May 3: Trump says US launching effort to ‘guide’ stranded ships out of Strait of Hormuz

Trump says US launching effort to ‘guide’ stranded ships out of Strait of Hormuz

Cargo ships are seen at sea in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, as viewed from a rocky shoreline near Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

US President Donald Trump says that the United States will begin an effort to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz tomorrow morning.

Trump says that countries have reached out to the US requesting assistance in securing the safe passage of their ships currently “locked up” in the strait.

“They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways,” Trump writes on Truth Social.

“This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time,” Trump adds.

Trump goes on to assert that his aides are having “positive discussions” with Iran, which “could lead to something very positive for all.”

“This is a Humanitarian gesture,” he says. “Many of these ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner.”

He adds: “If, in any way, this humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Three die on Atlantic cruise ship from suspected hantavirus

A view of the cruise ship MV Hondius, stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. (AFP)

Three people have died on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, the World Health Organization says, one a confirmed case of hantavirus — an illness usually transmitted to humans from rodents.

The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, traveling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde.

“To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases,” the WHO tells AFP.

“Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa.”

Earlier Sunday, South Africa’s health ministry told AFP there had been an outbreak of a “severe acute respiratory illness” that killed at least two people, with a third in intensive care in Johannesburg.

OPEC+ countries agree modest rise in production as Iran retains chokehold on Hormuz

Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, that arrived clearing the Strait of Hormuz, is seen at the Mumbai Port in Mumbai, India, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/ Rafiq Maqbool)

Seven countries in the OPEC+ grouping of oil-producing countries — including Saudi Arabia and Russia — say they have decided on a modest increase in production starting in June as part of a commitment to “market stability.”

The commitment from the seven countries, also including Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, and Oman, to raise production by 188,000 barrels per day comes after a virtual meeting they held on Sunday.

The move is mostly symbolic because it comes as Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, where about a fifth of the world’s trade in oil and natural gas typically passes, in the midst of the US-Israeli war. That has stopped much of the oil shipped from Gulf producers and knocked millions of barrels a day off the global market.

It also follows a decision by the United Arab Emirates to leave the OPEC oil cartel, shaking up the 65-year-old alliance that produces some 40 percent of the world’s crude oil and exerts major influence over the price of energy around the globe.

Iran is one of OPEC’s 12 member countries, and Russia is not — it works with the Vienna-based oil producers alliance through the OPEC+ grouping.

The seven countries say they will hold monthly meetings “to review market conditions, conformity, and compensation” and plan to meet again on June 7.

Germany’s Merz says not ‘giving up on working with Donald Trump’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement during his visit to the army at the Bundeswehr base in Munster, Germany, April, 30, 2026. (AP Photo/ Markus Schreiber)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will not give up on working with US President Donald Trump, despite a spat between the leaders over the war in Iran.

“I am not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship. Nor am I giving up on working with Donald Trump,” Merz tells public broadcaster ARD in an interview.

Protester charged last year with sexually harassing female cop reaches plea deal

Eyal Yaffe arrives for a court hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, March 29, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Eyal Yaffe, an anti-government protester charged last year with sexually harassing a female Border Police officer, reached a plea deal with the prosecution in which he pled guilty and was convicted of obstructing an officer, but not of harassment.

The incident, which took place in late March 2025 during a mass demonstration near the Knesset in Jerusalem, was caught on film and posted to social media by right-wing rapper Yoav Eliassi. Yaffe, 73, appeared to rub up against the officer from behind while she and other cops bent down to try to disperse protesters blocking the road.

תיעוד המפגין שנחשד בביצוע מעשה מגונה בשוטרת בירושלים.
צילום: דוברות המשטרה pic.twitter.com/tCrMp3Cjq1

— הארץ חדשות (@haaretznewsvid) March 27, 2025

As part of the plea bargain reached with Yaffe, the prosecution dropped the charges of indecent assault and unlawful assembly that were leveled against him in the original indictment. The plea deal was approved by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

Presiding Justice Joya Scapa-Shapira added in her decision that the two charges dropped from his indictment encountered “evidentiary difficulties.”

After pleading guilty, Yaffe was convicted on the sole offense of obstructing a police officer.

As part of the plea deal, the activist is ordered to pay NIS 8,000 ($2,700) to the complainant and is put on probation for two years. If Yaffe violates the terms of his probation, he will be sentenced to four months in prison.

Trump says Iran’s latest offer is ‘not acceptable to me’

US President Donald Trump tells Kan’s Nathan Guttman that Iran’s latest proposal for resolving the regional conflict is “not acceptable.”

“It’s not acceptable to me. I’ve studied it, I’ve studied everything — it’s not acceptable,” Guttman quotes Trump as saying in a brief phone call, in a post on X.

In further comments reported by Kan in Hebrew (the original English is not provided), Trump says the campaign is going “great.”

He says that “the Iranians want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with what they’ve offered,” adding that “there are things I can’t agree to.”

On his repeated demands that Israel’s President Isaac Herzog give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon in his criminal trial, Trump says: “He’s a wartime prime minister. Israel wouldn’t exist without me and Bibi, in that order. You need a prime minister who can focus on the war and not on nonsense.”

Report: Netanyahu weighing moving elections up to September

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a state memorial ceremony for victims of terror, at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, April 21, 2026. (Dor Pazuelo/ Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing whether to call elections as early as September 1, rather than in late October as expected, according to an unsourced Channel 12 report.

According to the report, Netanyahu is facing growing pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties in his coalition to move the vote up to September, with the start of the Hebrew month of Elul seen as a politically advantageous time for mobilizing their base.

Netanyahu is said to favor keeping elections in late October to allow more time as political and security developments unfold, particularly regarding Iran, though a breakthrough could prompt him to move sooner.

At the same time, Hebrew media reports have also suggested that the prime minister may seek to hold early elections in order to avoid an election campaign overlapping with October 7 memorial events, a period marked by national mourning and public anger over the failures that occurred under the current government’s watch.

Netanyahu begins limited security meeting during shaky Iran truce

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently meeting with top aides and selected ministers for a limited security discussion, the office of one of the attending ministers tells The Times of Israel.

A full security cabinet meeting scheduled to take place this evening was canceled for a more limited one, an official said earlier today.

Sephardic chief rabbi calls to forgo Lag B’Omer pilgrimage to Meron

Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef issues a rare rebuke against sectors of the ultra-Orthodox public who are planning to ascend Mt. Meron in Northern Israel to mark the festival of Lag B’Omer tomorrow night in spite of Home Front Command guidelines.

“I hear that there are people in certain circles who are unwilling to give up on Meron,” he says in his weekly class, according to a Rabbinate spokesperson. “Self-sacrifice, that’s what they call it.

“[The commandment of] preserving life overrides the entire Torah,” he adds. “Here, there is not the slightest doubt: The experts unanimously say there is a real concern for danger to life, especially since, in Lebanon, they hear and know that Jews go up to Meron, and then, deliberately, on that very day, they are firing in that direction. In recent days, there have been several impacts near the Meron area.”

Yosef emphasizes that Jewish law requires transgressing Shabbat and even Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, in order to protect a life.

“Now, if preserving life overrides Shabbat, would it not override Lag B’Omer?” he says, stressing how the Meron pilgrimage is not even a Torah commandment, but rather a tradition.

Iran says it is reviewing US response to 14-point proposal

Iran says that the United States has responded to its 14-point proposal via Pakistan and that it is reviewing the response, state media reports.

“At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations,” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson says, according to state media.

US Treasury chief says Washington ‘suffocating’ Iran with blockade

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a charter school in The Villages, Florida, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/ Matt Rourke)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that the United States is “suffocating” Iran’s leadership through an “economic blockade” launched alongside the US military offensive.

“This began with the order last March from President Trump on max pressure, and three weeks ago the president gave the order to Treasury myself to begin Economic Fury,” Bessent says in a Fox News interview, referring to his department’s initiative to supplement the Pentagon’s “Operation Epic Fury.”

“We are suffocating the regime, and they are not able to pay their soldiers. This is a real economic blockade, and it is in all parts of government — all hands on deck,” he tells the “Sunday Morning Futures” program.

Both Iran and the United States have imposed restrictions on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway for the energy industry exporting hydrocarbons from the Gulf. While Iran has blocked most shipping in the passageway, the US Navy says it is blocking all ships heading to or from Iranian ports. Both sides are said to be negotiating as a fragile ceasefire holds.

Bessent says his department is imposing economic measures “on anyone trying to remit money into Iran to help the IRGC,” Iran’s elite military force.

“They are a corrupt institution. They have been stealing from the Iranian people for years. They have money offshore. We have tracked that down. We will continue to track that down, and we are going to preserve those assets for the Iranian people on the other side of this conflict,” he says.

Authorities probing fish die-off in Sea of Galilee, say no restrictions on water

Fish found dead in the Sea of Galilee, May 3, 2026. (Shiran Unger)

Following an afternoon report about a mass fish die-off in the Ma’agan area of the southern Sea of Galilee, teams from the Health Ministry, the Water Authority, and the Mekorot water company visited the site and sampled fish and water from several points.

The samples were immediately transferred to the Mekorot company laboratories and the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory for tests to clarify the cause of death.

A Water Authority spokesman says that, as of now, there are no restrictions on the use of drinking water or on bathing in the lake.

Report: IDF Central Command chief admits unequal enforcement toward settler, Palestinian stone-throwers

Then-incoming IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth attends a handover ceremony at Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem on July 8, 2024. (Oren Ben Hakoon/ Flash90/ File)

IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth recently acknowledged in a closed forum that the IDF applies different enforcement policies toward Jewish and Palestinian stone-throwers in the West Bank, citing “severe sociological consequences” if soldiers were to open fire on Israelis, the Haaretz daily reports.

According to the report, Bluth said the IDF has expanded its rules of engagement against Palestinians, allowing troops greater latitude to use live fire in certain areas.

Specifically, he said that in the so-called “seam zone” along the West Bank security barrier, soldiers are now permitted to carry out a suspect arrest procedure that can escalate “up to shooting at the knee and below,” as a means of deterrence.

He added that the policy has resulted in numerous casualties among Palestinians attempting to cross the barrier, “So there is a price that is paid.”

The IDF has long allowed troops to open fire on Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel along the West Bank barrier, framing it as a security measure. However, critics say enforcement has been lax in recent years, with authorities allegedly turning a blind eye to crossings by Palestinians seeking work, in an effort to ease economic pressure in the West Bank.

According to figures Bluth reportedly presented, between 50,000 and 70,000 Palestinians are currently in Israel without permits, driven in part by high unemployment in the West Bank, though he argued deterrence continues to prevent attacks.

He reportedly defended the army’s conduct against Palestinians as “precise aggression” aimed at preventing a repeat of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks.

Addressing the question of why there has yet to be a Palestinian uprising in the West Bank, despite heightened tensions amid rising settler violence, he argued that most of those killed were involved in terrorism.

“Why is there no intifada? Why aren’t they taking to the streets? Why is the Palestinian public indifferent? Because 96 percent of [those] killed were involved in terrorism, only 4% were uninvolved,” Bluth said.

At the same time, Bluth said he does not support opening fire on Israeli stone-throwers despite the similar danger they pose, acknowledging that “there is some discrimination” in enforcement. He warned that such incidents carry broader societal implications, saying, “I’m not sure that opening fire on every Israeli stone-thrower… would help; I think it would do the exact opposite.”

Bluth also pointed to disparities in administrative detention, noting that more than 4,000 Palestinians are currently held without trial while no such measures are applied to Israelis, suggesting that this policy should be reassessed.

“You have no administrative detention against Israelis, but you have 4,000 Palestinian detainees,” he noted.

In November 2024, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an end to administrative detention orders for West Bank settlers, meaning Israel would only use the controversial policy of holding suspects without charge against Palestinian terror suspects.

Hezbollah launches rockets at IDF soldiers in south Lebanon

The IDF says Hezbollah launched several rockets at Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon a short while ago, which also triggered sirens in the border community of Manara.

According to the military, one of the rockets was intercepted while the others struck open areas, without causing any injuries.

Additionally, the IDF says interceptor missiles were launched at suspected Hezbollah drones that were identified over an area of southern Lebanon where troops are deployed. The results of the interceptions are under review, the military adds.

German FM, in call with Iranian counterpart, demands Hormuz reopening

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul addresses a joint press conference with the Lithuanian foreign minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vilnius, Lithuania, January 5, 2026. (Petras Malukas / AFP)

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give up its nuclear weapons program in a telephone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

“I emphasized that Germany supports a negotiated solution,” Wadephul says in a post on X about the call.

“As a close US ally, we share the same goal: Iran must completely and verifiably renounce nuclear weapons and immediately open the Strait of Hormuz, as also demanded” by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Wadephul says.

In recent days, Wadephul and other German officials have been trying to ease a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz said on April 27 that Iran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table, which provoked a series of angry responses from Washington. The US announced that 5,000 troops would be moved from US military bases in Germany, and Trump also announced that US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union would jump from 15 percent to 25 percent in the coming days.

Efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran have made little apparent progress since a ceasefire came into effect in early April, and there are growing concerns over renewed escalation.

Bulk carrier reports being attacked by multiple small craft off Iran, UKMTO says

A bulk carrier reported being attacked by multiple small craft while transiting north about 11 nautical miles west of Iran’s Sirik today, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency says.

It adds that all crew are safe and no environmental impact was reported.

Outgoing Air Force chief says new F-35, F-15 squadrons will ‘add significant strength’

An Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jet takes off from an airbase in Israel for strikes in Iran, in a handout photo published on March 4, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Outgoing Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar says the new procurement of two F-35I and F-15IA squadrons will “add significant strength” to the IAF.

“The important decision to acquire the two new squadrons is the result of thorough and prolonged staff work that we carried out in the Air Force. The recommendation was based on years of professional evaluation and operational necessity, with a broad perspective on force buildup and its adaptation to the evolving threats in the Middle East,” Bar says in remarks published by the military.

He says that the planning had the goal of “ensuring the air superiority of the Air Force and the State of Israel for many years to come.”

“The procurement is the result of close cooperation with the United States military, which intensified during Operation Roaring Lion, and constitutes a strategic component of national security,” Bar says, referring to the recent war with Iran.

“The new squadrons will add significant strength to the Air Force and will enable us to continue operating with determination, flexibility, and superiority against any challenge we are required to face,” he adds.

Bar will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Omer Tischler as IAF chief on Tuesday.

Rocket sirens sound in northern border community of Manara

Sirens warning of rocket fire from Lebanon sound in the northern border community of Manara.

The IDF says it is investigating.

Health Ministry panel advises halt to use of medical cannabis for smoking, backs alternatives

Close up image of the enhanced cannabis plant grown by Israeli researchers at Hebrew University. (Hebrew University)

The Health Ministry’s special committee on medical cannabis recommended on Sunday that Israel stop the use and marketing of medical cannabis for smoking within three years, according to Hebrew news outlets.

The plan will replace smoking with extracts or precision inhalers, due to health risks and inconsistent absorption.

The committee, led by Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer, head of the ministry’s mental health division, says the number of medical cannabis license holders jumped from 33,000 in 2019 to 140,000 in 2025, with a marked increase among men and people under the age of 45. Israel has one of the highest rates of medical cannabis consumption per capita in the world.

The committee said that while long-term damage caused by cannabis is proven, the benefit for PTSD sufferers is not sufficiently proven in studies, and it expressed concern about the ability of patients to return to regular functioning.

The committee recommends using cannabis only in severe distress situations, such as insomnia or flashbacks, and only as an accompaniment to proven psychotherapy. Also, the committee recommends transferring dispensing of medical cannabis to the health insurance funds within about a year, to ensure continuity of treatment and to allow the treating physician full access to a patient’s medical history.

Renewal of prescriptions beyond six months will be subject to a meeting with the prescribing physician.

With Mount Meron closed, 2 Lag B’Omer bonfire lightings planned for Jerusalem tomorrow

Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron during the Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of the Talmudic sage in Meron, northern Israel on May 15, 2025. (Jalaa MAREY / AFP)

Two mass bonfire lighting ceremonies will take place in Jerusalem tomorrow night to mark the Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer, police announce.

One ceremony will be held in the flashpoint East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, and the other in Ezrat Torah, a Haredi neighborhood in northern Jerusalem.

They are meant to serve as alternatives to a celebration held each year atop Mount Meron in northern Israel, which typically draws tens of thousands of revelers during the Jewish festival.

Fearing Hezbollah rocket fire, authorities drastically scaled back the planned events at Meron, where the 2nd century sage Shimon Bar Yochai is thought to be buried.

Police this morning announced the closure of roads leading to the mountaintop. The roadblocks are expected to remain in place until Wednesday as law enforcement tries to prevent large gatherings in the area.

Sheikh Jarrah, a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood, houses a tomb thought to be the resting place of the Second Temple-era high priest Shimon HaTzadik. Historically, it has served as a less popular but still frequented pilgrimage site on Lag B’Omer.

When Meron was similarly closed to large crowds in 2024 amid war with Hezbollah, thousands of Jewish celebrants instead gathered in Sheikh Jarrah.

Meanwhile, the bonfire in the Ezrat Torah neighborhood will be led by Rabbi Elimelech Biderman, an influential Hasidic figure who often holds a bonfire lighting ceremony at Meron. Two years ago, Biderman held a bonfire lighting in Ramat Beit Shemesh, with some 40,000 people in attendance.

Trump says he’s likely to reject Iran’s end-the-war proposal as it has ‘not yet paid big enough price’

US President Donald Trump talks to reporters before he boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, Saturday, May 2, 2026, en route Miami. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

US President Donald Trump says that he has yet to review the exact wording of a new Iranian proposal for ending the war but he is unlikely to accept it, because the Iranians have not yet “paid a big enough price.”

Trump’s remarks on social media conclude a day in which he publicly mused about the possibility of restarting airstrikes, the latest mixed signal as he seeks to end the war he launched more than two months ago.

The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, but appear no closer to a deal to end a war that has caused the biggest disruption ever to global energy supplies, roiled global markets and raised worries about the possibility of a wider global economic downturn.

In his post on social media, Trump writes: “I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.”

On Saturday, a senior Iranian official said Iran’s proposal would first open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end a US blockade of Iran, while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear program for later.

Though Trump had already said on Friday that he was not satisfied with the Iranian proposal, he said yesterday he had yet to hear all the details.

“They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” he said. Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen.”

Palestinian killed, 4 injured by IDF fire in Nablus; army says it shot stone throwers

IDF troops shot dead a Palestinian and injured four others during a raid in the West Bank city of Nablus today, Palestinian health officials say.

The slain Palestinian is identified by the Palestinian Authority’s health ministry as 26-year-old Naif Firas Ziad Samaro.

The military in a statement says that during an operation in Nablus, several Palestinians hurled stones at troops.

“The forces responded with crowd dispersal measures and later with live fire to remove the threat and disperse the gathering,” the military says, adding that “several hits were identified.”

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Energy Minister Eli Cohen top informal Likud poll at Eilat conference

Speaker of the Knesset MK Amir Ohana attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 21, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Energy Minister Eli Cohen received the most votes in informal “mini-primaries” during the ruling Likud party’s weekend “Likudiada” mega-conference in Eilat, an early indicator of party activists’ preferences ahead of primaries expected in the next few months as Israel prepares for elections currently slated for October.

The conference drew criticism as it took place amid ongoing fighting with Hezbollah, which has continued to bombard northern communities with rocket and drone attacks, but that did not prevent most of the cabinet from visiting the southern resort town of Eilat for the weekend.

Ohana and Cohen were followed in the top 10 by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Knesset Economics Committee chair David Bitan, MK Sasson Guetta, Coalition Whip Ofir Katz, and MK Tally Gotliv.

Notably, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who has previously cited internal surveys positioning him as a leading contender to succeed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as party leader, finished a relatively low 15th. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi came in at 17 and Education Minister Yoav Kisch was 20th.

The vote reflects only the roughly 2,000 activists who attended the conference, rather than the party’s 120,000 members, and while the results offer a useful snapshot of activists’ sentiment, they are not necessarily predictive of success in the primaries. For example, both Regev and Gamliel performed well at the Likudiada in 2022 but were ultimately placed ninth and 30th on the party list, respectively.

Still, the rankings are closely watched within the party as an early indicator of grassroots support ahead of primaries that have yet to be scheduled.

Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Primorsk port, oil tankers and military ships

Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks on targets across Russia today, hitting the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk and setting it on fire, and striking a number of vessels, as it steps up attacks on energy infrastructure and other targets.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky comments on the latest wave of strikes, which also hit one oil tanker in the port, a Karakurt-class missile ship and a patrol boat, saying significant damage was caused to the infrastructure of the oil terminal port.

In a post on Telegram, Zelensky says Ukraine struck the Karakurt-class missile ship, a patrol boat, and an oil tanker in the Baltic Sea, adding that “each such result further limits Russia’s war potential.”

Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the northwest region, which hosts the port, says more than 60 drones were downed overnight. He says the fire at Primorsk, a major oil exporting outlet, was quickly extinguished and there was no oil spill following the attack.

Three women killed, one seriously hurt in collision between cars, truck in north

Three women have been killed and another seriously injured in a car crash in northern Israel.

The women, in their thirties and forties, were caught in a collision between a truck, a van and several cars on Route 77 in the Lower Galilee.

Rescues forces extracted the women from a vehicle and were forced to pronounce three of them dead at the scene. The fourth woman was taken to a hospital.

High Court freezes TV regulatory body activities due to petitions over alleged politicization of media regulation

The High Court of Justice issues a temporary injunction ordering that the Second Authority commercial broadcasting regulatory body’s activities be frozen pending a further decision, due to recent changes made to the agency’s composition that are the subject of petitions to the court.

Justice Alex Stein reprimands the government and the communications minister for failing to file their responses to the petitions on time after repeatedly being granted extensions. A further extension request was made today despite the previous deadline of last Thursday.

Stein calls the request “unacceptable” and says that the petitions will be heard “as quickly as possible” by a three-judge panel.

The Union of Journalists in Israel as well as the Movement for Quality in Government and other organizations petitioned the High Court in March after the composition of the Second Authority was changed.

The Union of Journalists claims the changes to the regulatory council were made “to thwart” a proposed change of ownership over Channel 13, and says that three new members of the Second Authority council appointed by the government have “clear political ties to the prime minister.”

In response to the temporary injunction, the union says that “the Second Authority Council should be staffed by professionals, for the benefit of the entire public, and not political appointees who act in the interests of the government.”

The Movement for Quality Government also cites concerns over the attitude of the Second Authority to Channel 13’s ownership in welcoming the temporary injunction.

“The court’s decision is an important step in protecting the free media in Israel from the government’s political interference. Government ministers must understand that a free media is one of the cornerstones of democratic rule, and cease their attempts to control the media and tilt it in their favor.”

Troops kill Palestinian who approached soldiers in northern Gaza, says IDF

Troops stationed in the northern Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian terror operative who approached them, the military says.

The IDF says the “terrorist identified in the Yellow Line area” approached troops of the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade “in a manner that posed an immediate threat.”

The soldiers then “eliminated the terrorist to remove the threat,” the military adds.

2 US service members missing after military exercises in Morocco

Two US service members are missing in southwestern Morocco after taking part in annual multinational military exercises in the North African country, says the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The US, Morocco and other countries participating in the African Lion exercise have launched a search and rescue operation, AFRICOM says.

“The incident remains under investigation and the search is on-going,” it says in a statement.

The incident happened yesterday near the Cap Draa Training Area near Tan Tan, close to the Atlantic Ocean. The war games exercise started in April and runs across four countries, including Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal. It is scheduled to end in early May.

African Lion, which has been running since 2004, is the largest US annual joint military exercise on the continent and usually features high-ranking military officials from the US and its top African allies.

Hezbollah rockets, drones target troops in south Lebanon but cause no injuries, says IDF

IDF troops of the 401st Armored Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on May 3, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Several rockets and explosive drones were launched by Hezbollah at Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon today, the military says.

The IDF says the projectiles exploded near the forces but did not cause any injuries.

Additionally, a short while ago an interceptor missile was fired toward a suspected Hezbollah drone over an area of southern Lebanon where troops are deployed. The IDF says the results of the interception are under review.

3 men and a teen indicted for planning ISIS-inspired attacks across Israel

Three men and a 16-year-old boy have been indicted on terror charges after allegedly planning to carry out ISIS-inspired attacks on civilians and security forces, the State Attorney’s Office announces.

The four defendants functioned as a cell inspired by the terror group and sought to carry out attacks in several areas, including Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate and the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba near Hebron, prosecutors say.

Some of the defendants allegedly gathered intelligence on potential targets, in addition to learning how to manufacture explosives and use firearms, with the eventual aim of carrying out an attack.

They are indicted in the Jerusalem District Court on a slew of security offenses including membership in a terrorist organization, recruitment to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit an act of terror involving aggravated murder.

OPEC+ hikes oil production quotas without mentioning UAE withdrawal

An oil tanker is pictured offshore in Dubai on March 1, 2026. (Fadel SENNA / AFP)

Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other OPEC+ countries increase their oil production quota in an expected move aimed at demonstrating continuity at the cartel after the shock withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates.

The seven major producers will add “188,000 barrels per day” to their total production quota for June, as part of “their collective commitment to support oil market stability,” according to a statement published by OPEC+. The statement makes no mention of the United Arab Emirates, which quit the body this week.

Oil market analysts had widely expected the increase of 188,000 barrels, which is similar to the 206,000-barrel daily increases OPEC+ announced in both March and April, subtracting the portion allotted to the UAE.

But raising the quota on paper may not have much impact on actual production, which is already short of the limit.

Untapped OPEC+ reserves are mainly located in the Gulf region, and exports there are trapped by the blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz, imposed by Iran in response to the US-Israeli strikes that started the war on February 28.

Spain demands release of Spanish-Palestinian flotilla activist held by Israel

Security personnel escort Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek to a court in Ashkelon on May 3, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP)

Spain’s foreign ministry calls for the “immediate release” of a Spanish-Palestinian activist after Israeli court extended his detention today by two days.

“The government of Spain demands his immediate release,” the ministry says in a comment sent to AFP, adding that the Spanish consul in Tel Aviv accompanied Saif Abu Keshek, who is being “illegally detained,” to the hearing.

A rights group at the hearing said the court extended the detention of Abu Keshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila for two days.

Israel has accused Abu Keshek of being a leading member of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, a group accused by the US of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” the Hamas terror group.

Toronto Jewish community on edge after gel pellet gun attack

Jewish community leaders in Toronto are concerned after a suspected hate-motivated incident on Thursday in which a suspect fired a gel pellet gun at visibly Jewish residents in a drive-by attack.

Police are still on the lookout for the suspect, who drove a blue SUV while shooting an “Orbeez-type” replica gun firing gel beads. The victims sustained minor injuries. The suspect fled the scene, and investigators released footage of the vehicle yesterday.

The attack occurred in an area with several synagogues and Jewish schools.

The incident reflects an “escalation” in antisemitic violence in Ontario, says the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto.

“These targeted attacks are intended to threaten our community and force us to hide our identity,” the group writes in a statement.

The country is facing “a wave of violent extremism and radicalization” threatening public safety, adds the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

The attack came several days after B’nai Brith Canada reported that acts of anti-Jewish hate reached a record high in 2025, with 6,800 such incidents reported nationwide.

Netanyahu says project to counter drone threat underway, but ‘will take time’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video statement, May 3, 2026. (Screenshot/GPO)

Amid a spike in Hezbollah drone strikes against IDF troops in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he has initiated a counter-drone project.

“A few weeks ago, I ordered the establishment of a special project to counter the drone threat,” he says in a video statement, “and already today I will be presented with a progress report on the matter.”

“It will take time — but we are on it,” he insists.

Netanyahu says that defense procurement will focus on expanding Israel’s capabilities and its independence.

“We are acquiring two squadrons of advanced aircraft, F-35 and F-15IA,” he says. “These aircraft reinforce Israel’s overwhelming air superiority, a superiority that was proven in Operation Rising Lion and now in Operation Roaring Lion.”

“Our pilots can reach anywhere in the skies of Iran, and they are prepared to do so — if required,” he says.

“Regarding independence,” Netanyahu continues, “I have instructed investment in domestic production capabilities for munitions.”

Israel will add NIS 350 billion to the defense budget over the next decade to produce munitions domestically, he says.

Netanyahu adds that Israel will also develop “groundbreaking aircraft made in Israel” that “will change the entire picture.” He does not indicate whether he is referring to drones or manned aircraft.

IDF says it razed 80-meter Hezbollah tunnel in south Lebanon

IDF troops of the 401st Armored Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on May 3, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

The IDF says it razed an 80-meter-long Hezbollah tunnel in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon.

The tunnel featured several rooms used by Hezbollah to reside in, the military says. After it was scanned, combat engineers destroyed the underground site.

Noam Bettan completes 1st Eurovision rehearsal, debuting giant ‘diamond’ stage prop

Noam Bettan, Israel's 2026 Eurovision contestant, poses for a photo in Neve Ilan, near Jerusalem, January 21, 2026. (Yael Abas Guisky/Flash90)

Israel’s Noam Bettan completes his first official rehearsal on the Eurovision stage at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, Bettan will begin singing “Michelle” from inside a “massive, striking stage prop known as ‘The Diamond,'” which it says is the largest prop being used at this year’s competition.

The European Broadcasting Union will only release photos of the rehearsal tomorrow.

Kan says that the “diamond” is lined with “infinite internal mirrors,” which is designed to mimic the sea of “Michelles” seen in the song’s music video. Bettan will be accompanied on stage by five backup dancers.

Bettan is slated to perform in the first semifinal on Tuesday, May 12, and will be 10th in the running order.

Kan says his vocal performance during the rehearsal drew “enthusiastic reactions from those in the arena.”

The official Eurovision account on the Reddit platform says that Bettan will be wearing a black leather jacket and black leather pants with a black silk shirt, to “pair visually well with the shine and reflection emanating from the crystal walls surrounding him.”

Yoav Tzafir, the director of the Israeli performance, says it is a “pleasure working with a professional like Noam, who is stepping onto the Eurovision stage for the first time and doing it like a king!”

Herzog to visit Panama and Costa Rica this week

President Isaac Herzog at Ben-Gurion airport before taking off for Washington on July 18, 2023. (Haim Zach/GPO)

President Isaac Herzog will depart on Wednesday for a four-day visit to Panama and Costa Rica, according to his office.

He will attend the inauguration of Costa Rica’s president-elect, Laura Fernández Delgado, at the invitation of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves Robles.

He will be the first Israeli head of state to visit Panama, which currently sits on the UN Security Council. Herzog will meet with President José Raúl Mulino and government ministers, and members of the Panamanian Jewish community. The two leaders met at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.

Herzog will then fly to Costa Rica, and attend a state dinner for heads of state hosted by Robles, and meet with other world leaders there, as well as with Costa Rica’s Jewish community.

Herzog’s visit “reflects the importance of Israel’s ties with countries across Latin America and the renewed momentum in Israel’s relations with Central and South American nations,” says his office. “This visit is intended to deepen and strengthen the strategic partnership between Israel and the countries and peoples of the region.”

Shufersal pulls some dairy products from shelves in spat over Tnuva price hikes

Israelis shop for milk at a Carrefour supermarket in Ashkelon, March 1, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)

Israel’s largest supermarket chain, Shufersal, announces the removal of some dairy products from its shelves in response to a decision by local food manufacturer Tnuva to raise prices ahead of the Shavuot holiday.

Shufersal says it will pull Piraeus cheese products and Yoplait fruit yogurt, for which there are substitutes from other manufacturers. The move comes after Tnuva refused to accept the supermarket chain’s request to postpone planned price hikes of four other dairy products until after the Shavuot holiday in late May, during which many consume dairy-heavy meals.

Tnuva has informed food retailers that starting Sunday, the price of butter will increase by 4.8 percent due to the cost of fat. In addition, the prices of unregulated long-life milk and two white cheeses will be raised by about 1%.

“Tnuva unilaterally decides to raise prices of dairy products before the holiday and in the midst of a complex security period, despite our request to postpone the move — Shufersal can’t approve this,” Shufersal says in a statement. “As a result of our decision, Tnuva has chosen to stop supplying the products that are subject to price increases.”

“We regret the situation and apologize for the inconvenience, but believe that we must act out of national responsibility and concern for the consumer,” Shufersal says.

Tnuva declines to comment on commercial relationships with its customers.

While Tnuva decides to raise prices from this month, rival foodmaker Strauss announces that price increases will take effect after the Shavuot holiday on June 1. The wave of price hikes comes as the price of state-controlled dairy products increased by an average of 1.05% on May 1, as part of a periodic update.

Premier League soccer coach questioned by police for alleged sexual harassment

Police this morning interrogated a soccer coach in Israel’s Premier League on suspicion of sexual harassment.

In a statement, police say that investigators from the Lev Tel Aviv police station summoned a suspect in his 50s, a foreign national who lives in Israel, following a sexual harassment complaint filed against him over the weekend.

He was released under restrictive conditions as police continue to investigate the complaint, police add.

The complaint was filed by a female taxi driver who alleges he verbally harassed her during a ride, according to Hebrew outlets. The suspect reportedly claimed during his interrogation that he was drunk at the time and couldn’t recall the incident.

Ministries approve construction of largest solar plant to date in Dimona

Solar panels in the Negev, southern Israel, November 16, 2017. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)

The Energy and Finance ministries and the Electricity Authority announce finalization of a deal to build what will be the largest solar power plant to date providing the cheapest electricity.

With a capacity of 265 megawatts and a price of under 6.5 agorot (two cents) per kilowatt hour (one kilowatt of power sustained for one hour), the plant will be built by EDF Renewables in the Negev Desert city of Dimona.

The station will span approximately 3,000 dunams (740 acres). Work is expected to begin immediately and will take roughly two years.

The plant will operate under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The developer will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance for a period of 25 years, after which the facility will be transferred to the state.

In reversal, IDF says no Hezbollah rockets were fired at Avivim

The IDF in an update says no rockets were launched by Hezbollah at the border community of Avivim this morning, contrary to its initial report.

A preliminary investigation by the military has found that gunfire carried out by troops in southern Lebanon was mistakenly identified as a threat, and interceptor missiles were then launched, triggering the sirens in Avivim.

Hezbollah lawmaker says group can ‘thwart’ any goals of Lebanon-Israel talks

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah speaks during an interview with an AFP journalist at the Lebanese Parliament in Beirut on April 20, 2026. (Anwar AMRO / AFP)

A Hezbollah lawmaker says that the terror group will be able to “thwart” the objectives of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

Speaking at an event honoring killed Hezbollah operatives, Hassan Fadlallah says “these negotiations with all their results do not concern us, and we will not implement them.”

“We have a free people and a steadfast resistance capable of thwarting all the objectives of these negotiations, which increase the sharp division in the country between the factions of our people and within the state itself,” Fadlallah says.

Lebanon and Israel’s US ambassadors have held two meetings in Washington in recent weeks, the first of their kind in decades.

Hezbollah has strongly rejected the talks, with its leader Naim Qassem calling them a “sin.”

Cross-border violence has continued despite a ceasefire that began April 17, with Hezbollah continuing to fire drones and rockets and Israel striking the terror group’s targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley.

The ceasefire text grants Israel the right to act against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.”

Fadlallah says that “any new agreement that will be established in Lebanon must guarantee that our country will not be attacked in any way.”

IRGC says US can choose either ‘impossible’ military operation or ‘bad deal’

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say that the United States faces a choice between an “impossible” military operation or a “bad deal” with the Islamic Republic.

In a statement carried by state television, the Guards intelligence organization says that “Trump must choose between ‘an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.'”

It cites what it describes as a “shift in tone” from China, Russia and Europe toward Washington as well as what it calls an Iranian “deadline” over the US naval blockade.

Hezbollah fired rockets and drones at troops in south Lebanon overnight, says IDF

IDF troops operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on May 2, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Hezbollah fired several rockets and drones at troops stationed in southern Lebanon overnight, the military says.

The IDF says no injuries were caused.

Meanwhile, the military says troops struck and killed two Hezbollah gunmen in southern Lebanon yesterday.

Troops of the Givati Brigade identified the armed operatives in their area of operations.

“After the identification, the troops struck and eliminated the two terrorists to remove the threat,” the military says.

The IDF says the Givati troops also located dozens of weapons in the past day, including assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and other equipment.

ביממה האחרונה: כוחות חטיבת גבעתי איתרו עשרות אמצעי לחימה וחיסלו מחבלים חמושים מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה

כוחות חטיבת גבעתי בפיקוד אוגדה 91 ממשיכים לפעול להסרת איומים על אזרחי מדינת ישראל.

אתמול, לוחמי החטיבה זיהו שני מחבלים חמושים מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה שפעלו בסמוך לכוחות החטיבה.… pic.twitter.com/Psgxl2RuYp

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 3, 2026

Court extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists by two days, says rights group

Security personnel escort Brazilian activist Thiago Avila to a court in Ashkelon on May 3, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP)

An Israeli court approves a two-day extension to the detention of two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who were brought to Israel for questioning, a rights group representing them tells AFP.

“The court extended their detention by two days,” says Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah.

Israeli authorities had asked to extend their detention by four days, Azem said earlier.

The activists, Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, were among more than 170 detained by Israel last week when the flotilla was intercepted by the Israeli Navy in international waters. The remainder were all freed Friday in Greece.

Israel says that Abu Keshek and Avila are affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which has been accused by the US Treasury of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Hamas.

21 arrested for trying to sacrifice goat on Temple Mount

View of the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, February 20, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Police say they arrested 21 people who are suspected of trying to bring a sacrificial goat up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

On Friday, “a group of rioters that arrived at one of the entrances tried to break through the gate with the goal of bringing a baby goat onto the grounds of the Mount, thereby disrupting public order,” police say.

They were nabbed before they could perform a ritual sacrifice atop the flashpoint site in honor of Pesach Sheni, or Second Passover, which is marked a month after Passover.

In ancient times, the holiday provided another chance for those who had not brought the Passover sacrifice to the Temple to fulfill the religious commandment.

The detainees were brought to the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, where police requested to extend their detention, but a judge released them.

Police filed an appeal against the decision today, but the ruling to free the suspects was upheld, according to police’s statement.

Blue and White MK Chili Tropper quits party, raising speculation about his political future

MK Chili Tropper speaks during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, outside the Knesset, in Jerusalem, March 26, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Blue and White lawmaker Chili Tropper is leaving the party, chairman Benny Gantz announces, making him the fourth faction lawmaker to depart in the past year, following a series of exits by senior lawmakers who later joined Yashar, a new party established by Gadi Eisenkot, the former Blue and White number two.

Calling the departure “a painful day for me,” Gantz says in a statement that Tropper made “a painful decision” following extended deliberation. He notes that Tropper played a major role in founding Blue and White, calling him “the first person I brought in to help build the party, from selecting the people to shaping the platform, and he was with me at every decision-making juncture.”

Tropper’s departure follows Eisenkot’s exit last summer to form the Yashar party and the subsequent departures of Matan Kahana and Orit Farkash-Hacohen, who also joined Yashar, raising questions about whether Tropper may join the party as well.

In his own statement, Tropper says he is “leaving a place that has been a political home for me.” In the coming weeks, he says, he will meet with “anyone I believe should be part of rebuilding the country’s leadership,” before deciding on what path he will take to “contribute most effectively to the people of Israel.”

For months, polls have shown Blue and White hovering around the electoral threshold, which requires parties to garner at least 3.25% of votes to enter the Knesset.

In a swift response to the announcement, Eisenkot calls Tropper “a friend and partner” and “one of the finest people the Knesset has known.”

“I would very much like to see him continue in public life to bring change and hope, for a better and stronger Israel,” he adds.

New cohort of ultra-Orthodox soldiers enlists in IDF

Ultra-Orthodox soldiers are drafted to the IDF, May 3, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

A new cohort of ultra-Orthodox soldiers joins the military today.

The troops are joining units designated for Haredi soldiers, including the Hasmonean Brigade, the Netzah Yehuda Battalion in the Kfir Brigade, and the Hetz Company in the Paratroopers Brigade’s 202nd Battalion.

The military says that the commander of the Hasmonean Brigade, Col. Shemer Raviv, met with new recruits at an induction center. The brigade’s Yonatan Battalion is currently stationed in southern Lebanon.

Some 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged between 18 and 24 are currently believed to be eligible for military service, but have not enlisted. The IDF has said it urgently needs 12,000 recruits — mostly combat troops — due to the strain on standing and reserve forces caused by the war against Hamas in Gaza and other military challenges.

For the past two years, the Haredi leadership has pushed for a law keeping its constituency out of the IDF, after the High Court ruled that decades-long blanket exemptions from army duty traditionally afforded to full-time Haredi yeshiva students were illegal.

MK Elharrar: High Court must order timeframe for voting on judicial appointments

Yesh Atid MK Karine Elharrar at a High Court hearing on a petition requesting the convening of the Judicial Selection Committee, May 3, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Yesh Atid MK Karine Elharrar, a member of the Judicial Selection Committee, calls on the High Court of Justice not just to order Justice Minister Yariv Levin to convene the Judicial Selection Committee in short order, but also to order him to actually hold a vote.

Her comments come following a hearing in the High Court in which Levin’s legal representative repeatedly claimed that it was extremely difficult for the minister to devise not only a timetable for making dozens of sorely needed appointments, but a timeframe for issuing such a timetable.

“The story is that the justice minister does not have a majority on the committee and so he is doing everything he can not to convene the committee,” charges Elharrar.

According to the opposition MK, Levin is demanding that all nine members of the committee agree to the appointments of all candidates before publishing the candidates’ names in the state gazette, as is required 45 days before the Judicial Selection Committee can vote on them.

“He has invented a principle in contravention of the law that you need full agreement [among all committee members to make appointments]. That’s not true. You need a majority on the committee,” Elharrar continues, charging that because Levin cannot get the support of a majority of the committee for his candidates, he is refusing to convene the panel.

“The court needs to give a timeframe not just for convening the committee but also for a vote,” the MK demands, pointing to Levin’s efforts to delay appointing a Supreme Court president even after being ordered by the court to convene the committee for that purpose in January last year.

The hearing on the issue ends with Levin’s attorney, Zion Amir, continuing to refuse to give a timetable for Levin to publish the names of candidates in the state gazette and to convene the committee, despite the urging of the judges. It remains to be seen if the court will order Levin to commit to a timetable for the appointments process, or instead issue a final ruling on the matter.

Security cabinet meeting canceled, Netanyahu to huddle with smaller group of officials

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on December 11, 2025. (Ma’ayan Toaf/GPO)

The meeting of the security cabinet that was scheduled to take place this evening has been canceled, the office of one of the ministers tells The Times of Israel.

Instead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will gather top aides and select ministers for a smaller security discussion.

IDF publishes footage of strikes on Hezbollah gunmen in south Lebanon

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Dweir near Nabatieh on May 2, 2026. (AFP)

The IDF publishes footage showing strikes on Hezbollah gunmen who were spotted near troops stationed in southern Lebanon in recent days.

According to the military, troops of the elite Multi-Domain unit identified armed Hezbollah operatives in their area of operations in two incidents and struck and killed them using drones.

In another incident, the IDF says the Israeli Air Force conducted airstrikes against several operatives spotted in buildings by the troops.

הושמדו משגרים וחוסלו מחבלים שהיוו איום מיידי על הכוחות: פעילות כוחות החטיבה הרב-ממדית בדרום לבנון

לוחמי היחידה הרב-ממדית בפיקוד אוגדה 36, ממשיכים לפעול דרומית לקו ההגנה הקדמי במטרה להסיר איומים על אזרחי מדינת ישראל.

במהלך פעילותם בימים האחרונים, הכוחות זיהו וחיסלו באמצעות תקיפת… pic.twitter.com/xWx1QWBgG4

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 3, 2026

After Trump feud with pope, Rubio set to visit Vatican this week

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office at the White House, April 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the Vatican and Italy for meetings this week, two Italian newspapers report, several weeks after US President Donald Trump drew criticism from Christians across the political spectrum by attacking Pope Leo on social media.

Reports in national dailies La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera do not indicate whether Rubio, a Catholic, will meet personally with Leo, but say he is expected to meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s lead diplomatic official.

Rubio last met Leo, the first US pope, in May 2025, alongside Vice President JD Vance. The two US officials attended the new pope’s inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square and had a private meeting with the pontiff the next day.

The pope, who maintained a relatively low profile on the global stage in the first months of his papacy, emerged in recent weeks as an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli war on Iran and sharply criticized the Trump administration’s hardline anti-immigration policies.

Trump criticized Leo on social media several times in April, at one point calling the pontiff “terrible.”

Rubio is also set to hold talks with Italy’s foreign and defense ministers, the papers report, adding that the trip is aimed at easing tensions between the two countries after Trump’s blunt criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — one of his closest European allies — last month.

IDF begins to move units into new tech campus in Beersheba

The IDF's technological campus in Beersheba, in a handout photo published May 3, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

The IDF announces it has moved the first units into a newly established military-technological campus in Beersheba in southern Israel.

The campus, spread over an area of 150,000 square meters (1.6 million square feet), is located adjacent to the Gav-Yam Negev Advanced Technologies park, in the proximity of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

It will serve some 8,000 soldiers and career officers from the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, in addition to housing the headquarters of the IDF Southern Command and a secretive Israeli Air Force technology unit.

As part of the move, the directorate’s schools for computing and communications entered the campus last week. At a later date, the directorate’s operational units will also enter the base.

The Southern Command headquarters is expected to relocate from a historic building in Beersheba’s Old City to the tech campus later this year.

The IDF decided in 2011 to move many of its bases from the center of the country to the south, consolidating operations to save money and open up land for development in the center of the country.

Israel seeks to keep 2 activists seized aboard Gaza flotilla in custody, says rights group

Brazilian activist Thiago Avila speaks during a press conference by the Global Sumud Flotilla, in Tunis, early on September 10, 2025. (YASSINE MAHJOUB / AFP)

Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who were brought to Israel for interrogation make an appearance in court, according to an Israeli rights group.

Israel said Friday that all 175 activists detained when the Navy intercepted the flotilla were freed in Greece except for the two activists in question — Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avilo.

“The state asked to extend their detention by four days,” Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah, tells AFP.

Yesterday, Adalah said its lawyers had met the two detained activists at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon.

Avila told the lawyers he had been “subjected to extreme brutality” when the vessels were seized, adding that he was “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice.”

Adalah says that since arriving in Israel, Avila said he had been “kept in isolation and blindfolded.”

Abu Keshek was also “hand-tied and blindfolded… and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure” until reaching Israel, the group says.

The Foreign Ministry says the two activists are affiliated with an organization that has been sanctioned by the US Treasury.

That group — the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) — has been accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Hamas.

Abu Keshek is a leading member of the PCPA, and Avila is also linked to the organization and “suspected of illegal activity,” the Foreign Ministry says.

Spain has condemned the detention of Avila and rejected the Israeli accusation against him.

Iran executes man convicted of killing security officer during 2022 protests

Iran executed a man convicted of involvement in the killing of a security officer, the judiciary’s news outlet Mizan reports, after the Supreme Court upheld his sentence in late 2025.

The defendant, identified as Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, was described as one of the main individuals responsible for the death of security officer Abbas Fatemiyeh, killed in 2022 during a nationwide protest movement sparked by the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody.

Mizan says the defendant confessed to assaulting the security officer. Rights group HRANA quoted an informed source as saying Abdollahzadeh was subject to torture to extract forced confessions.

IDF: Several Hezbollah rockets fired from Lebanon at border town

Several rockets were launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon at the border community of Avivim a short while ago, according to the IDF.

The military says at least one of the rockets was intercepted, while the results of additional interceptions are under review. No injuries have been immediately reported.

“This is another violation of the ceasefire understandings by the Hezbollah terror organization,” the IDF adds.

Iran to turn bombed university into a museum, says official

Iranian authorities plan to turn a bombsite at a university in central Iran into a museum about the impact of US-Israeli strikes, an official says.

“The current damaged site will be preserved as a war museum at the university to remain a document of the country’s scientific oppression in history,” says Zafarollah Kalantari, head of Isfahan University of Technology.

He adds that other land has been allocated for the “construction of a new building and provision of advanced equipment” for the university, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Kalanari says initial assessments had put the cost of the damage to the university’s buildings and facilities at around $11 million.

Israel approves purchase from US of 2 more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets

Illustrative: An Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jet prepares to take off for strikes in Iran, in a handout photo published on March 19, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israel will procure two more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets, following lessons learned from the recent Iran war, the Defense Ministry announces.

Over the weekend, Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement approved a Defense Ministry plan to acquire a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin, and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing, in deals that are valued at tens of billions of shekels.

The ministry says the jets “will serve as a cornerstone of the IDF’s long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.”

Following the committee’s approval, Defense Ministry director general Amir Baram instructed the ministry’s mission to the US to “move forward with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts in the coming period.”

The aircraft will eventually bring the Israeli Air Force’s F-35i fleet to 100 and F-15IA — the Israeli variant of the advanced F-15EX — fleet to 50 in the coming years.

Currently, Israel has 48 F-35I jets, following an initial order of 50. Another 25 F-35s were ordered in 2023, which are expected to be delivered starting in 2028. Israel ordered 25 F-15IA jets in 2024, and the first are expected to be delivered starting in 2031.

Defense Minister Israel Katz says that the recent war in Iran “once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel.”

“The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he says.

Rocket sirens sound in Lebanon border town

Sirens warning of rocket fire from Lebanon sound in the northern border community of Avivim.

The IDF says it is investigating.

4 soldiers indicted after soldier seriously wounded during hazing ritual

A combat soldier in the IDF’s Panther Battalion was recently hospitalized in serious condition with a punctured lung after being violently assaulted during a so-called “award ceremony,” with four veteran soldiers now indicted for abuse and causing aggravated bodily harm, the Maariv news outlet reports.

According to the indictment, the incident took place during an informal hazing ritual in which older troops are meant to present younger soldiers with personal gear. In this case, prosecutors say the practice deviated drastically from accepted norms, escalating into repeated acts of extreme violence.

In the most severe incident, the soldier was punched in the ribs and struck in the back with a weapon attachment, leaving him with a broken rib and internal bleeding. He later lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and was treated in intensive care for several days. The soldier is now in stable condition, but is not expected to return to combat duty at this stage.

Issuing a statement in response, the IDF says, “This is a grave incident that is unacceptable and deviates from IDF orders,” adding that the case was “investigated immediately upon becoming known” and led to a Military Police probe.

The army says the four soldiers have been charged with “joint abuse and causing aggravated bodily harm under aggravated circumstances,” and notes that “in one case [they] caused a soldier real injury requiring medical treatment.” A military court has extended their detention.

“The IDF views acts of abuse with utmost severity… and will act to bring to justice any soldier or commander found involved in such acts,” the statement says.

Addressing claims that commanders were aware of or encouraged the behavior, the IDF says, “A thorough review found that commanders were not aware of the violent incident, and no cooperation by the command staff in the act was identified.”

However, a military source tells Maariv that beyond the arrests and indictments, the soldiers involved have been removed from combat roles, and a squad commander involved in the case has been disciplined. The platoon commander will reportedly not be promoted to core positions, while the company commander will not be recommended for an excellence commendation.

The company was also reportedly relocated to allow closer supervision by the battalion commander and is holding educational talks to reinforce norms and values.

2 men arrested for allegedly shooting anti-government protesters with airsoft gun last night

Police have arrested two young men on suspicion of shooting anti-government protesters with an airsoft gun last night during a demonstration in Beersheba.

The detainees, both residents of the southern city in their 20s, were arrested at the scene last night after police searched their car and found the device.

Before the incident, demonstrators “spoke to the police two or three times, asking them to come and protect them from the taunts of passing Bibists,” according to the Protest Detainee Legal Support Front, which provides pro bono legal representation to anti-government protesters, using a term to refer to supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“A car went in circles around the protest and shot airsoft bullets at protesters, hitting elderly demonstrators,” the group says. No injuries were reported.

רכב נסע במעגלים סביב מוקד המחאה, ומתוכו נורו כדורי איירסופט לעבר המפגינים, ופגע במספר מפגינים מבוגרים.

02/05/2026 באר שבע צילמה:יעל ויינשטיין pic.twitter.com/GRc7axf2YU

— אלימות ישראל (@Alimut_Israel) May 2, 2026

High Court hears petitions demanding Levin fill dozens of empty judicial seats

Eliad Shraga, founder of the Movement for the Quality of Government, arrives at the High Court for a hearing on a petition requesting the convening of the Judicial Selection Committee, May 3, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The High Court of Justice begins a hearing on petitions demanding that Justice Minister Yariv Levin fill dozens of judicial seats on courts around the country that are empty due to the justice’s minister’s refusal to convene the Judicial Selection Committee for more than a year.

The petitioners accuse Levin of acting out of ulterior motives to stymie the appointment of judges, and of exceeding his authority as chairman of the Judicial Selection Committee with the power to convene or not convene the committee, to grant himself an effective veto over all appointments.

The three Supreme Court Justices who serve on the Judicial Selection Committee themselves accused Levin last month of holding up all appointments and of using his power as chairman to veto judicial candidates.

The petitioners point out that Levin’s refusal to convene the committee has led to a situation in which there are 51 vacancies on courts around the country, which will rise to 66 by the end of the year, creating a severe burden on the judicial system, especially when combined with the delays brought about by the recent war with Iran.

Levin’s refusal to appoint judges “harms the independence and functioning of the judiciary, causes enormous damage to the litigating public in Israel, and harms public trust in the authorities and harms the public interest,” asserts the Movement for Quality Government, one of the petitioners.

Police say roads around Meron to be shut for days as Lag B’Omer pilgrimage canceled

Rabbi Nachman Biderman and his followers light a bonfire during Lag B'Omer celebrations, in Meron, on May 16, 2025. (David Cohen/Flash90)

The Israel Police says that due to tightened restrictions in the north amid repeated Hezbollah violations of the shaky ceasefire, the annual Lag B’Omer pilgrimage on Mount Meron is canceled and roads surrounding the area will be shut for several days.

A number of roads will already be closed today ahead of the holiday, which begins Monday evening. Tomorrow morning an additional number of roads will be shut to prevent people from accessing the site, and will remain closed through Wednesday.

Police say that checkpoints set up on roads leading to Meron will not allow entry to anyone who is not authorized and whose ID does not show that they are a resident of the town.

In addition, Border Police forces equipped with advanced surveillance tools and off-road vehicles are being deployed to the forests around the area to prevent attempts to reach the site on foot, police say.

“As part of preparations, police identified serious and extreme online posts calling on the public to equip themselves with offensive gear, pepper spray, and other means to harm police officers,” the Israel Police statement reads “Any attempt to act violently against security forces or disturb public order will be met with a firm response and zero tolerance. The police will not allow extremist elements to turn the holy site into a scene of violence and will act to bring to justice anyone who incites violence or acts against officers carrying out their duties.”

Generally tens of thousands of worshipers visit Mount Meron for Lag B’Omer, and past attempts to restrict access at the site have been met with fierce opposition from some in the ultra-Orthodox population.

IDF issues evacuation orders for a dozen towns in southern Lebanon

The IDF issues an evacuation warning for close to a dozen towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

The areas include Jibchit, Sarafand, Kafra and Al-Sharqiyah.

Civilians are instructed to evacuate at least a kilometer away.

“In light of the Hezbollah terror organization’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force and does not intend to harm you,” warns army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.

#عاجل ‼️انذار عاجل الى سكان لبنان المتواجدين في البلدات والقرى التالية: الدوير, عربصاليم, الشرقية (النبطية), جبشيت, برعشيت, صريفا, دونين, بريقع, قعقعية الجسر, القصيبة (النبطية), كفرصير

🔸في ضوء قيام حزب الله الارهابي بخرق اتفاق وقف اطلاق النار يضطر جيش الدفاع على العمل ضده بقوة.… pic.twitter.com/qqCdiS13mG

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) May 3, 2026

Man shot dead in Shfaram in 99th killing of 2026 in Arab community

A man is shot dead in the northern city of Shfaram. Police say they have opened an investigation into the killing.

The death marks the 99th violent killing of a member of Israel’s Arab minority since the start of 2026. Last year saw a record 252 murders in the Arab community, with this year already on pace to surpass that.

Trump says US to withdraw ‘a lot’ more troops from Germany than previously announced

US President Donald Trump says the United States will be withdrawing more troops from Germany than was previously announced by the Pentagon.

“We’re going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” he tells reporters, without providing details.

Earlier, a NATO spokeswoman said the alliance was seeking more information from Washington on its decision, which came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran was “humiliating” the Trump administration in negotiations.

Police raid illegal school run by Iranians for Israeli children in Thailand

An illegal school serving the Israeli community on Thailand’s Ko Pha Ngan island was raided by police on Friday, Thai media reports.

The school had 89 Israeli children enrolled, and was run by an Iranian couple and a local woman, according to The Bangkok Post.

The newspaper reports that the Arki Kid School was licensed to care for 18 children between the ages of two and five, but in reality served 89 children between the ages of two and 12.

The school was staffed by 40 workers from Myanmar and 12 people of other nationalities, the Post says.

It names the operators of the school as Iranian couple Aidin and Ndin Kishipoor, 45, and 61-year-old Thai citizen Prathumthip Yu-in. The report says the three were arrested and charged with illegally operating a school, employing foreigners without work permits, and failing to comply with child protection laws.

Trump says he’ll review new Iranian proposal to end war but ‘can’t imagine’ it will be acceptable

US President Donald Trump says he will soon be reviewing another ceasefire proposal from Iran, but does not appear optimistic about its viability.

He writes in a post on Truth Social that he “can’t imagine it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.”

An Iranian proposal sent to the US on Friday was already dismissed by Trump, who said he was “not satisfied” with what Tehran was offering.

Trump: There’s a chance US could restart strikes on Iran

US President Donald Trump tells reporters that there is the possibility the United States could restart strikes on Iran.

Trump is responding to a reporter’s question at West Palm Beach in Florida.

He declines to specify what could trigger new military action against the Islamic Republic.

“If they misbehave, if they do something bad, but right now, we’ll see,” he says. “But it’s a possibility that could happen, certainly.”

Ben Gvir given birthday cake decorated with a noose at controversial party

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was presented with a birthday cake featuring a large picture of a noose at his 50th birthday party tonight, photos circulating online show.

The noose is a reference to the controversial law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians terrorists, which has long been championed by Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party.

אחת התמונות המרגשות pic.twitter.com/QIWkPxS05O

— ברוך קרא (@baruchikra) May 2, 2026

The ultra-nationalist minister’s birthday party had already sparked controversy after he invited members of the police’s General Command Staff to attend the event.

Ben Gvir has faced scrutiny over allegations of undue influence over the police, including in petitions at the High Court of Justice calling for him to be dismissed. The invitations to the force’s commanders — whom Police Commissioner Danny Levy allowed to attend — raised further concern about the pressure Ben Gvir places on law enforcement, which critics have warned is liable to undermine police independence.

Jordan carries out strikes on drug, weapons storage in southern Syria

Syrian state TV reports Jordanian strikes on a drugs and weapons storage in the southern Druze-majority province of Sweida, of which many parts are outside the control of Damascus.

State television quotes local sources saying the Jordanian army “likely… targeted a headquarters containing weapons and drugs controlled by rebel groups in the village of Shahba in Sweida.”

Separately, the Jordanian army says it “carried out a Jordanian deterrent operation targeting several locations used by arms and drug traffickers along the Kingdom’s northern border.”

The military adds that it will “continue to deal proactively, decisively, and deterrently with any threat to the security and sovereignty of the Kingdom, and will dedicate their capabilities and resources to confronting it with full force and determination.”

Local sources tell an AFP correspondent that a series of airstrikes targeted at least five locations, including warehouses in the Syrian town of Arman.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor says one of the strikes hit near a local security forces branch.

During Syria’s protracted civil war before the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the drug captagon became the country’s largest export, its trade serving as a key funding source for the ousted president’s government.

The synthetic drug has flooded the region, with neighbouring countries occasionally announcing seizures and asking Lebanon and Syria to ramp up efforts to combat the trade.

Jordan has previously carried out strikes on southern Syria to target drug-trafficking networks.

Ever since the new Islamist authorities took over in Syria after Assad’s ouster, Damascus and Amman have committed to fighting drug smuggling on their border.

Parts of the Sweida province, which borders Jordan, are controlled by Druze armed groups and escape the control of Damascus, including Sweida city.

They include the areas targeted by Saturday’s Jordanian strikes, according to the AFP correspondent.

Hamas response to Board of Peace bucks demands to hand over weapons — Arab diplomats

Hamas members search for the remains of an Israeli hostage in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Hamas largely bucked demands to give up all of its weapons in a response to a Board of Peace disarmament proposal submitted in Cairo on Saturday, two Arab diplomats familiar with the negotiations tell The Times of Israel.

While the US-led Board of Peace tasked with overseeing the postwar management of Gaza has been pushing Hamas to accept a phased return of its weapons, the terror group’s counter-offer insisted that the issue only be part of a framework culminating in the establishment of a Palestinian state.

While US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war, on which the Board of Peace is operating, speaks generally of eventual Palestinian self-determination, Hamas in its response demanded more definitive guarantees toward that end before discussing the handover of its weapons, the two Arab diplomats say.

Hamas also demanded that Israel cease violating commitments pertaining to the first phase of the ceasefire deal reached in October, taking issue with Israel’s expansion of the eastern half of Gaza that it controls, its strikes on fighters on the western side of the Strip and daily entries of humanitarian aid that have fallen below agreed-upon terms, the Arab diplomats add.

One of the Arab diplomats maintains that it is still possible for the mediators to coax Hamas to gradually give up its weapons, but says similar pressure will also have to be applied by the US on Israel to uphold its commitments.

The diplomat says such simultaneous pressure on Israel and Hamas is unlikely to come while international attention is largely focused on Iran.

However, the Arab official acknowledges that the status quo in Gaza will be harder to reverse the longer it is allowed to remain in place.