months. The US has imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, police detained two new suspects on Saturday linked with the killing of Yemanu Binyamin Zalka, bringing the total to 14. The 15- and 17-year-olds became the 13th and 14th suspects, with authorities saying they knew their identities and that they participated in the attack where Zalka was killed. One suspect turned himself in after a manhunt in the Sharon area, while the other was apprehended by police. The investigation is being conducted at full strength, with authorities saying they aim to identify all involved and bring everyone to justice. The two new suspects will be questioned and later brought for a detention hearing.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Starmer says some pro-Palestinian marches should be banned after London attack. The British prime minister calls for prosecutions over chants to “globalize the intifada” after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, saying some protests may need to be blocked outright.

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/defense-and-tech/article-894775
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-894875
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894874
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjlzlimrwe