May 23, 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 23, 2026UpdatesIran, Pakistan send revised cease-fire proposal to U.S., sources sayIran ‌and ‌Pakistan have submitted ⁠a revised proposal ⁠to the United States to end the war ‌and ‌reopen the Strait of Hormuz, two Pakistani sources familiar with the negotiations told ⁠Reuters on Saturday.A U.S. ‌response ⁠to ‌the proposal is expected by ⁠Sunday, the sources said.56 minutes agoA thousand protesters gather in Tel Aviv, marking relatively small numbers compared to protests held in recent monthsThousands demonstrated against the government at several protests across the country; the main demonstration at Tel Aviv's Habima Square in Tel Aviv was attended by about 1,000 people, marking relatively small numbers compared to protests held in recent months.Protesters in Tel Aviv's Habima Square on Saturday. Credit: Itai RonProtesters in Tel Aviv's Habima Square on Saturday. Credit: Itai RonMaayan Sherman, whose son was taken hostage on October 7 and was then killed in IDF bombings in the Gaza Strip, spoke at the demonstration in Tel Aviv. She said her son, who served as a soldier in the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), had served in "an organization that was one of the central focal points in shaping and implementing Israeli government policy toward Gaza." According to her, "For years, Netanyahu knew that the money he transferred through COGAT was strengthening Hamas. Policy directives were carried out there, and a dangerous conception of 'quiet' in exchange for benefits was built."She stated: "Netanyahu knew that the 'quiet' he was selling the public was a dangerous illusion. That conception exploded on all of us on October 7." Sherman added that the massacre was "the result of years of failed policy that ignored nonstop warnings from figures within the security establishment," and that her son "was one of many who paid the price of [government] neglect."RECAP: Trump says U.S., Iran 'getting a lot closer' to finalizing agreementHere are Saturday's latest updates:■ President Donald Trump told CBS News that U.S. and Iranian negotiators are "getting a lot closer" to a cease-fire deal, threatening that if an agreement is not reached, "we're going to have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they're about to be hit."■ Sirens sounded in northern Israel due to drone intrusions from Lebanon.■ IDF Sergeant Noam Hamburger, 23, from Atlit, was killed on Friday by an explosive drone strike in northern Israel near the Lebanese border.■ Israeli police announced that they removed six Israelis from Jericho who rented a villa in the city center, which is located in Area A of the West Bank, where Israelis are legally prohibited from entering.■ Trump posted a map captioned "United States of the Middle East?" with Iran's landmass edited as a U.S. flag on Truth Social.■ The IDF issued urgent evacuation notices for five Lebanese localities, all of which are located north of the Litani River: Mahmoudiyeh, Mlikh, Chbeil, Qotrani, Houmine El Faouqa.■ France banned far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced, citing "unacceptable actions toward French and European citizens aboard the Global Smud flotilla," and calling on the EU to impose sanctions against the minister.■ IDF troops returned and detained five Israeli civilians who had "crossed the border into Lebanese territory by a few meters," the IDF said.■ An Israeli air strike targeting a Palestinian ‌police post in northern Gaza on Saturday killed ⁠at least five police officers and a 13-year-old ⁠boy, and wounded several others, Gaza police said, as Israel intensified attacks on the Hamas-run force.IDF soldier killed by explosive drone in northern Israel, two soldiers woundedIDF Sergeant Noam Hamburger, 23, from Atlit, was killed on Friday by an explosive drone strike in northern Israel near the Lebanese border.Hamburger was a technology and maintenance soldier; two other soldiers were wounded in the incident, one seriously and the other lightly.Seargent Noam Hamburger. Credit: Courtesy of the IDFSeargent Noam Hamburger.Credit: Courtesy of the IDFAccording to the army, another explosive drone fell in the area about 25 minutes later, but there were no casualties. With Hamburger's death, the number of soldiers killed since the beginning of the current round of fighting in the north rose to 22.On Tuesday, Major (res.) Itamar Sapir was killed in a clash with Hezbollah militants while clearing buildings in a southern Lebanese village. Last Friday, Captain Maoz Israel Recanti, 24, from the West Bank settlement of Itamar, was killed by a drone explosion in southern Lebanon.Read the full articleTrump says U.S., Iran 'getting a lot closer' to finalizing agreementPresident Donald Trump told CBS News that U.S. and Iranian negotiators are "getting a lot closer" to a cease-fire deal, threatening that if an agreement is not reached, "we're going to have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they're about to be hit."The latest proposal includes a process to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing naval blockade, the unfreezing of some overseas Iranian assets as well as the continuation of negotiations, sources familiar with the negotiations told CBS News.Trump said that "every day it gets better and better," but did not provide specifics about the agreement, telling CBS, "I can't tell you before I tell them, right?""I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want," he said. According to Trump, the agreement would also result in Iran's enriched uranium being "satisfactorily handled," a statement that does not fully align with Iranian reports on the nuclear issue.Trump added that he is consulting with advisers and Gulf leaders. In previous reports, Trump said he called off attacks on Iran at the last minute this week, in response to requests from several of Iran's Gulf neighbors; on Tuesday, he said he had been an hour away from ordering strikes.Read the full articlePakistan talks in Iran were highly productive, army statement saysPakistan's ‌Army Chief ‌Field Marshal Syed ⁠Asim Munir ⁠held highly productive talks with Iran's president and other senior ‌officials ‌during a visit to Tehran on ending the Iran war, the military said ⁠on Saturday.Negotiations over the past ‌24 ⁠hours ‌had resulted in encouraging progress towards ⁠a final understanding, the statement said.U.S.-Iran cease-fire may be extended by 60 days, according to mediators, report saysA U.S.-Iran cease-fire may be extended by 60 days, mediators say, adding that they believe a framework to discuss diluting or handing over Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium may be underway, the Financial Times reported.As part of the cease-fire, the United States would ease its blockade of Iranian ports while Iran would gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The United States would agree to sanctions relief and put a pause on freezing Tehran's overseas assets.Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmael Baghaei said on Saturday that Tehran was discussing a "memorandum of understanding" as part of the first phase of cease-fire talks, and within 30-60 days, would hash out the details of the agreement, including denuclearization and the opening of the Strait.Read the full articleIn the NewsAnti-government Protests Held Across Israel; 2,000 Rally NationwideIDF Soldier Killed by Explosive Drone in Northern Israel, Two WoundedDrones Strike North Israel as Lebanon Says 12 Killed by IDF Strikes in 24 HoursTrump Says U.S., Iran 'Getting a Lot Closer' to Finalizing AgreementHundreds Protest Against Crime in Arab Society: 'Our Blood Is Not Expendable'Remembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIICC Prosecutor Seeks Warrants for Ben-Gvir, Smotrich, Other Israeli OfficialsBen-Gvir Posts Video of Police Dragging Detained Gaza Flotilla ActivistsThe Most Consequential Republican Primary for Israel Is Happening in KentuckyUnmoved by Trump's Ticking Clock, Iran Forms a New Reality in the Persian Gulf`World Leaders Summon Israeli Envoys Over Ben-Gvir Gaza Flotilla Activists VideoOn Israel, Gaza and Palestine, Bigmouth Tucker Carlson Spoke Nothing but Truth