News roundup for Monday, August 24, 2026, Day 1,054 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, over 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.
Eight Palestinians, including two children, were killed on Monday – and several others injured – in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire that ostensibly went into effect last October.
The Israeli army on Monday ordered the evacuation of a residential area north of the Al-Shati refugee camp in northwestern Gaza City. The area is home to tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians and local residents, witnesses said.
Kites* reaching Israel from the Gaza Strip have not been used to carry weapons or incendiary materials, an unnamed source in the US-led Board of Peace said Monday amid Israeli threats to sharply escalate attacks on the enclave. Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Israel had given the Board of Peace three days to stop kites from reaching its territory from Gaza, threatening to intensify strikes on the enclave if they continued. This after several downed kites were found in Israel over the weekend.
*NOTE: In the summer of 2021, Israel bombed Gaza relentlessly, ultimately killing 253 Gazans (66 of them children), while Palestinian rockets killed 12 Israelis (2 of them children). (Such a disproportionate ratio is typical.) A small number of Gazans began – when the wind was right – attaching Molotov cocktails to bunches of balloons and kites, and launching them toward Israel.
Some property and land damage were reported, but no Israeli deaths. Israeli leaders may be recalling this brief “terror balloon” trend, and worrying that their nuclear capabilities are no match for such cutting-edge weaponry.
READ MORE: Gaza incendiary balloons are ‘distress signals’ against Israel’s cruel blockade
READ ABOUT the power imbalance between Israel and Hamas: Israeli war planes vs Palestinian balloons, kites & rockets
Updated Gaza statistics: On Monday, Gaza’s government media office said Israel had committed 4,379 ceasefire violations since the ceasefire deal ostensibly took effect in October 2025. Only 66,607 aid trucks had entered the Gaza Strip out of 189,000 that had been supposed to enter.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,288 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.
- 73,420 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls) since October 2023
- More statistics below
Footage shows widespread destruction in the aftermath of Israeli attacks on a residential block in Al-Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/XpCdtuwK0N
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) August 24, 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 occupier (i.e. settler) attacks in West Bank surge 63%: Palestinian agency: Commission records 4,113 attacks from January through July, up from 2,524 in same period last year.
Israeli forces arrest 17 Palestinians as occupiers expand West Bank outpost: Among the detainees is the son of Fathi Khazem, who was killed by Israeli army on Friday in Jenin.
‘Don’t Forget Palestine’ – Iconic Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour Dies at 79
ISRAELI MEDIA: Israeli Lawmaker Tzvi Sukkot confirms he destroyed monument in West Bank town while guarded by IDF: “Every child who sees every day a giant monument that glorifies murderers of Jews* will dream of being a terrorist**,” Sukkot said in a post to X/Twitter. Israeli forces can be seen guarding the MK and those accompanying him in the footage.
*NOTE: Sukkot’s premise – that the monument commemorating the intifadas glorified the killing of Jews – is patently false. The intifadas grew out of deep frustration and anger over Israel’s long-term military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and were directed against the occupier, Israel, not Jews (the first and second uprisings saw roughly 5,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis killed).
Sukkot’s statement is another example of the intentional conflation of Israel with all Jews. This framing makes it easy to insist that criticism of or resistance against Israel is antisemitic (i.e. that anti-Zionism is antisemitism) – with the ultimate outcome that critics are discredited and silenced, and Israel enjoys impunity for its actions.
Israeli leaders and pro-Israel organizations have a long history of conflating Jews with the state of Israel – the so-called “Jewish State” (of which 21% of its residents are non-Jews).
**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 Palestinians, including resistance members, “terrorists” is an attempt to delegitimize the struggle of a people seeking freedom, justice, and self-determination.
תיעוד: חבר הכנסת צבי סוכות ניפץ אנדרטה למחבל בכפר מדאמא שליד שכם@HGoldich @glick_sh
צילום: סעיף 27א pic.twitter.com/CktNKehOG2— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 25, 2026
Israel is using Qusra to show Palestinians the price of staying: For more than two weeks now, the Palestinian town of Qusra has been under an Israeli-imposed siege as the displacement of Palestinian families there persists. What began with Israeli settlers armed with military-issued weapons transformed into a joint military-settler operation.
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.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Ben‑Gvir Defies Elections Committee Pledge, Turns Police Event Into Campaign Rally
Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard wants Iran ‘off the map’, says wars on Turkey and Egypt are next: The former US intelligence analyst turned spy is entering politics on a platform of expansion and regional warfare.
Documents Reveal Trail of Unreported Millions From Israeli Military to U.S. Universities: Research funding by Israel’s Ministry of Defense and arms manufacturers often fails to appear in national databases intended to track foreign funding.
IRAN, LEBANON, & SYRIA – NEWS & HEADLINES:
IRAN
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.
Iran vows to target ‘source and origin’ of any aggression in warning to EU state: “There is no reason for any country to be concerned about us unless it has made its bases available to the aggressing party… We will show no leniency in defending Iran,” said a spokesperson.
US launches Operation Economic Outcast to sever Iran’s financial ‘lifelines’: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announces ‘unprecedented’ sanctions targeting aviation, shipping, gold, technology, and digital assets.
LEBANON
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.
Israeli drone strike kills 2 teens as army blows up homes, burns fields in southern Lebanon
SYRIA
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.
Israel steps up attacks on Syria hours after top Syrian diplomat meets Mossad chief
US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list
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 4,348 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 40 soldiers, 4 civilians)
MORE NEWS & HEADLINES:
Trump Sanctioned ICC Officials to Shield Israeli Leaders. Rights Groups Sued.’
El-Sayed’s GOP Opponent Attended 3 AIPAC-Hosted Fundraisers in 1 Day: The Michigan GOP candidate has reportedly asked AIPAC not to openly back his campaign, wary of its image.
UN rapporteur calls for international protection force in Gaza, West Bank: Francesca Albanese says deployment is ‘absolutely urgent’ and calls on states to act on International Court of Justice ruling*.
*NOTE: The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on Nov. 21, 2024, over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where more than 73,000 people have been killed in a brutal assault since Oct. 2023.
*NOTE: Israel seized the Syrian Golan Heights during the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981. The United Nations and most of the international community regard the area as occupied Syrian territory and do not recognize Israel’s annexation. In 2019, Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the territory, reversing decades of US policy.
The “annexation” of the Golan Heights was specifically condemned by the UN Security Council in Resolution 497 (more here and here).
Netherlands pulls out of Eurovision 2027 over concerns about Gaza
*NOTE: Pro-Israel organizations consistently work to silence Palestine advocacy in the public sphere, violating the right of free speech. One strategy they use is to pressure institutions and governments to officially adopt the IHRA “definition” of antisemitism, which defines legitimate criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
The May 2024 Statement from Concerned Jewish Faculty Against Antisemitism signed by over 1,200 Jewish academics points out, “By stifling criticism of Israel, the IHRA definition hardens the dangerous notion that Jewish identity is inextricably linked to every decision of Israel’s government. Far from combating antisemitism, this dynamic promises to amplify the real threats Jewish Americans already face.”
Read more about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which curtails legitimate criticism of Israel, here and here.
MUST-READ: Antisemitism? Really? The 33 Most Absurd Examples Listed in the ADL’s New Database
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
ISRAELI MEDIA: Stop Treating the Mass Killing in Gaza as a Series of IDF ‘Exceptions’ – It’s the Rule
Israeli Army Kills a Child in Nablus
The Palestinian-American determined to defend his Qusra home from Israeli settlers
Israeli army used 30 years’ worth of ammunition in under 3 years of war
Israel Using White Phosphorus Munitions Increasingly Often in Southern Lebanon
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – August 24, 2026*:
- At least 74,597 Palestinians killed, 187,369 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,422 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 174,401 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 24, 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 is sponsoring ads on Ted Cruz’s podcast. Is that legal?
- Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Ruffalo among 20 Marvel stars backing release of Marwan Barghouti
- Guilt, grief and strength: Gaza’s ‘sole survivor’ children face life alone
- Israeli media: 94 Percent of Gazans Need Shelter and Housing Assistance, UN-backed Survey Says
- Turkey Requests Netanyahu’s Arrest, Saying Israel Abused Flotilla Activists
- Israel threatens assassinations, evacuations in Gaza over children’s kites
- Former British and French diplomats urge action over Israel’s ‘erasure’ of Palestine
- The Bessent Doctrine: How the US Treasury Targets Palestinian Survival and Iran
- Van Jones Ripped for ‘Absolutely Sickening’ Remarks About Gaza Baby Starved by Israel
- Israeli Media: The IDF’s Gaza Investigations Aren’t Professionalism – They’re Political Theater (MSF agrees)
- BBC cancelled interview on Israel’s killing of Hind Rajab
- Tucker Carlson says Israel pushed him to report false allegations against Hunter Biden
- Flashback: Israel killed Israelis, confirms 7 October documentary
- Has Trump turned the tables on Iran – or is another round of war coming?
