Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-05 at 05:01

HEADLINESIsrael Expands Footprint to Somaliland and AzerbaijanHamas Gains Ground Rafah First PushNetanyahu Resists Trump Hezbollah Ceasefire SplitThe time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, authorities say Israel operated from Somaliland in addition to Azerbaijan during the war, and built a network of secret sites established before and during the conflict to support operations.In Regional Impacts, security officials warn that Hamas is exploiting the governance vacuum in Gaza to re-establish its power, while the IDF is preoccupied with the northern front in Lebanon. Officials predict the Israeli government will actively oppose the Palestinian technocratic government’s initiatives in the strip, anticipating that Hamas could ultimately regain control over key power centers. Speaking in a closed forum, a security official warned that progress is impossible under current conditions without increasing threats to the country. The technocratic government is promoting a Rafah First initiative intended to transform Rafah into a demilitarized, terror-free zone and to resettle vetted residents, with infrastructure tenders issued as part of its plan. Explosion at the Port of Constanța in Romania near the Ukrainian border following a drone strike. The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson published targeted evacuation instructions for nine northern villages, eight in the Sidon district and one in the Nabatieh district (the village Piliya), with a list of locations identified for caution or action.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers there is no agreement at the moment on a Hezbollah arrangement and that he would bring any deal to the Security Cabinet for approval only if Hezbollah agrees to it. Several ministers pressed for a strong stance, while others warned that a ceasefire under current conditions would be a notable achievement. A separate item notes a post raising questions about who carried out a recent act, with a reference to Hezbollah. CNN reported that Israel sent commando and intelligence units to Azerbaijan during the war with Iran. In a broader exchange, a reporter quoted Marco Rubio pushing back on Iranian Foreign Minister claims of genocide, arguing that Iran bears responsibility for widespread regional trouble, listing Hezbollah, Shia militias, Hamas, and other actors as examples.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a majority of Israelis, 62%, say Netanyahu should not let US President Trump dictate the nature of Israel’s military actions, a Maariv poll found. The view holds across political lines, with 66% of coalition voters and 62% of opposition voters opposed to halting planned IDF strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon; 25% believe Netanyahu has no choice but to concede to Trump’s demands, while 13% are unsure. The poll comes amid a high-profile exchange between Trump and Netanyahu that included a profanity-laden demand to halt IDF airstrikes. An unrelated brief item notes a claim of agreement with a foreign affairs stance, and a separate incident reports an attempted stabbing at the entrance to a police station in the Galilee region; the attacker was neutralized, and a 23-year-old suspect from Jadidah Makr was arrested for questioning.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.SOURCEShttps://t.me/hnaftali/23305https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-898472https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77256https://t.me/abualiexpress/123793https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77253https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898475https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77254https://t.me/hnaftali/23304https://t.me/newssil/203152https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77252https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diploma