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

HEADLINES
Trump plans troop pullout from Spain Italy
IDF dog Bernie killed saving troops
Odesa strike destroys Jewish school and orphanage

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

In US Military Role, President Trump said he probably will pull US troops out of Spain and Italy, telling that Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.

In Regional Impacts, a US official said that for War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28, have terminated, describing the ongoing ceasefire as ending those hostilities for the purposes of the deadline. The official noted there has been no exchange of fire between the US armed forces and Iran since the ceasefire began more than three weeks ago, and that analysts had expected Trump to notify Congress of a 30‑day extension or to disregard the deadline, with the administration arguing the ceasefire marked an end to the conflict. The 1973 War Powers Act allows the president 60 days to wage military action before ending it, with a possible 30‑day extension for unavoidable military necessity. Separately, at a Senate hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was pressed over security at Kuwaiti bases during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Representative Patrick Ryan quoted a survivor who said the base was unprepared, claiming there was no counter‑drone, counter‑rocket, counter‑mortar, or counter‑artillery capability prior to the March drone attack that killed six US Army Reserve soldiers. Hegseth defended the posture, saying bases in the region were in maximum defensive posture before Epic Fury, a point Ryan disputed as inconsistent with troops’ testimony. The exchange ended with Hegseth asking a pointed question about whether he could speak instead of being met with a monologue of “falsehoods.”

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an IDF military dog named Bernie was killed in Southern Lebanon after exposing Hezbollah terrorists lying in wait inside a building, preventing what could have been a deadly ambush on Israeli troops. Bernie, from the IDF’s Oketz unit, advanced through the structure, engaged the terrorists, and was fatally shot. The surrounding gunfire exposed the ambush, with terrorists later found positioned with weapons and grenades. Commanders said Bernie’s actions likely saved the lives of nearby troops, and the unit, founded in 1974, continues its work across fronts with trained dogs paired with handlers.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Lazar Research poll conducted with Panel4All shows Naftali Bennett and Yesh atively Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu in suitability for prime minister, with 46% backing Bennett and 44% backing Eisenkot, while 41% support Netanyahu. In head‑to‑head tests, Eisenkot leads Bennett 33% to 32%, with 35% undecided. Regarding the Together Party and the union with opposition leader Yair Lapid, the poll notes the party as the largest on the slate, though last week's poll had Bennett and Lapid together at 31 seats and the latest survey places the two former prime ministers at 28 seats. The poll also shows the anti‑Netanyahu Zionist bloc at 55 seats, the Netanyahu bloc at 55, and Arab parties at 10. An accompanying analysis notes that Bennett’s move to lead the Together list aims to break the bloc deadlock, but the arithmetic remains challenging and the outlook remains uncertain.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a Russian strike hit Jewish life in Odesa, destroying a Jewish school and the Mishpacha Ukraine orphanage. Caregivers rushed children to safety seconds before the explosion, and the orphanage, which shelters 124 children, remains at risk along with elderly Holocaust survivors. The school is unusable, and the broader impact on Jewish institutions in the region continues to unfold.

In Uplifting News, Sheryl Sandberg announced she is endowing a new scholarship fund at Camp Ramah in California in honor of her late husband, Dave Goldberg. Sandberg says Ramah is where Goldberg built lasting friendships, developed independence, and formed his Jewish identity, experiences that were nourished by the synagogue scholarship that enabled his attendance. Goldberg, the former CEO of SurveyMonkey, died in 2015 after a head trauma incident, and his brother Rob joined Sandberg and her husband Tom Bernthal in announcing the new scholarship to ensure more children can enjoy a Ramah summer.

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://t.me/JewishNews24/53731
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894814
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894808
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-dog-killed-after-exposing-hezbollah-terrorists-saving-troops/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894817
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894816
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894790
https://worldisraelnews.com/children-saved-jewish-school-orphanage-hit-in-odesa-strike/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894810