News roundup for Friday, April 24, 2026, Day 931 since Israel began its 2023 genocide on the Palestinian people.
Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
ISRAEL-US WAR/CEASEFIRE ON IRAN – 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.
The American people have made clear that they do not want the US embroiled in a war with Iran, but Israel partisans and the Israel lobby use their massive political clout to bring about whatever is beneficial to Israel – including putting the US military in harm’s way. For more background on Israel’s role in American wars, watch IAK’s short film, “The Israeli Hit List.”
‘At the Request of Israel’: US Legal Memo Reveals Reason behind War on Iran: The document explicitly states that the United States is engaged in an armed conflict with Iran “at the request of” Israel, framing the military campaign not as a unilateral American decision, but as part of a coordinated war effort aligned with Israeli objectives.
US sending envoys to Pakistan, raising hopes of talks with Iran*: US President Donald Trump is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, raising hopes of new talks on ending the Israeli-US war on Iran amid a fragile ceasefire and growing tensions over control of the Hormuz Strait. An Iranian delegation has already reportedly arrived in Islamabad, but no meeting is scheduled with the US. “Iran’s observations would be conveyed to Pakistan,” said an Iranian official.
*NOTE: As Al Jazeera points out, Israel is not included in this round of talks.
RELATED: ‘Extremely Ridiculous’: Iran Denies US Media Reports of Talks with Washington
Iran condemns ‘illegal’ US seizure of vessel allegedly carrying dialysis supplies: ‘This coercive and unlawful act endangers lives, undermines freedom of navigation, and places vulnerable patients at grave risk,’ Iran’s UN mission says.
US-Israeli war against Iran pushes over 30 million into poverty: UN: Shortages of fuel and fertilizer are causing food prices to rise drastically, putting African and Asian nations in particular at risk of hunger.
DEATH TOLL – WAR ON IRAN (tentative):
- United States: 13 (this number is believed by some to be an undercount)
- Iran: at least 3,636 (1,701 civilians, 254 children)
- Israel: 30 (including 16 Israeli soldiers, and 1 friendly fire – including both Iran and Lebanon-related deaths; another count shows 20 Israeli civilian deaths)
- Arab states (including Palestine, excluding Lebanon), at least 154
ISRAEL’S WAR/CEASEFIRE ON LEBANON – NEWS & HEADLINES:
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 signed a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon in November 2024, Israel has attacked Lebanon almost every day since, committing over 10,000 air and ground violations – the most violated ceasefire deal in recorded history – and killing at least 397. (Read about UNIFIL, the UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, here.)
8 more killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon in spite of ceasefire
Netanyahu said Friday that Israel has begun what he described as a process toward “historic peace between Israel and Lebanon,” but warned that Hezbollah is attempting to disrupt it.
Some headlines suggest Netanyahu is not really looking for “historic peace”:
- Israel has killed 15 people in Lebanon since cease-fire began last week.
- Israeli attacks on Lebanon may violate international law, UN warns
- Israeli army warns residents to evacuate southern Lebanese town in spite of ceasefire
- Israeli aircraft conducted three consecutive strikes on town of Deir Aames
DEATH TOLL – WAR ON LEBANON (tentative):
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.
At least 13 Palestinians were killed Friday, including a woman and her two children, and at least 4 police officers, in Israeli strikes targeting multiple areas in the Gaza Strip in ongoing ceasefire violations.
The Ministry of Interior said that 27 police personnel have been killed since the “ceasefire” in October 2025, along with dozens of wounded officers, as Israeli forces continue to target police patrols, civil defense teams, and municipal workers across the Strip.
10-year-old girl shot in the head by Israeli fire in northern Gaza: The child was shot while inside a school sheltering displaced people.
‘Silent suffering’: Why children in Gaza are losing their ability to speak: An estimated 1.1 million children in Gaza now need mental health and psychosocial support, as a growing number lose their ability to speak due to trauma and injuries from Israeli attacks.
Palestinian local elections highlight rise of clans over factions: Palestinians are heading to the polls on Saturday in local elections covering 183 municipalities in the West Bank and the Deir al-Balah municipality in the Gaza Strip. Deir al-Balah was chosen because it is among the least damaged cities in Gaza following two years of Israeli war. The elections represent a procedural requirement aimed at ensuring the continuity of local councils, without carrying deep political significance.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 786 since ceasefire began Oct. 11, 2025
- 72,585 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls) since October 2023
- More statistics below
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 occupiers torch Palestinian property near Nablus in West Bank
Friday Dawn Invasions, Abductions And Violations
West Bank Update: More Invasion, Violations
Israeli Colonizers Escalate Attacks Across West Bank
DEATH TOLL – WEST BANK/EAST JERUSALEM (tentative):
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.
First wave of Indian migrants lands in Israel to expand settlements, replace Palestinian laborers: A $30-million, 4-year plan aims to bring 6,000 Indian Jews (who claim descent from a so-called “lost tribe”) by 2030, to expand illegal settlements, and replace the Palestinian workforce that was cut off after October 2023.
Netanyahu received prostate cancer treatment in recent months without public disclosure: Report
MORE NEWS & HEADLINES:
Poll Finds Just 4 Percent of Democrats Support Increasing Military Aid to Israel: The Economist/YouGov polling released this week found that only 11 percent of American adults say that the U.S. should increase military aid to Israel, including only 4 percent of people identifying themselves as Democrats — and only 23 percent of Republicans.
Meanwhile, the polling found that 56 percent of Democrats say the U.S. should decrease military aid to Israel, including 35 percent who say the practice should stop altogether. Just 19 percent said the U.S. should maintain current levels, while 20 percent said they were not sure.
Artists to stage alternative Eurovision event in Brussels over Israel’s participation: Under slogan ‘Don’t watch Eurovision. No stage for genocide,’ festival brings together Belgian and Palestinian artists. Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia are also boycotting this year’s Eurovision song competition.
Hind Rajab Foundation welcomes Polish decision to investigate attack on Gaza-bound flotilla
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
Over two-thirds of US-Israeli targets in Tehran ‘not linked to military
At least 27 journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2
Israel is threatening to resume the genocide in Gaza. This time, the world isn’t paying attention
Occupation Forces Kill a Palestinian Teen in Nablus
Netanyahu Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, Underwent Radiation Therapy Without Informing Public
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – APRIL 24, 2026*:
- At least 73,741 Palestinians killed, 184,070 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 72,585 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 172,370 injured
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,156 killed (~240 children), 11,700 injured
*NOTE: Thousands of those killed in Gaza have yet to be identified, and an estimated 8,000 more are still buried under rubble (some sources put the number of missing as high as 14,000); 3,000 more are reportedly missing. Only the dead who are brought to hospitals are included in the official fatality count. Additionally, the numbers of injured are very conservative estimates.
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – April 24, 2026: ~1,661 – 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).
By one count, Israeli attacks have killed approximately 282 Palestinian journalists and media workers (most recent March 9, 2026; other groups have tallied between 215 and 356 Palestinian journalists killed – depending on the criteria used). Palestinians have killed 4 Israeli journalists (all on October 7, 2023).
**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)
- Christians in Israel and Palestine, past and present
- Meet the Top “Content” Producers Linked to Canary Mission
- Lebanese Journalist Amal Khalil Bombed and Left to Die by Israel
- Israel Moves to Re-establish Ganim Colony In Jenin
- Two Iranian Women in ICE Detention Are Not, In Fact, Related to Qasem Soleimani, Documents Show
- Gaza’s unseen casualties: A surge in stillbirths and birth defects
- ‘Day of Ordinary Terror’: Israeli Attack on West Bank School Kills Man, Child
- Final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment
- Zionist Doxxing Campaigns Upended Their Lives. Now They’re Suing for Damages.
- Israeli soldiers using sexual assault to force Palestinians out of West Bank, report says
- Top Biden Official Supports Trump Iran Attack, Says Biden May Have Done The Same
- A history of Israel’s invasions of Lebanon
- How the powerful pro-Israel lobby keeps controlling Democrats in the US
