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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-04 at 11:04
HEADLINES
Israeli Court Reveals Rabbi’s Shocking Abuse Conviction
UK Elects Pro-Hamas Candidates Amid Gaza Tensions
Yemen Missile Strike Near Tel Aviv Sparks Security Alarm
The time is now 07:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today at 7:00 a.m., we begin with a significant development in Israel. The Tel Aviv District Court has lifted the gag order on the name of Rabbi Eliyahu Godlevsky, who was convicted in July of sexually assaulting his three daughters. He was sentenced to ten years in prison, along with probation and monetary compensation. The daughters, supported by the Justice Ministry, requested the release of his name, which has now been made public. One of the daughters expressed relief, stating, "I am happy to finally be able to breathe again. At last, the shame has shifted sides—and we no longer have to hide behind shame and guilt that do not belong to us." The case has drawn widespread attention to issues of abuse and justice within religious communities in Israel.
Meanwhile, in the UK, four candidates with pro-Hamas positions have won county seats in Lancashire. Three ran as independents and one as a Greens Party candidate. One of the victors, 18-year-old Maheen Kamran, was elected in Burnley Central East with just under 1,400 votes, citing the Gaza conflict as her inspiration, claiming Israel is committing genocide. Other winners include Usman Arif and Azhar Ali, the latter having a controversial past with antisemitic remarks. A fourth candidate, Sohail Asghar, shared social media posts comparing Israel to ISIS. Political analysts suggest their success indicates potential challenges for the Labour Party, especially among Muslim voters, as the Israel-Hamas conflict persists.
In international diplomatic news, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a veiled warning to Israel, criticizing its actions and asserting that Turkey will not accept any new conflict involving Syria. Meanwhile, the Israeli stock market remains in positive territory, with indices rising approximately half a percent, despite ongoing regional tensions.
Speaking of tensions, Israel’s military and security situation has intensified. A missile launched from Yemen by Houthi rebels struck near Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, causing a brief halt in air traffic and prompting international flight cancellations, including Lufthansa, Delta, United, Air France, and others. The incident marks one of the most serious failures in Israel’s missile defense system, with the IDF expected to investigate how a missile from Yemen evaded interception by both American and Israeli systems. The attack has led to a surge in El Al’s stock, which has increased over 5%.
In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any future attack would be met with a force seven times stronger. The Houthis, aligned with Iran and active in Yemen, have announced plans to escalate missile strikes against Israel, claiming they can target fortified sites. This escalation follows a series of drone and missile attacks from Yemen, Gaza, and Syria, amidst the broader context of the Gaza conflict and regional proxy tensions.
On the ground, Israel has postponed a planned visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu to Azerbaijan, citing security concerns amid the current hostilities in Gaza and Syria. The situation in Sudan remains volatile, with paramilitary forces launching drone strikes on Port Sudan, the country’s main port, and reportedly targeting military bases with suicide drones. The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces has led to widespread destruction and displacement.
Furthermore, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has issued defiant statements, asserting that enemies are weak and will collapse despite their advanced weaponry. In the UK, authorities continue to monitor Iranian nationals under counte
Published on 6 days, 1 hour ago