News roundup for Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Day 1,019 since Israel began its 2023 genocide on the Palestinian people.
Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
New York City’s Mayor Mamdani speaks the documented truth:
ISRAELI MEDIA: ‘Enough with the blood libels*‘: Danon decries Mamdani’s labeling of Netanyahu as war criminal**: “Zohran Mamdani, ENOUGH. Enough with the blood libels. Enough with the attacks on Jewish organizations,” Danon proclaimed. “You were elected to serve New Yorkers, not Hamas’ propaganda. Do your job!”
*NOTE: Israel partisans are quick to label speakers of inconvenient truths, then dismiss those truths. When a human rights org publishes a report stating that Israel is committing genocide or apartheid, for example, or that Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, Israel partisans generally accuse them of spreading disinformation, being antisemitic, or using a blood libel. What the accusers do not do is engage with the facts in the report to show mistakes or lies – because the reports are legitimate and documented.
**NOTE: The Trump administration (and the Biden administration before it) has thrown its full weight of support on Israel. The absurd result is that people who speak about war crimes face rebuke for stating facts, while someone who is wanted for committing war crimes apparently gets a free pass.
Israel has run an almost decade-long secret “war” against the International Criminal Court, deploying its intelligence agencies to surveil, hack, pressure, smear, and allegedly threaten senior ICC staff in an effort to derail the court’s inquiries into Israeli leaders’ crimes. Read more here.
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.
Israeli occupation forces killed at least 17 Palestinians, including a family, as it carried out more than a dozen violations of the ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, in a series of airstrikes, drone attacks, and live‑fire incidents across the Gaza Strip.
Among the dead Tuesday was a family of six, killed by Israeli missiles as they slept: In the al-Masri family home in Gaza City, Firas and Salsabeel al-Masri were killed, as well as their three young daughters and son. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it was targeting a Hamas member and was still looking into the results of the attack.
‘All we wanted was to bury him’: How a Gaza family struggled to recover their dead son: As Israel’s ‘Yellow Line’ cuts across the Strip, relatives say loved ones killed near the military zone are left beyond reach for days or even months.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Gaza Barrier* Extends Almost a Mile Beyond the Yellow Line (as IAK reported in yesterday’s Daily Update): The dividing line between Israeli-controlled, occupied Gaza and Hamas-controlled Gaza was marked out with yellow-painted concrete blocks, which the IDF has gradually moved westward, expanding the territory it controls from 53% to approaching 70%. Satellite images show the earthen berm now marking the perimeter reaches in places nearly a mile beyond the Yellow Line.
*NOTE: The new wall swallowing up well over half of Gaza’s land (without its residents) might aptly be called a “Genocide Wall,” as the Palestinians consigned to the other side are slowly dying of starvation, exposure, and disease, in addition to airstrikes and snipers’ bullets.
RELATED: How Israel’s ‘Yellow Line’ is redrawing Gaza and preventing displaced Palestinians returning home.
Gaza’s beekeeping sector is facing the risk of collapse as Israel’s genocidal war has destroyed apiaries, wiped out vegetation, and prevented beekeepers from reaching key grazing areas in the eastern Gaza Strip. Honey production and beekeeping sector has suffered losses estimated at around $39 million since October 2023, as nearly 30,000 beehives were destroyed.
‘My Father Is a Hero’: Detained Palestinian Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s Son Speaks to Zeteo: “My father is a role model for all of Palestine for his service, his steadfastness, humanity, and love of Palestine. He always says that Palestine is the most honorable cause, as it is the cause for freedom with its people, particularly in Gaza, sacrificing and enduring the worst, just to be free. All of the doctors need our support because they are all heroes. It is important for us to remember all of them and demand their release.”
RELATED: Israel is murdering Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The U.S. media is covering up the crime: 2 Articles
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,168 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.
- 73,293 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.)
Released Palestinian Prisoner Dies from Israeli Torture, Prisoner Groups Say: Palestinian prisoner organizations announced on Tuesday the death of former detainee Ahmed Samir Odeh, 23, from the town of Hawwara, south of Nablus, holding the Israeli occupation fully responsible for his death after his release.
In a joint statement, the organizations said Odeh succumbed to the lasting effects of torture, abuse, and harsh detention conditions he endured inside Israeli prisons, describing his death as evidence that “the heavy price paid by prisoners continues even after they regain their freedom.”
*NOTE: Israeli torture of Palestinians has been widespread and well-documented since October 7th and long before – including torture of children. The Israeli NGO B’Tselem investigated allegations of torture in Israeli prisons and published their findings in a report called, Welcome to Hell: the Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps. Torture is a war crime.
A Palestinian woman lost her unborn baby Tuesday after suffering severe shock following an attack by Israeli settlers on her family’s home in the southern West Bank. Ruqayya Rabai reportedly suffered severe shock and fear after Israeli settlers hurled stones at her house before setting it on fire. They also torched the village mosque and several homes. The terror of the situation caused Rabai to miscarry.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Extremist settlers allegedly stole some 200 goats from two Palestinian villages in the central West Bank and took them to a nearby illegal farming settlement outpost, the Peace Now settlement watchdog said Tuesday. Footage shows five Jewish youths with tzitzit (ritual fringes) and peyot (sidelocks), some of whom were also masked, driving dozens of goats down a street in Deir Ibzi.
One Palestinian was detained by the IDF during the incident and has not yet been released. IDF soldiers and settlers seized the phones of three Palestinians who had recorded the incident. Other Palestinians were beaten.
Israeli Army Invades West Bank Towns, Injures Residents, Abducts Dozens
Occupation Army Demolishes Two Homes in Hebron and Jerusalem
Israeli Colonizers Carry Out Attacks Across the 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.
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
US conducts 11th consecutive night of strikes on Iran: CENTCOM
Iran’s Health Ministry says 53 dead, close to 600 wounded since fighting restarted
U.S. strikes unlikely to move Iran, intelligence reports say: American agencies see a long standoff between Tehran and Washington, as Iran is unlikely to soften its negotiating position because of U.S. military action.
Iran’s IRGC claims missile strike on Amazon data infrastructure in Bahrain
Trump may expand attacks on Iran, Israel braces for possible retaliation: Report: Israeli officials believe broader US strikes could prompt Tehran to directly target Israel.
Israel‘s Secret Sales Pitch to Provide Surveillance Drones to the UAE: Internal emails and documents reveal how Israel’s Elbit Systems worked to supply the UAE with drones and other weapons.
LEBANON
Trump vows to help Lebanon but offers no timeline for Israeli withdrawal: The US president did not announce any concrete policies towards Lebanon as he spoke to reporters alongside Aoun at the White House on Tuesday.
Israeli forces reportedly opened fire Tuesday near Lebanese army forces as they deployed in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, an incident that could undermine the implementation of a pilot deployment under a US-mediated framework agreement with Israel.
EXPLAINER – What are pilot zones? Breaking down the new US-backed Lebanon-Israel security framework
DEATH TOLL – WARS ON IRAN & LEBANON (tentative):
- United States: 17 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 4,328 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:
Further revelations expose $100m behind Israel’s frantic bid to win back US opinion
Interview: Muslim leader speaks out after more than 80 days in ICE detention: ‘It brought back memories from Palestine’: “It all brought back old memories of things that happened to me when I was tried in Palestine,” said Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque and a green card holder, who has lived in the US for decades. “The humiliation, the treatment by guards, the way they talk to people, the way they try to put people down.”
US appeals court overturns ruling requiring release of pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi
RELATED: Mohsen Mahdawi: I Was Detained for My Beliefs. Who Will Be Next?
Raskin Launches Investigation Into Evidence Epstein* Was ‘Foreign Agent’ Working for Israel: Recently released documents show that Epstein acted aggressively on behalf of Israel and other foreign governments in order to influence US policies.
*NOTE: For more headlines on Epstein’s deep connections to Israel, check here.
US Sen. Bernie Sanders says Israel ‘did not have the right to commit genocide’ in Gaza: ‘Netanyahu’s extremist government in Israel should not get one nickel more from US taxpayers,’ says Sanders.
Netherlands to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements starting in September: Imports from illegal Israeli settlements consist mainly of agricultural products, including avocados, dates, oranges, grapes, and fresh herbs.
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
The ambulance and medical‑transport system in Gaza is on the verge of complete shutdown
Israel building miles-long earthen barrier inside area it holds in Gaza
Palestinian Yousef Farahati, 19, died on Monday
Israeli minister calls for settlement building in Gaza, claims enclave ‘part of Israel’
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 21, 2026*:
- At least 74,474 Palestinians killed, 186,864 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,293 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,864 injured
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,181 killed (~244 children), 13,000 injured
*NOTE: Thousands of remains in Gaza have yet to be identified, and thousands more are still buried under rubble;others are reportedly missing.
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – July 21, 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)
- Bethlehem: Every morning the same question: “Why are we still here?”
- Israel’s War Kills More U.S. Troops
- Lethal Precision Without Accountability: Israeli Government “Quadcopter” Use in Gaza
- ‘Sip your coffee while watching the sunrise’: How Israel is colonizing the West Bank by selling Palestinian land to Jewish Americans
- Pro-Israel GOP donors fueling Rep. Stevens’ Dem primary in Michigan
- Yesterday’s US-Iran escalation is a mere prelude to what is likely to come
- Wall Street Journal: Israel’s $50 Million Experiment to Change U.S. Public Opinion
- Vance: Israeli government members ‘hate’ Iran deal
- How six months in Israeli jail changed this Palestinian journalist’s life forever
- Recording Shows UAW Federal Monitor Pressured Union President Over Israel
- ‘What Region of Pennsylvania Is Israel Located In?’: Fetterman Jeered for Threat to Quit Dems
- Israel advances crocodile plan to stop Palestinian prisoners escaping
- AIPAC, ‘Murky’ Donors Spend $50 Million to Help Stevens Beat El-Sayed in Michigan
- Israel admits it holds Gaza bodies as bargaining chips
