Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-05 at 18:03

HEADLINES
Israel Readies Eastward Response if Iran Strikes
US-Flag Tanker Exits Strait with Assets Nearby
Hamas-Board Gap Hinders Gaza Disarmament

The time is now 6:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, incoming Israeli Air Force chief Omer Tischler says the air force is closely monitoring developments in Iran and is prepared to deploy eastward if required, speaking at a handover ceremony where he replaced outgoing chief Tomer Bar after four years in the role. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir says the military is prepared to respond with force if Iran targets Israel, adding that forces are deployed across all sectors and remain in high readiness for any scenario. Speaking at an Israeli Air Force handover ceremony, Zamir said the IDF is closely monitoring developments in the Persian Gulf and is ready to act against any threat to Israel.

In US Military Role, the CS Anthem chemical tanker exited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, becoming the second US-flagged vessel known to transit with US military assets nearby, and Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax also exited the Gulf via the Strait. Three other US-flagged ships that had been stuck in the region remain in the Gulf as Washington and its partners work to restore commercial shipping. CENTCOM said US forces are helping to restore shipping through the Strait, with US Navy destroyers operating in the Gulf.

In The Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post that gaps between Hamas and the Board of Peace on Gaza disarmament are very wide, and bridging them seems almost impossible. Negotiations have included meetings between senior Board of Peace officials, including director-general Nickolay Mladenov, and senior Hamas figures, but no agreement has been reached. An Israeli official said Israel is coordinating with the Board of Peace and the US administration to plan the next steps after Hamas’s rejection. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Mladenov, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and other senior Board of Peace officials, among others. In Metula, an unexploded 122mm rocket was found, apparently fired two days earlier but not detected by defense systems, and a police bomb disposal expert was called to handle the device. In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah fired several rockets at IDF soldiers near the Forward Defense Line; the rockets landed close to the soldiers and no injuries were reported.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a coalition of 26 major organizations has urged Congress to pass the DETERRENT Act targeting undisclosed foreign funding in US universities. Qatar was revealed to be the largest foreign source of gifts and contracts to American universities in 2025, worth more than $1.1 billion. A closed-door meeting of European conservative and nationalist figures in Paris under the Make Europe Great Again banner backed a May 16 London rally led by Tommy Robinson, with participants calling for stronger ties around Israel, opposition to Iran policy, and discussions on immigration, sovereignty, energy, and sanctions on Russia.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, most Israelis believe that ending the war with Iran under the current terms will not guarantee national security, with 64% of Jewish Israelis saying the current security situation regarding Iran is incompatible with Israel’s interests, while 48.5% of Arab Israelis think it is compatible. A majority on both sides expect the fighting to resume soon, with 62% of Jewish Israelis and 52% of Arab Israelis anticipating a renewal of hostilities. About influence, 51% of Israelis believe the Trump administration has more influence over Israel’s defense decisions than the government, with Jewish respondents at 56% and Arab respondents at 52% agreeing that both the government and the US administration hold influence. Optimism about national security fell from 47% in March to 39% in April, and optimism about social cohesion declined from 30% to 22.5%. Outgoing Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said the force was “only a step away” from its foundations being undermined during the protests over the judicial overhaul, stressing that leadership drew a firm line to keep politics out of the military and that cohesion and readiness were preserved. Bar delivered an emotional farewell, reflecting on 39 years of service and saying he loved the State of Israel and was privileged to be among its guardians as he begins a new chapter.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Yeshiva University president Ari Berman describes his friendship with Charlie Kirk, noting Kirk offered warnings and that an alliance Jewish leaders are often afraid to build is emerging, with Berman explaining a Halachic concept known as Ger Toshav, the resident alien. In New York City, anti-Israel activists plan to protest outside Park East Synagogue against an Israeli real estate exposition they allege would promote settlement expansion and “stolen Palestinian land,” with security barriers set up around the site; Park East did not respond to requests for comment, and organizers for Great Israeli Real Estate did not respond, while PAL-Awda says the protest is a response to ongoing claims of ethnic displacement.

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/JewishNews24/53921
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53922
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/cs-anthem-chemical-tanker-becomes-second-us-flagged-vessel-exit-strait-hormuz
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-895228
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53923
https://t.me/selena_updates/63292
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-895227
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895226
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895224
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53919
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53920
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895232
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895231