Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-02 at 20:01

HEADLINES
Trump hints at resuming Iran strikes
Israel weighs Gaza revival amid Hamas talks
Manasseh’s descendants begin 2700-year aliyah

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said there is the possibility the United States could restart strikes on Iran. He spoke to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, leaving open the option if Tehran misbehaves.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump said in a Truth Social post that he would be reviewing a plan sent by Iran and that he can’t imagine it would be acceptable given that Iran has not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to humanity and the world over the last 47 years. He told reporters that he would review the exact wording of the concept of the deal with Iran and suggested he would like to eliminate the remaining 15% of Iran’s missile-making capabilities after previously saying that US and Israeli strikes had destroyed 85%. He added that the possibility of restarting strikes against Iran was there if they misbehave, but did not commit to strikes in the near future. He also noted that the United States would withdraw more than 5,000 US troops from Germany, saying, “We’re going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.” A senior Iranian official said fighting with the US was likely to resume after Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Tehran’s new proposal.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel’s security cabinet has been summoned to discuss the possibility of reviving fighting in Gaza, with a Sunday discussion expected, as officials look for concrete steps toward disarming Hamas and installing a new technocratic government. Hamas reportedly submitted its response to the Board of Peace high representative Nickolay Mladenov’s disarmament plan, including stipulations regarding weapons and a demand for a full ceasefire and a complete IDF withdrawal based on an agreed timetable. The Gaza Board of Peace denied rumors that it planned to close its Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, saying the center is continuing its aid work. In a separate ruling, Israel’s High Court of Justice said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir cannot bar representatives from the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service from appearing before Knesset committees, and that a minister’s personal attendance does not replace the need for professional officials to answer lawmakers’ questions. The ruling was welcomed by MK Meirav Cohen as a win for parliamentary accountability.

In Uplifting News, Manasseh’s children come home to Zion — and fulfill a 2,700-year promise — as hundreds of members of the Bnei Menashe community from northeastern India begin a historic aliyah that traces back to the Tribe of Manasseh, exiled centuries ago and now returning to Israel. Hiking the Holy Land: Solitary creatures at the edge of the wilderness describes morning forays in the Gush Etzion hills, where red foxes are common, their mating season in late winter producing cubs by March and requiring continued hunting by both parents into spring. BGU student initiates website that connects protected space owners with unprotected neighbors highlights Tamir Cohen, a biomedical engineering student at Ben-Gurion University, who created “Angels of the Shelter,” a platform linking shelter owners willing to open their homes during alarms with people seeking protection, addressing a gap where more than a third of Israelis live without access to standard protected space against ballistic missiles from Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen.

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-there-possibility-us-could-restart-strikes-iran
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-894897
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-894895
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894894
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894755
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-894885
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-894884