LiveLive Updates May 19, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeMay 19, 2026Updates5 hours agoU.S. says it is imposing sanctions against four people linked to Gaza flotillaThe ‌United States ⁠is ⁠imposing sanctions against four people associated ‌with ‌a flotilla trying to access Gaza, ⁠the Treasury said ‌in ⁠a ‌statement on Tuesday.The Treasury's Office said it "is taking action against four individuals associated with the pro-Hamas flotilla organized by the U.S.-designated Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad that is attempting to access Gaza in support of Hamas."The office also said it is "taking action against key actors operating within Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks. Hamas relies on a diverse web of international partners to expand its malign political influence, facilitate violent terrorist activity, and undermine international efforts to achieve lasting peace in Gaza," the office said. The four figures were named as Saif Abu Keshek, Hisham Abu Mahfuz, Mohammed Khatib and Jaldia Abu Bakra Aueda Israeli officers bring Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek to a court in Ashkelon, early May. Credit: AFP/ILIA YEFIMOVICHIsraeli officers bring Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek to a court in Ashkelon, early May. Credit: AFP/ILIA YEFIMOVICH"The pro-terror flotilla attempting to reach Gaza is a ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump's successful progress toward lasting peace in the region," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "Treasury will continue to sever Hamas' global financial support networks, no matter where in the world they are."RECAP: Israel reportedly detains hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists; 3,042 killed in Lebanon since March, Health Ministry saysHere are Tuesday's updates from the U.S.-Iran cease-fire and Israel's war with Hezbollah:■ Hundreds of activists on board the Gaza aid flotilla were detained by Israeli forces and are being taken to an Israeli port, the flotilla's organizers said. An Israeli court also ruled that 11 vessels previously intercepted from the flotilla must be transferred to the State of Israel.■ The Lebanese Health Ministry said that 3,042 people were killed and 9,301 wounded since the current round of fighting with Israel began in March.■ Israeli forces "kidnapped" three people near the villages of Kfar Hamam and Kfar Shouba in southern Lebanon, a Lebanese defense source told Al Jazeera, after previous reports that Israeli forces had set up a roadblock in the area.■ The IDF attacked watermelon farmers in the southern Lebanese village of Mansouri with three white phosphorus munitions, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. No injuries were reported.■ Israel's attorney general charged Likud MK Tally Gotliv for disclosing classified information when she revealed the identity of a Shin Bet officer. ■ The Knesset advanced a bill that would weaken the powers of the attorney general and give ministers greater control over legal representation and criminal prosecutions. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote in protest.■ Several Gulf states said they were unaware of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned attack on Iran on Tuesday, after the president said he had postponed the strike at the Gulf state's request, official sources told the Wall Street Journal. ■ U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran is "begging to make a deal," but threatened that the U.S. may "have to give them another big hit." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that U.S. economic sanctions imposed on Iran amounted to "a financial stranglehold on the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism."Potential NATO mission in Strait of Hormuz is political decision, top commander saysTop NATO ‌commander Alexus Grynkewich said ⁠on Tuesday ⁠that a potential mission of the military alliance in the ‌strait of ‌Hormuz would be a political decision."The conditions under which NATO would consider operating in the ⁠Strait of Hormuz are ultimately ‌a ⁠political ‌decision," Grynkewich said, speaking in Brussels where ⁠he met with military chiefs from NATO ‌countries5 hours agoTrump says Iran wants deal with U.S., but threatens 'another big hit' U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, said Iran is "begging to make a deal," but threatened that the U.S. may "have to give them another big hit." Trump: "They're begging to make a deal. I hope we don't have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit. We may have to give them another big hit. You'll know very soon.""You'll know very soon," he said, adding that he was "an hour away" from striking Iran on Monday. Read the full articleIsraeli court orders transfer of 11 Gaza aid flotilla ships to Israel for confiscation An Israeli court ruled that 11 vessels that were intercepted during a raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla in October must be transferred to the State of Israel.The Haifa District Court sided with state prosecutors, who argued that the vessel's owners had not responded to the confiscation request.The Global Sumud Flotilla has repeatedly tried to reach the Gaza Strip, in violation of Israel's naval blockade imposed on the enclave. The State Attorney's office said, "The vessels attempted to breach the maritime blockade as part of a large-scale flotilla. The request was filed in accordance with international law and the Naval Prize Act, which grants the state the authority to seize and confiscate vessels attempting to violate a lawful maritime blockade."U.S. sanctions disrupt 'hundreds of billions' of dollars of illicit Iranian cashflows, Treasury Secretary saysU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that U.S. economic sanctions imposed on Iran amounted to "a financial stranglehold on the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism.""We have disrupted tens of billions in the regime's projected oil revenue," Bessent said at a conference titled "No Money for Terror.""We have taken actions to freeze nearly half a billion in regime-linked cryptocurrency, and disrupted hundreds of billions in Iran's illicit financial flows," the secretary continued. "And we have intensified our crackdown on Tehran's shadow banking networks," he added."As the regime confronts the wreckage of its military, Treasury will remain relentless in our pursuit to constrict the network of vessels, intermediaries, and buyers through which Iran exports both its oil and malevolence."Report: Gulf states say they were unaware of Trump's planned attack on IranSeveral Gulf states said they were unaware of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned attack on Iran on Tuesday, after the president said he had postponed the strike at the Gulf states' request, official sources told the Wall Street Journal.Trump said Monday that he had postponed the attack on Iran scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the request of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates because "serious negotiations are now taking place." He also claimed that Israel and other countries in the region had been informed of the attack's postponement.President Donald Trump's Truth Social post Credit: Screen shot from Truth SocialPresident Donald Trump's Truth Social post Credit: Screen shot from Truth SocialLikud lawmaker Gotliv charged for disclosing Shin Bet official's identityLikud MK Tally Gotliv, in the Supreme Court, earlier this year. Credit: Itai CohenLikud MK Tally Gotliv, in the Supreme Court, earlier this year. Credit: Itai CohenIsrael's attorney general filed an indictment on Tuesday against Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv, accusing her of disclosing classified information by revealing the identity of a Shin Bet security service officer.The indictment stems from a social media post in which Gotliv identified the partner of prominent protest leader Shikma Bressler as serving in the agency.The indictment follows a July announcement by prosecutors that they intended to charge Gotliv under Israel's Shin Bet law, pending a hearing. Gotliv, who did not appear for questioning in the case, said she also would not attend the hearing.Read the full articleHundreds of Gaza aid flotilla activists detained by Israel, organizers sayHundreds of activists on board the Gaza aid flotilla were detained by Israeli forces and are being taken to an Israeli port, the flotilla's organizers said.Activists and pro-Palestinian supporters hold flares outside the foreign ministry, after flotilla aid vessels bound for Gaza were intercepted by Israeli forces in the eastern Mediterranean, in Athens, Greece, on Monday. Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/ REUTERSActivists and pro-Palestinian supporters hold flares outside the foreign ministry, after flotilla aid vessels bound for Gaza were intercepted by Israeli forces in the eastern Mediterranean, in Athens, Greece, on Monday. Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/ REUTERSThe Global Sumud Flotilla, which is trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, said it "received confirmation that hundreds of civilian participants abducted during yesterday's illegal high-seas Israeli naval assault are currently being forcibly transported by Israeli occupying forces to a port in occupied Palestine."In their statement, the group called for "the immediate, unconditional release of all our participants, alongside the more than 9,000 unjustly detained Palestinian political prisoners facing a codified regime of state-sanctioned terror."In the NewsIsraeli Reservist Killed in Clash With Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, IDF SaysJ Street Isn't Out of Touch With American Jews, but Israel's Settler Right IsSmotrich Threatens to Clear West Bank Village Over ICC Arrest Warrant RequestJewish Groups Denounce Fatal Shooting at U.S. Mosque, Call for Security FundingThey Were Children During the Nakba. 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