Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-04 at 13:03

HEADLINES
UAE intercepts missiles as Gulf tensions spike
American Jewish support for Iran war slides
IDF chief warns as army values tested

The time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, three Indian citizens were moderately wounded in an Iranian drone attack on Fujairah's oil industry complex in the United Arab Emirates, Fujairah's media office said on Monday. The UAE Defense Ministry later announced it had intercepted three missiles, with a fourth missile falling into the sea. The incident occurred as a fire broke out in the engine room of a cargo ship 36 kilometers north of Dubai, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) saying the crew were unharmed and the cause of the fire remains unknown. Also on Monday, a South Korean ship sailing near the Strait of Hormuz was attacked, according to a government official cited by Chosun Daily. In Oman, officials reported two injuries in a residential building following an Iranian attack. In response to the strikes, Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Israel entered a state of heightened alert and full operational readiness, with the UAE condemning the attacks and saying it reserves the right to respond. US President Donald Trump said Iran has just made a very big mistake and warned that Iran would be blown off the face of the earth if it attacks US ships escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, poll results show support for the Iran war among “connected” American Jews has fallen. The Jewish People Policy Institute found that in the early days of the conflict 68% supported the war, but that share declined to 60% after President Trump announced a unilateral ceasefire on April 8. The decline was sharpest among those who identify as leaning liberal, down from 57% to 42%. About a third opposed the war, and only 14% said the effort had achieved major success, based on a survey of 806 American Jews conducted April 15–19. Separately, President Trump told Fox News that if Iran attacks American ships, it will be wiped off the face of the earth, remarks made as tensions were rising after Iran’s earlier actions.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the war strain tests IDF values, but not its moral core. An unusually dramatic gathering saw the chief of staff convene senior officers for a “wake-up talk,” challenging them with the question, “Is this the army you want?” and warning that a patch of insignia misaligned with the service’s values signified a rebellion against those values. The piece argues that open, candid command discourse reflects a living military system seeking correction, even as troubling battlefield reports prompt intense media scrutiny. Separately, the High Court of Justice ordered Justice Minister Yariv Levin to update the court by Thursday on when he intends to convene the Judicial Selection Committee to fill vacancies in the magistrates’ and district courts, following a petition by the Movement for Quality Government. The court noted Levin’s plan to publish, by May 10, a list of candidates for certain judicial posts and to convene the committee thereafter, but did not accept that as a complete path forward.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, two arrested over Golders Green Iranian memorial wall arson. The Metropolitan Police said two Romford residents, a 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the Eternal Wall fire last Monday. The investigation adds to a tally of about 30 arrests in London linked to attacks on Jewish, Israeli and Iranian dissident sites since March, with nine charged and one convicted. Counter Terrorism Policing London said officers continue to work with partners to protect vulnerable communities and provide security advice and support, noting the threat level remains severe. In Norway, all mainstream Jewish organizations condemned the Holocaust Center for Holocaust revitalization, signing an open letter criticizing its framing of the Holocaust and Nakba as parallel traumas. The letter, signed by major Jewish bodies across the country, stressed that it is legitimate to acknowledge civilian suffering in armed conflicts while urging careful framing of such discussions.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the Finnish parliament struck down an initiative aimed at restricting weapons purchases from Israel. The proposal would have required defense procurements to be assessed for compliance with international human rights standards and broader policy considerations, in addition to performance, cost and security of supply. Finland’s public defense and security procurements are governed by competitive tendering under national law, and arms exports are regulated by the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. Finland has placed orders totaling more than 800 million euros for Israeli weapons, with the largest single purchase being the David’s Sling air defense system in 2023 for 316 million euros.

In Uplifting News, parents, not sirens, drive children’s stress levels during war, researchers say. A University of Haifa survey, summarized by TPS, found that while about 66% of parents reported three or more sirens per day, only 13.3% of children were observed to have high stress. Lead researcher Yael Mayer emphasized that children’s well-being was more closely tied to their parents’ emotional responses than to the frequency of sirens, highlighting the need for practical and emotional support for parents during emergencies.

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
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https://worldisraelnews.com/parents-not-sirens-drive-childrens-stress-levels-during-war-researchers-say/