News roundup for Thursday, July 23, 2026, Day 1,021 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 290 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 six Palestinians and wounded others across the Gaza Strip during the past twenty‑four hours, as violations of the so‑called ceasefire continued for the 287th consecutive day.
Among the wounded was a 1-year-old baby girl.
Gaza Strip: Acute Food Insecurity Situation (IPC – Integrated Food Security Phase Classification): Between mid-April and 30 June 2026, over 1.2 million people (59 percent of the population) faced Crisis or worse conditions (IPC Phase 3 or above), including 212,000 people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). All five governorates are classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).
Conditions are projected to worsen between July and December 2026: 1.9 million people — about 90% of Gaza’s population — are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity through December.
83% of households report having no source of income, leaving most families dependent on external assistance, and only one in five children in Gaza currently has access to an adequate diet.
RELATED: Gaza officials warn of ‘silent famine’ as aid deliveries fall far below planned levels
Rebuilding of Gaza to cost seven times more than all previous wars: Oxfam estimated the total cost of rebuilding Gaza at a staggering $71.4 billion, seven times combined the cost of rebuilding the devastated territory after previous Israeli wars, such as the ones in 2008-9, 2014, and 2021. Richard Hawkes, the chief executive of Oxfam’s UK branch, commented that Palestinians should be “the primary decision-makers in rebuilding the Gaza Strip,” and the Israeli “ongoing genocide and aid blockade” must end.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,185 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.
- 73,311 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 Forces Kill Three Palestinians, one a youth, in Nablus and Jenin: The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that occupation forces killed Mahmoud Hussein Hamdan Abu Samra, 20, and Mohammad Samer Mohammad Mleitat, 16, and confiscated their bodies, in the town of Beit Furik, southeast of Nablus. An Israeli army statement claimed that the two slain Palestinians had stabbed a colonizer, before another settler shot and killed them.
Meanwhile, Yazan Fakhri Sawafta, 25 from Tubas was killed by Israeli forces on Thursday evening, after allegedly stabbing an Israeli soldier near the Haddad roundabout, east of Jenin in the northern West Bank, and his body was confiscated. Sawafta had served as a police officer with the Palestinian Authority’s security services.
*NOTE: Anyone can visit the Al Aqsa Mosque grounds (known to Jews as the Temple Mount) but only Muslims are allowed to pray there, according to an understanding known as the ‘status quo agreement,’ under which, since 1967, Israel has formally pledged to allow Muslims to pray at the site, while Jews pray at the Western Wall below.
In practice, however, restrictions have steadily eroded, particularly since 2023 (after extremist Itamar Ben Gvir became Minister of National Security). Many Palestinians fear this erosion will lead to open conflict.
(More on the Temple Mount status quo here.)
ISRAELI MEDIA: Settlers Trespass on Restricted Palestinian Land* Despite Legal Orders to Stop, and IDF Soldiers Allow It: Military lawyers said allowing settlers into the area, now a closed military zone, would be unlawful and discriminatory because its Palestinian landowners are also barred, but Haaretz found settlers continue entering, often under military protection.
*NOTE: Israeli firing zones make up 18–20% of the West Bank (nearly 30% of Area C), and are off-limits to civilians for the ostensible purpose of military training.
According to Amnesty International the “Israeli army routinely demolishes Palestinian homes and structures in these “firing zones”; by contrast, the Israel authorities have changed the status of some “of these “firing zones” to allow for the expansion of Israeli settlements located partially or completely in them.”
West Bank Israeli Military Invasions and Abductions, Thursday
Escalating Colonizer Attacks Across the Occupied 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.
‘A triumphant failure’: How Israel’s use of social media influencers to win back support backfired: An unprecedented investment in social media propaganda by Israel is failing to shift the cratering support for the country in the western world amid its ongoing genocide in Gaza, particularly among the younger generation, analysts have told Middle East Eye. All the PR that a $730 million PR budget can buy can’t overcome Israel’s reputation as a genocidaire.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Israeli Security Officials Warn Netanyahu’s Political Interests Could Reignite Iran War
ISRAELI MEDIA: In rarity, charges filed against Israeli filmed attacking CNN crew in West Bank
Netanyahu asks High Court to delay 7 Oct inquiry until after elections
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 attacks Iran for 13th night as Trump threatens ‘bigger’ strikes
Israel signals possible military action against Iran amid uncertainty over US stance: Netanyahu to convene Security Cabinet on Friday as defense officials warn of possible escalation over weekend.
Iran condemns UK decision to allow US use of bases for attacks
Tehran warns any UK base used by US to attack Iran will become ‘legitimate target’
US Senate rejects resolution to limit Trump’s Iran war powers
LEBANON
2 paramedics among 3 injured by Israeli fire in Lebanon despite framework agreement
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 4,328 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:
New York mayor says he and his wife received death threats over their views on Gaza and Iran
Support for the war on Iran has fallen sharply among US President Donald Trump’s core MAGA supporters, with just over a third saying the economic price is justified – down from 50% in May, according to a new POLITICO / Public First poll. This represents a 13-point slide in just over two months and brings Trump’s most committed base closer to the position held by the majority of US citizens who opposed the war from the outset.
Trump ties Saudi nuclear deal to normalization with Israel: US President Trump declared on 23 July that the new agreement with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear program will be conditional on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Normalization was reportedly not discussed during months of Saudi-US nuclear negotiations.
Rights groups sue France over failure to stop corporate support for Israel’s occupation
Greece approves purchase of $4bn Israeli air defense system
If you wonder why 6 Democrats voted with the Republicans for the NDAA, which includes a merging of the US and Israeli militaries, maybe this helps explain. pic.twitter.com/ljwJuPELDZ
— Medea Benjamin (@medeabenjamin) July 23, 2026
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
Gaza Aid Worth Billions Is Stuck in Hormuz
Smotrich takes steps to make his major settlement policy shift harder to reverse
UN experts say Israel’s actions in Lebanon may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity
The bloody legacy of Lindsey Graham in the Middle East
Bari Weiss’s Latest Hire Has an N-Word Problem
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 23, 2026*:
- At least 74,496 Palestinians killed, 186,964 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,311 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,924 injured
- 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 thousands more are still buried under rubble; others are reportedly missing.
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – July 23, 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)
- ISRAELI MEDIA: ‘An Inferno’: Gazans Face Sweltering Conditions in Tent Camps for Third Summer in a Row
- Israel’s Coordinated Campaign to Propagandize Conservatives in America
- The Israeli Spy Behind PragerU’s Plan to Rewrite American Education To Indoctrinate Children
- The President of the World Jewish Congress just sent a warning to every Potential AMERICA FIRST Candidate wishing to run for U.S. Congress
- Israel targets X users, right-wing media with $2 million ad push
- ‘Our role is to hold on’: Palestinian artists in Israel after October 7
- ‘My Father Is a Hero’: Detained Palestinian Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s Son Speaks to Zeteo
- Israel threatens to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem
- Series of Reports Ignored by Media Show Jeffrey Epstein’s Extensive Work With Israeli Intelligence
- Babies in Gaza Die Preventable Deaths Due to Medical Shortages Imposed by Israel
- AG Complaint Filed: Israel Interfering in US Elections Thru Brad Parscale
- 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
