HEADLINES
Remove Iran's uranium, Netanyahu says
Whales face increased risk from redirected shipping
Kyiv hosts mass Jewish wedding under ceasefire

The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS's 60 Minutes that the war with Iran has achieved a great deal but is not yet over. He said Iran still possesses enriched uranium, there are enrichment sites that must be dismantled, and Iran continues to support proxies and pursue ballistic missiles, even though degradation has occurred. When asked how the uranium could be removed from the country, Netanyahu replied, "You go in, and you take it out." He added that if there is an agreement and you go in to take it out, that would be the best way. Earlier on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said the United States has Iran’s enriched uranium surveilled and is prepared to act if intelligence shows action at the site, and he indicated the United States would obtain it at some point, noting involvement by the Space Force.

In Regional Impacts, conflicts in the Middle East are being linked to increased dangers for whales off South Africa as shipping traffic is redirected away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal. A paper presented to an International Whaling Commission meeting by researchers from the University of Pretoria warns that the rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope has substantially raised the chances of ship strikes. South Africa’s southwestern coast, a globally significant whale habitat, now overlaps extensively with busy shipping lanes, amplifying collision risks. The shift in routes followed the November 2023 hijacking of the Galaxy Leader near Yemen and the broader disruptions from the Israel-Iran conflict that have blocked Hormuz transit, prompting more vessels to travel around Africa.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump rejected Iran’s response to a US peace proposal as unacceptable, sending oil prices higher amid concerns the 10-week conflict could drag on and keep shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralyzed. The US had proposed ending fighting before beginning talks on broader issues, while Iran’s response demanded an end to the conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon, sought compensation for war damages, and asserted Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz with calls to lift sanctions and resume Iranian oil sales. Trump reacted on Truth Social, writing, "I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE," without elaboration.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Netanyahu told leaders of the Druze and Circassian communities at a Dead Sea summit that the most important mission is to ensure life, and that he is speaking with President Trump about it. He praised the courage of soldiers, the grief of bereaved families, and the valor of Druze fighters and commanders, saying he is committed to using all the power of the State of Israel to fulfill this mission. The gathering included Haim Bibas, Sheik Mowafaq Tarif, and Yasser Gdeban, and followed a Sunday night conversation with President Trump.

In Uplifting News, Jewish couples from Ukraine were able to marry for the first time in more than four years thanks to a weekend ceasefire, with the Jewish Community Center Beit Menachem in Kyiv hosting a mass wedding ceremony that included couples of all ages, including a pair aged 92. Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch called the ceremony one of the most moving moments in recent years, noting that the community remains committed to continuity, tradition, and building a Jewish home despite years of war. The ceasefire was agreed by Russia and Ukraine on Friday.

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/israel-news/benjamin-netanyahu/article-895739
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/iran-war-not-over-uranium-must-be-removed-netanyahu
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/middle-east-conflicts-danger-whales-safrica-study
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/trump-rejects-irans-response-us-peace-proposal-unacceptable
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895741
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895742