“Alligator Alcatraz” for Palestinian prisoners in Israel? – Daily Update

News roundup for Thursday, July 16, 2026, Day 1,014 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, about 280 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 organizations like the United Nations and Amnesty International, maintain that the genocide is ongoing.

At least five Palestinians have been killed in attacks across the besieged Gaza Strip as Israel continues to violate an October “ceasefire” on a near-daily basis.

Waiting for Hassan: Another Gaza doctor held by Israel without charge: Hassan Khalil Almukayed is among at least 15 Palestinian doctors from Gaza currently in Israeli detention.

Israel admits it holds Gaza bodies as bargaining chips: “Israel has a long and shameful history of desecrating and abusing Palestinian bodies from the state’s earliest days and throughout its existence,” according to Gisha, an Israeli human rights organization.

DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):

• At least 1,127 since ceasefire began Oct. 11, 2025 (247 children, 191 women)
• 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.
• 73,250 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls) since October 2023
• More statistics below

 

 

 

 

 

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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.)

A six-year-old Palestinian boy was injured on Wednesday after being hit by a car driven by an Israeli settler* in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, according to his father, who said the settler deliberately drove into his son while he was playing with other children near the Israeli military Checkpoint 160 before fleeing the scene.

*NOTE: Israeli settlers – many fueled by extremism – have carried out a number of mass attacks or “pogroms.” These well-organized groups aim to destroy the West Bank economy and/or drive out the indigenous Palestinians (including Palestinian Christians). Settlers enjoy impunity – even support and assistance from the Israeli government and military – as they attack Palestinians on a daily basis. Meanwhile Palestinians are not allowed to own weapons.

RELATED: Israeli Settlers Beat US Citizen, Threatened to Burn Palestinian Grandmother and Kids Alive

Israel approves $356m for settlement road construction: The roads will serve dozens of new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The plan, submitted by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, will be allocated over three years.

West Bank Invasions Leave Child Injured, Dozens Abducted

Israeli Colonizers Injure Palestinians, Torch Property in West Bank

Palestine lists 12 new sites on tentative UNESCO heritage list to counter Israeli erasure

DEATH TOLL – WEST BANK/EAST JERUSALEM (tentative):

• At least 1,179 killed (~244 children) since Oct. 7, 2023
• More statistics below

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.

Crocodile-filled moats could surround Israeli prisons holding Palestinians*: A legal hurdle was cleared towards Security Minister Ben-Gvir’s controversial proposal to have crocodiles serve as de facto guards at prisons holding Palestinians. First, crocodiles had to be reclassified from “protected” to “managed wild animals.”

Netanyahu cancels* planned Washington trip next week: Israeli premier’s office cites postponement of US Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral as reason for canceling visit.

*NOTE: It is possible that Netanyahu wants to skip the meeting because he is wanted for war crimes, and could be arrested. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on Nov. 21, 2024, over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where more than 72,000 people have been killed in a brutal assault since Oct. 2023. Several Hamas members were also charged, but Israel has since assassinated them.

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

The US military’s Central Command said it had started another round of air strikes, the sixth day in a row, at 2pm Eastern Time (19:00 GMT), “to further degrade Iranian military capabilities”.

Iran’s attacks on Gulf states have had no operational impact on US forces, CENTCOM tells Al Jazeera: The US has 50,000 soldiers in the Middle East, and they are ready to carry out any mission, the spokesperson said, while claiming Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries “have [had] no operational impact on our forces”.

Iran says seven killed in latest US strikes, warns war ‘will spread’: Israeli warplanes are not attacking Iran, but Israel’s exclusion is largely superficial. Behind the scenes, the U.S. still relies heavily on Israeli support, particularly intelligence.

Pentagon delays probe into strike on Iranian elementary school that killed 168: Report

US-Israeli Bombing Has Harmed Iran’s Wildlife, Farms, and Water Supply

Spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari:

“The criminal America continues its acts of defiance and destabilization in the region.

First, it must be reiterated that under no circumstances and in no way will we allow the United… pic.twitter.com/zEMo3m5zgC

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) July 16, 2026

LEBANON

As Lebanon, Israel, and the US wrap up a 6th round of talks in Rome, reports say that secret clauses in the agreement aim to preserve continued Israeli occupation and “freedom of action” in Lebanon. Israel continues to make public and official statements vowing that there will be no withdrawal from Lebanon. 

The next day, Israel substantially escalated strikes, killing at least two people.

The Israeli army has begun establishing a new line of permanent military posts in southern Lebanon to strengthen its presence in the area, Israeli daily Maariv reported Thursday. Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said the new fixed positions are part of the army’s efforts to cement its foothold in southern Lebanon. This comes as Israel insists it will not be withdrawing from southern Lebanon anytime soon, although it is in talks about withdrawal plans.

‘Destroyed my whole life’: Lebanese families wiped out in Israeli attacks: Hussein Saleh describes an Israeli air attack in Tyre that killed his family, including his wife and his only child.

SYRIA

Israeli Forces Attack Southwest Syrian Town of Maariyah: Israel is launching an increasing number of incursions into southwest Syria, targeting both the Quneitra and Daraa Governorates. At least 22 such incursions have already been documented so far this month, with more happening all the time. Israeli troops attacked the village of Maariyah outright, opening fire on the village homes with heavy machine guns.

• United States: 13 (or more) 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 4,321 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:

‘What Region of Pennsylvania Is Israel Located In?’: Fetterman Jeered for Threat to Quit Dems: “If he’s willing to throw the entire control of the Senate to the other party over Israel, then he’s dismissing the interests of his own state and constituents,” said one critic.

AIPAC, ‘Murky’ Donors Spend $50 Million to Help Stevens Beat El-Sayed in Michigan: “They may have the money,” said the progressive primary challenger. “But we have the many.”

ISRAELI MEDIA: Democrats Rejected U.S. Aid to Israel, and AIPAC Couldn’t Stop Them: AIPAC’s standing in American politics is at an inflection point like never before: its lobbying efforts cannot make a difference on the most essential votes on U.S.-Israel ties, and its electoral efforts have made it toxic for many voters and candidates alike.

Kamala Harris’ Palestine shift is all for show, don’t fall for it: Kamala Harris’s reported outreach to pro-Palestinian activists should not be mistaken for moral courage. It is not a late conversion born of the ruins of Gaza, nor an act of repentance for the Biden administration’s complicity in Israel’s genocidal war. It is, above all, an act of political survival.

Hind Rajab Foundation* rights group files war crimes complaint in Portugal against Israeli soldier

*NOTE: Read about the Hind Rajab Foundation and its effort to hold Israeli soldiers accountable here; find out who Hind Rajab was here.

ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:

The school of Palestinian journalism

At least 35 Iranian civilians have been killed and over 300 others injured

US House rejects Massie amendment to eliminate $3.3B in US military aid to Israel