Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-20 at 23:01

HEADLINES
Oil Surges as Iran Tensions Roil Markets
Iranian Cargo Ship Seized, Hormuz Tensions Rise
Michigan Dems Back Makled Amid Israel Debate

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, oil prices jumped and global equities fell as markets grew more wary that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran might not hold while tensions over the Strait of Hormuz intensified. Brent crude rose about 5% to $94.92 a barrel, and the MSCI world index was down roughly 0.26%, with Europe’s STOXX 600 off about 1.1% as Asia’s markets shrugged off risks and advanced. S&P 500 futures were about 0.54% lower. Traders also watched the claim by the United States that it seized an Iranian cargo ship trying to breach its blockade, while Tehran promised retaliation; Iran has alternated lifting and restoring its own blockade on marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping through the strait remained near standstill, with just three crossings in 12 hours. Data from Kpler showed more than 20 vessels carrying oil products, metals, gas, and fertilizer passed through the strait on Saturday, the busiest day for the chokepoint since March 1.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Michigan Democrats backed pro-Palestinian attorney Amir Makled for the University of Michigan Board of Regents, a move seen as part of a broader shift within the state’s Democratic ranks amid polls showing many voters disapprove of Israel. Makled will replace Jordan Acker, who is not seeking reelection, after the party endorsed Makled despite an earlier setback following revelations about his social media activity. Makled is aligned with progressive US Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his Israel criticisms. In a pretaped CNN interview aired Sunday, El-Sayed called the Israeli government “evil” alongside Hamas and said, “Killing tens of thousands of people makes you pretty damn evil.” Just before the convention, Makled deleted posts that included retweets of Candace Owens, memes with antisemitic connotations, and references to former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

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/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-893658
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-893661