Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-26 at 09:04

HEADLINES
1. Gaza Conflict Deepens as Hamas Faces Financial Collapse
2. Israel Rejects Partial Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Hostage Talks
3. Hezbollah Vows Resistance Despite Regional Setbacks

The time is now 05:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At five in the morning, the situation across Israel and its surrounding regions remains intense and multi-faceted. Inside Jerusalem, dozens of Jewish individuals, under the initiative of the organization "Bidinu," gathered on the Temple Mount to wave Israeli flags, pray, and sing in a display of national spirit. This action coincided with ongoing efforts to reinforce Israel’s sovereignty and national identity amid the current security challenges.

In Gaza, the conflict persists with Israeli military operations continuing in southern areas, including airstrikes around Khan Younis and Kisan al-Najjar. The IDF reports that these targeted attacks are aimed at degrading Hamas’ military capabilities, which have been significantly depleted since the outbreak of hostilities in October. Despite this, Hamas faces severe financial strain; the IDF claims the group is struggling to pay its fighters, having reduced salaries from 1,200 shekels to 900 shekels per month amid a shortage of funds. This financial crisis is compounded by Israel’s efforts to cut off Hamas’s revenue streams, including aid transfers and overseas real estate rentals.

Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas continue to negotiate over a potential ceasefire and hostage deal. Reports indicate that Egypt and the United States are mediating, with proposals for a 60-day ceasefire that would see the release of ten hostages in two phases. However, Israel has rejected a recent proposal that demanded only partial releases and conditions that Israel considers unacceptable, including Hamas’s demand for a broad Israeli withdrawal and the entry of large quantities of supplies into Gaza. Israeli officials have expressed skepticism about Hamas’s sincerity, emphasizing that the group does not demonstrate a genuine willingness to reach a comprehensive deal.

On the diplomatic front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, reaffirming the strong support Israel receives from the United States. In parallel, there are reports that President Donald Trump may soon announce a ceasefire in Gaza, contingent upon a broader agreement involving hostages and de-escalation measures. An Israeli delegation is expected to visit Cairo to discuss renewed negotiations, though Israeli officials remain cautious about the prospects of a breakthrough.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah’s leader Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered a defiant speech commemorating Resistance and Liberation Day. He reiterated Hezbollah’s commitment to “resistance” as a means to confront Israeli threats, calling on the United States to withdraw from the region and asserting Lebanon’s sovereignty against foreign interference. Qassem also claimed that Hezbollah is seeking to bolster its military and political influence, despite setbacks such as thwarted arms smuggling from Syria and ongoing losses in recent conflicts. He urged Lebanese resilience and warned against surrender or concessions to Israel, emphasizing that the group’s resistance remains the core of its strategy.

In other developments, Israeli security forces are investigating an incident where a stun grenade was reportedly thrown into a residential neighborhood in Eilat, causing minor property damage but no injuries. Additionally, the security situation along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon has stabilized somewhat, with the IDF returning to routine patrols after periods of heightened alert related to Hezbollah’s threats.

Finally, international and domestic political figures are engaging in various actions: French President Emmanuel Macron was filmed...