Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-24 at 13:01

HEADLINES
Iran Demands Hormuz Reopening in US Deal
Herzog Warns Israel Faces Brutalization
ActBlue Drops Texas Zionist Imprisonment Pledge

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, a pair of developments shaping the Middle East’s risk landscape are moving in tandem. Experts told The Jerusalem Post that the United States must not allow the nuclear issue to be sidelined in any agreement intended to ease financial pressure on the Islamic regime, warning that control over the Strait of Hormuz would be a lifeline for Tehran. In Tehran’s counter-proposal circulated to Pakistan, reportedly relayed via Axios, the regime demanded the unrestricted sale of its oil, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an end to Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, and the release of some of the regime’s frozen assets. In return, Washington and Tehran would sign a memorandum of understanding under which, for 60 days, no tolls would be imposed on vessels passing through the Strait, and Iran would reportedly sweep some of the mines it laid, with reports suggesting a nuclear discussion could follow. Separately, security officials warn that a deal with Iran could be a disaster for Israel, potentially granting the regime an economic and security lifeline exactly at a moment of its hardest crisis.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog described an ongoing process of brutalization in Israeli society during the Jerusalem Unity Prize awards at the President’s Residence, warning that violence is not the only threat as a disturbing drift toward brutality edges toward the mainstream. He cited rises in Arab-Israeli murders and the violence attributed to a lawless mob in Judea and Samaria, alongside recent acts of violence against Christians and Muslims, urging that unity begins with humanity and the protection of human dignity as the foundation of the country. Separately, Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, president of Ohr Torah Stone, says the Haredi refusal to serve in the IDF amounts to a breach of Jewish law and leaves “blood on the hands” of those who opt out, while defending women’s participation in combat units and explaining why his schools reroute Jerusalem Day marches away from the Muslim Quarter. In politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered advertising executive Yuval Horowitz, known for helping create the IDF’s Oct. 7 atrocities film and for leading Netanyahu’s UN QR code campaign, a role in managing Likud’s election campaign; the offer predates Operation Roaring Lion, though it now appears unlikely to move forward. Horowitz has served as a Keshet executive and received a Chief of Staff’s Award for his work during the fighting, and the film Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre has been drawn from Hamas body-camera footage, dash cams, CCTV, and victims’ videos, with its graphic material typically restricted to private screenings for policymakers and journalists.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, ActBlue cut off Texas Democratic candidate Maureen Galindo after she pledged to imprison Zionists. The donation page for Galindo’s campaign was not accepting donations as of Sunday, with her campaign shifting to a Quick Contribute platform and accusing ActBlue of shutting down the page amid statements described as lies and defamation. Democrats condemned her remarks, including calls to arrest Zionists, as her fundraising page remained deactivated and her campaign site pivoted to alternative fundraising channels.

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-897162
https://t.me/newssil/202199
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897160
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-897146
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-897151
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897157