News roundup for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Day 1,034 since Israel began its 2023 genocide on the Palestinian people.
Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
NEWS & HEADLINES FROM GAZA:
For some basic info on the Palestine-Israel conflict, go here. For more critical context, skim this, this, and this. To read about a remarkable but underreported, 20-month-long peaceful protest in Gaza against Israel, go here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The number of Palestinians being killed in Gaza is lower since the October 2025 “ceasefire” began, 300 days ago – about 4 per day, vs. over 100 per day during the 733 days of the “war.” But Israel is actively working (with Trump’s “Board of Peace“) to ethnically cleanse Gaza of its Palestinian population, even as the low-level killing continues. Genocide experts, along with organizations like the United Nations and Amnesty International, maintain that the genocide is ongoing.
Israel Committed Over 4,000 Ceasefire Violations in 300 Days: Gaza’s Government Media Office reported on the 300th day of the “ceasefire”:
- Israel committed 4,091 ceasefire violations over 300 days, killing 1,254 Palestinians.
- Only 35% of agreed humanitarian aid – 63,094 humanitarian and food aid trucks out of the 180,000 trucks scheduled under the agreement (600 per day).
- 39% of scheduled Rafah travelers were allowed through the crossing – 10,703 Palestinians were permitted to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing out of 27,400 scheduled travelers (about 91 per day).
ISRAELI MEDIA: IDF chief visits Gaza, says army will continue ‘operating proactively*’ against Hamas: Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces continued artillery shelling and gunfire targeting several areas across the Gaza Strip. His visit came nearly one week after President Trump and the so-called “Board of Peace” announced that Hamas agreed to a disarmament deal as part of the ongoing “ceasefire.”
*NOTE: According to the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, signed by Hamas and Israel on October 9, 2025, the IDF was required to withdraw troops to specified lines and not return; all military operations were to be suspended; and Israel was to begin allowing entry of at least 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid per day.
Today, Israel has not only not withdrawn, it is holding more of Gaza than before – from 53% to approaching 70% (with possible plans for 100%); military operations have continued, with almost daily attacks and at least 1,250 Palestinians killed; and an average of about 85 truckloads of aid have entered Gaza per day.
Israel releases 24 Palestinian detainees back into Gaza: The Palestinian Prisoner’s Office said the detainees, including several elderly people, came from cities and refugee camps across Gaza. The release brings to 636 the number of detainees who have returned to Gaza.
Israeli rights group calls for independent medical evaluation of detained Gaza hospital director: Physicians for Human Rights Israel petitions court to allow independent doctor to examine Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya*, citing his deteriorating health and alleged abuse in custody.
*NOTE: Read about Gaza’s beloved pediatrician, Dr. Hussam Abu Sufiya, who has been held in Israel without charge, tortured and medically neglected, since December 2024 here. 13 other Gazan doctors are also being held by Israel.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,254 since “ceasefire” began Oct. 11, 2025 (270 children). Children, women, and the elderly account for 35.3% of those killed and 49.1% of those wounded.
- 5 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began – one by friendly fire, and four others in incidents during the first three weeks of the ceasefire.
- 73,377 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls) since October 2023
- More statistics below
Many people spent days digging with their hands to try & rescue their loved ones under the rubble who they knew were still alive. Hundreds died slowly. Israel still bars equipment needed to remove the rubble & recover the remains of thousands still trapped under bombed buildings. https://t.co/m1wWui1ihY
— Nour Odeh 🇵🇸🍉 #FreePalestine (@nour_odeh) August 5, 2026
NEWS & HEADLINES FROM THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK/EAST JERUSALEM:
Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem endure dozens of incidents like the ones below, at the hands of Israeli soldiers and/or settlers. For background on the West Bank, read this and this. For information on the significance of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, read this and this.)
Israeli army launches large-scale assault in East Jerusalem’s Qalandiya refugee camp: The Israeli military said the operation targeted unspecified “terrorist*” elements. Soldiers also severely beat one journalist while he was covering the raid, and fired stun grenades at other journalists.
*NOTE: Israel’s framing of Palestinians as terrorists is a political, not fact-based choice – one that portrays Palestinians as uncivilized aggressors, and Israelis as perpetual victims – or potential victims – enabling them to claim “self-defense” as an excuse for taking disproportionate actions.
While there are no doubt groups of Palestinians planning and carrying out operations against Israel, they are exercising – albeit imperfectly – their internationally recognized right to resist their oppressor and occupier (the UN extends that right to the point of armed resistance). Calling Palestinian resistance members “terrorists” is an attempt to delegitimize the struggle of a people seeking freedom, justice, and self-determination.
Israel plans to expand Gilo settlement in southwestern East Jerusalem with 2,300 houses
Israeli occupiers (i.e. settlers) torch homes, injure 6 Palestinians in West Bank
DEATH TOLL – WEST BANK/EAST JERUSALEM (tentative):
💢 Israeli settlers torch Palestinian homes in Masafer Yatta, injuring six including three women
Armed Israeli settlers set several homes on fire in the Khirbet al-Tuba community in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, leaving women and… https://t.co/wPvTeOuSY0
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) August 6, 2026
NEWS & HEADLINES FROM ISRAEL:
Israel is a tiny country, about the size of New Jersey, with a population smaller than the US state of Georgia – about 10 million (of which about 20 percent are Palestinians), yet it is in the news constantly. As has been demonstrated again and again, however, mainstream media rarely covers Israel news accurately. IAK gets the facts – sometimes from Israeli media sites, where we can get a glimpse inside this country that is rife with turmoil and contradictions, and that receives $63 million a day from America.
Ben-Gvir defies Israeli court over crocodile moat plan around prison holding Palestinian detainees: After National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir championed an idea to fill a moat around a prison holding Palestinians with crocodiles, an Israeli court ordered the suspension of the plan, pending a ruling on a petition filed by an animal rights group. Ben-Gvir said: “There are supposed to be crocodiles here, but the court has issued an order and continues to put obstacles in the way of what we are doing.” He added: “There will be crocodiles, and we will fight the battle in court.”
IRAN, LEBANON, & SYRIA – NEWS & HEADLINES:
It can not be overemphasized that Israel is the impetus behind US policies and actions vis-a-vis Iran. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing the US to attack Iran for decades, using lies and deception. Under President Trump, he got his wish.
Israel has invaded Lebanon seven times in the last half century. Between 1978 and 2000, Israel maintained an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon — Hezbollah was formed to fight that occupation.
Although Israel is not at war with Syria, the Israeli army has reportedly carried out over 1,600 violations inside Syrian territory since August 2025, and demanded the demilitarization of southern Syria – but also vowed to permanently occupy some areas.
IRAN
Israel’s Netanyahu hints at unilateral military action against Iran amid regional de-escalation efforts: ‘I am determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,’ Israeli premier says.
LEBANON
The Israeli army killed one in a deadly wave of airstrikes against south Lebanon on 5 August, announcing in a statement that “precise strikes” were carried out in response to a “blatant violation” of the so-called ceasefire by Hezbollah.
Group of Israeli women illegally enter Lebanon: The women were said to be affiliated with Uri Tzafon, or “Awaken, O North,” a far-right, religious Zionist movement that advocates Jewish settlement in southern Lebanon.
Israel weighs further strikes in Lebanon amid Rome talks: Reports: Israeli army preparing additional military options despite ongoing indirect negotiations with Lebanon, according to Israeli media.
DEATH TOLL – WARS ON IRAN & LEBANON (tentative):
- United States: 18 since Feb. 28, 2026
- Iran: at least 3,636 (1,701 civilians) since Feb. 28, 2026 (another source puts the number at 3,499)
- Lebanon: at least 4,333 people since March 2, 2026
- Arab states: at least 154 (including Palestine, excluding Lebanon)
- Israel: at least 60 people (Iran killed 20 civilians; Hezbollah killed 36 soldiers, 4 civilians)
MORE NEWS & HEADLINES:
RELATED: There’s No Time for Centrists to Be Doomers About El-Sayed’s Victory
Wesley Bell* Again Defeats Cori Bush — With Plenty of Help From AIPAC: The moderate Democrat easily won the rematch in Missouri’s primary against an outspoken critic of Israel. Outside spending for Bell’s campaign reached $4.6 million (mostly from AIPAC’s PAC), while Bush pulled in just $200K in outside spending.
*NOTE: Read about Wesley Bell’s politics here; read about his funding here.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Fetterman rejects Gaza genocide claim, says he would rather lose voters than abandon Israel: “Jewish community and Israel are not the same thing, brother man. They’re not – that is not the same thing,” Stewart, who is Jewish, said.
What happened to the Gaza Board of Peace*? US Secretary of State, Mark Rubio reported that the State Department has decided to rename the Board of Peace as the ‘International Non-Governmental Organization’ – possibly to evade congressional financial oversight of the board.
A Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund was created to receive funds pledged by various bodies, but the coffer is lying empty. The UAE and Morocco have contributed $23 million – but instead of going to the Gaza Fund, it was transferred to a private account of J P Morgan Chase.
*NOTE: The so-called Board of Peace is a pay-to-play group of wealthy and powerful Israel supporters, dictators, and authoritarians, as well as Israeli prime minister and war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu and two Israeli real estate tycoons – but no Palestinians. In fact, the organization’s charter makes no reference to Gaza.
The lower-tier technocratic committee, made up of Palestinians, will do the grunt work in Gaza – if and when Israel allows the group to enter the Strip.
BoP is problematic in multiple ways, not the least of which is its tendency to view the world through a real estate lens, rather than human rights, justice, or humanitarianism.
*NOTE: In reality, Netanyahu undermined the plan – but Trump apparently made no move to stop him.
Arab, Muslim foreign ministers meet in Jordan to forge joint stance on Jerusalem
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
‘Silent extermination’: Israel bombs medicine stores in Gaza, worsening the Strip’s dire healthcare crisis
Israeli occupation forces burn over 120 hectares of centuries-old olive groves in south Lebanon
‘Coherent to describe Zionism as racist’: UK tribunal upholds protection for anti-Zionist beliefs
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – August 5, 2026*:
- At least 74,562 Palestinians killed, 187,220 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,377 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 174,220 injured. Children, women, and the elderly account for 35.3% of those killed and 49.1% of those wounded during the “ceasefire”
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,185 killed (~251 children) since Oct. 7, 2023, 13,000 injured
*NOTE: Thousands of remains in Gaza have yet to be identified, and as many as 15,000 more are still buried under rubble; others are reportedly missing.
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – August 5, 2026: ~1,663 – including ~1,139** on October 7, 2023 (~36 children), 472 military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza, about 52 military and civilians (by one count, there have been 59 victims) in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel (these numbers do not include deaths from the conflicts with Lebanon or Iran).
**NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.
- Human rights reports on Israel-Palestine (regularly updated)
- Israel Has Imprisoned a 16-Year-Old Palestinian-American Boy for Two Weeks
- ‘Silent extermination’: Israel bombs medicine stores in Gaza, worsening the Strip’s dire healthcare crisis
- El-Sayed overcomes $30 million AIPAC spend, wins Michigan primary
- “For Your Eyes Only”: Israel’s Mole Inside the United Nations
- UK tribunal upholds protection for anti-Zionist beliefs: ‘It’s coherent to describe Zionism as racist’
- Israel wipes genocide evidence in Gaza, carting off rubble and remains in 100 trucks daily
- Mainstream Western Institutions View Jewish lives as more important than Palestinian Lives
- Israel’s genocide has frozen a generation of Gaza’s young doctors
- The collapse of national sovereignty in the Middle East
- Abandoned by the US: Palestinian Americans trapped in a surge of Israeli settler violence
- The Real Munitions Shortage Transcends the Iran War
- ‘A Living Hell’: A Gaza Survivor Recalls Torture in Israeli Detention
- Palestinian child unconscious, faces possible foot amputation after Israeli detention: NGO
- Is Spain being punished for supporting Palestinians?
