HEADLINES
Gaza ceasefire stalls over Hamas decommissioning
31 killed as Israeli strikes hit Lebanon
PFLP linked terror cell foiled in Jerusalem

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, the Board of Peace told the United Nations Security Council that the Gaza ceasefire remains stalled because Hamas refuses to accept verified decommissioning, a step it says is needed for the 20-point roadmap and a civilian transition. The group urged member states to press Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza to disarm and submit to a supervised decommissioning process, a demand Hamas has rejected, with Hazem Qassem accusing the statement of reflecting an Israeli position and seeking to justify escalation. Separately, the United Nations Security Council condemned the attack on Barakah Nuclear Plant in the United Arab Emirates as a violation of international law and did not assign blame; the UAE said six drones were launched at Barakah from Iraq, amid tensions linked to Iranian-backed militias in the region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed 31 people, including at least four children and three women, with 40 wounded, as Israel said it was intensifying attacks despite a truce with Hezbollah. Hezbollah said it faced Israeli troops in the southern town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah as Israel expanded ground operations. The Lebanese health ministry distributed casualty figures across several areas, including Burj al-Shamali near Tyre, Kawthariyat al-Riz, Habbush, Maarakeh, and Salaa, while an AFP correspondent reported airstrikes and smoke in Nabatieh following a regional warning, and the Israeli military issued evacuation notices for dozens of southern towns.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering Caroline Glick for the post of New York consul general, a highly sensitive assignment, though no final decision has been made. Glick has been a prominent conservative commentator critical of Reform and Conservative Judaism in the United States. In Europe, Israel Police and the Shin Bet said they foiled a terror cell linked to the PFLP in east Jerusalem, with five residents arrested after recruitment by Salah Hamouri, a PFLP figure living in France. Hamouri, who has a history of involvement in terror activity and had his Israeli residency revoked in 2022, was reported to have coordinated with operatives across Europe in 2024 and 2025. Separately, Defense Minister Israel Katz reversed a plan to freeze security funding for Gaza border communities after widespread backlash from local leaders and security coordinators over cuts affecting vehicle maintenance, fuel, perimeter lighting, and gates.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel criticized Ukraine for giving state honors to Andriy Melnyk, a Ukrainian nationalist leader who participated in collaboration with Nazi Germany during World War II. Zelensky praised Melnyk and his wife as “iconic Ukrainians,” a move that drew condemnation from Israel. Melnyk led a faction of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, an organization linked to Nazi collaboration and antisemitic rhetoric, a historical dispute that continues to fuel controversy over Ukraine’s commemorations of World War II figures.

In Uplifting News, the Israel Basketball Association, alongside the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization and the Center for Jewish Impact, launched a program called Back in the Game to help IDF veterans with post-traumatic stress through sport and community rehabilitation. Four teams have been formed in Ashdod, Netanya, the Upper Galilee, and Samaria, with weekly practices, professional coaching, and ongoing psychological support. The launch included a tournament in which the Samaria team won. Separately, GenZion has been invited to Argentina to teach at a Bible college for a week, sharing Israel-focused perspectives grounded in scripture, an invitation made possible by the ministry’s supporters.

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/article-897395
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/un-security-council-condemns-attack-uae-nuclear-plant
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/israeli-strikes-kill-31-south-lebanon-israel-expands-ground-operations
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897403
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-897383
https://www.timesofisrael.com/katz-said-to-reverse-security-funding-cuts-for-gaza-border-communities-after-backlash/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897400
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-897391
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76862