Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-07 at 21:02

HEADLINES
US strikes Iranian sites amid Gulf escalation
IDF women recount near-death Gaza ambush
GW probes Israel Fest chemical threat

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Trump: ceasefire still in effect after mutual 'love tap' strikes, Iranian forces launched missiles, drones and boats at US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States said it intercepted and struck Iranian sites in response, and explosions followed in southern Iran as wider Gulf tensions mount and Tehran blames the UAE, a claim Abu Dhabi denies.

In Regional Impacts, 'They kept shooting at us while I kept driving': Female soldiers recall near-death Gaza incident, three female soldiers from the IDF's Border Protection Corps spoke with Channel 12's 'Uvda' about the April 2025 Gaza ambush that left two of them severely wounded and exposed failures in sending them without a convoy, recounting an attack by 11 terrorists in an unarmored jeep near Beit Hanun, with a rocket-propelled grenade fired, the vehicle overturning while they remained under fire, Linor the medic and drone operator losing her leg, Stav the driver, and Rokach the company commander describing the harrowing moments and the sense of helplessness as the situation unfolded.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Bennett files defamation lawsuit against MKs, Channel 14, for mental illness claims, former prime minister Naftali Bennett filed a NIS 2 million defamation lawsuit against Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, MK Ohad Tal, and Channel 14 over claims that he took psychiatric medications to function, arguing Channel 14 is a propaganda channel masquerading as news and accusing Silman of remarks that questioned his mental state, including statements about pills in red boxes.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, GW University investigates possible chemical attack on student-led Israel festival, as the university says it will examine whether attendees were targeted based on their Jewish faith after vials containing an unknown substance were dropped at Israel Fest on campus, injuring at least one student and prompting a law-enforcement-backed probe; and Real estate magnate Steven Roth likens Mamdani’s ‘tax the rich’ to ‘from the river to the sea,’ saying the rhetoric is as hateful as racial slurs and criticizing the mayor’s pied-à-terre tax move, remarks made during an earnings call for Vornado Realty Trust while voicing support for Ken Griffin and condemning the public display.

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.ynetnews.com/article/hytsq00qcbg
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895541
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895539
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895546
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895547