News roundup for Friday, May 8, 2026, Day 945 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.
Rodent infestation caused by Israel’s destruction of Gaza is now creating a public health catastrophe: More than 70,000 cases of ectoparasite infections were reported in Gaza in 2026, which a WHO spokesperson called “the unfortunate but predictable consequence when people live in a collapsed living environment.” Health officials say a plague outbreak is no longer a remote possibility.
Israel strikes family home, injures nine: Witnesses said an Israeli surveillance drone fired a missile at the Al-Adham family home on Al-Majadla Street in al-Shati refugee camp, but it failed to explode. A fighter jet later returned and bombed the house, destroying it, igniting fires, injuring nine, and damaging nearby homes.
Israel plans to release 2 activists of Gaza aid flotilla Saturday, says rights group
‘Prison cells echoed with his screams’: Harrowing testimonies expose Israeli torture of Gaza hospital director: According to former prisoners, Dr. Hussam Abu Safia has been stripped, severely beaten, and attacked by police dogs. One witness stated he could no longer recognize the doctor due to his drastic weight loss and a “dazed” mental state, while others described hearing his screams during beatings. Another witness revealed that Abu Safiya suffers from constant vomiting and is being denied essential medical care despite his life-threatening condition.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 850 since ceasefire began Oct. 11, 2025
- 72,736 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls) since October 2023
- More statistics below
Abducted Palestinian Doctor, Hossam Abu Safiya, suffered severe torture, starvation, medical neglect, and systematic humiliation inside Israeli torture prisons, according to testimonies from Palestinians recently freed from Israeli occupation prisons, as cited by the Palestinian… pic.twitter.com/4nPDC5of4O
— VPol (@VocalPolitics1) May 7, 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 forces forced a Palestinian family in Jenin to exhume their son’s body, buried just hours earlier, and move it to another location. The order was reportedly made because the cemetery was too close to an Israeli settlement. Israeli daily Ha’aretz reports that settlers prompted the Israeli forces to demand the body be exhumed.
Thousands run Palestine Marathon under shadow of Israel’s war on Gaza: The tenth Palestine International Marathon has been run in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, with a parallel race held in Gaza after a two-year hiatus caused by the war. Thousands of Palestinian and international runners gathered at the traditional starting point, the Church of the Nativity. The theme was “the unity of the homeland.” A separate 5km race was organized in central Gaza.
RELATED: Winners crowned in 10th Palestine International Marathon in Bethlehem
Jericho: Joint Palestinian-Israeli Protest Denounces Settler Violence and Occupation
Friday: Israeli Invasions and Abductions Across the West Bank
Father And Child Injured by Colonizers Amid Escalating West Bank Attacks
US opposes Israeli annexation of West Bank, diplomat tells UN
Israeli occupiers torch Palestinian vehicle, spray racist graffiti near northeast Ramallah
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 army chief recommends commander who destroyed Gaza university for senior role: Barak Hiram, who ordered tank shells to be fired at an Israeli home during the 7 October attacks, is recommended for the post of military secretary. In 2024 he demolished a university building without authorization – one that did not pose a threat. During Hiram’s command in Gaza, a unit under the division was implicated in the killing of 15 Palestinian aid workers and paramedics in Tel al-Sultan.
Ben-Gvir’s Birthday Bash Marked Another Dark Day for Israeli Democracy (original story here)
Israeli companies are pretending to be American to escape the shame of the Israel brand, Paul Biggar, founder of Tech for Palestine, has uncovered. GivingTech — a “global” philanthropy fintech marketed in the US and Europe is in fact the Tel Aviv-based IsraelGives, Biggar reported. The organization is reported to have channeled donations to Israeli military units and illegal West Bank settlements.
Firstly, we found this because we were evaluating a partner and they used a site called https://t.co/DVAgI8yHGP. After we put a small donation through it, the new website’s title became “IsraelGives”.
But actually we had a clue before: the donation form had the IsraelGives logo… pic.twitter.com/rUqaJNKyZx
— Paul Biggar 🇵🇸🇮🇪 (@paulbiggar) May 7, 2026
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.“
Israel pushes US towards return to Iran war, ‘destruction’ of energy infrastructure: Israeli officials have conveyed a message to Washington that any future military campaign against Iran should include strikes on the country’s energy sector, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing what it described as an “informed” Israeli source.
US military says it disabled 2 more vessels violating blockade in Gulf of Oman
Trump threatens to resume ‘Project Freedom Plus’ if Iran deal not sealed
DEATH TOLL – WAR ON IRAN (tentative):
- United States: 13 (or more)
- Iran: at least 3,636 (1,701 civilians, 254 children)
- Israel: 35 (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
Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire?
Whatever the causes, outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure. pic.twitter.com/ev7dMIebNB
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 8, 2026
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.)
Lebanon says farmland area roughly size of Chicago destroyed in Israeli offensive: 1.8M poultry and livestock killed, small farmers hit hardest, says Agriculture Ministry.
DEATH TOLL – WAR ON LEBANON (tentative):
-
NEWS & HEADLINES FROM 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. Israel has demanded the demilitarization of southern Syria, allegedly to prevent any “potential threat” from post-war Syria – but has vowed to stay permanently in what seems to be an informal border expansion.
Israeli forces raid Syria’s Quneitra countryside, detain civilian: An Israeli force made up of six military vehicles pushed toward the village of Saida al-Hanout in southern Quneitra countryside, stopped several shepherds and detained one of them, according to SANA.
The Israeli army also reportedly targeted an area in the countryside of Quneitra in southwestern Syria with more than eight explosive devices on Friday. The attacks came despite earlier remarks by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who said talks with Israel were progressing with difficulty because of Israel’s insistence on maintaining a presence in Syrian territory.
Israeli army regularly violates Syrian sovereign territory – here, on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region, on December 19, 2024. (Saeed Qaq – Anadolu Agency)
MORE NEWS & HEADLINES:
Over 300 Christian leaders from states across the US called on Congress this week to stop funding Israel and allow unimpeded aid into Gaza. The religious leaders urged members of Congress to instead provide funding for hospitals in occupied East Jerusalem and in Gaza, as well as to restore funds to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), which serves as a lifeline for many Palestinians.
Committee to Protect Journalists demands update on US probe of Israel’s killing of Palestinian-American journalist: In an open letter to the Justice Department and FBI chief Kash Patel, CPJ demands an update on the FBI probe into Israeli military’s 2022 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank.
RELATED: Shireen Abu Akleh’s death exposes Israel for what it is – a murderous regime
Britain quietly approves $11.85m arms license to Israel despite Gaza ban
‘Integrity costs something’: Eurovision winners want Israel out of the contest: Former champions call for boycott of event over ‘catastrophe’ in Gaza and say show cannot be separated from political reality
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
The catastrophic impasse in Gaza is the new status quo
Rights Group Seeks Doctor for Hunger-striking Gaza Flotilla Detainee in Israel
New $270 million Israeli-only roads project in the West Bank is Netanyahu’s latest bid to impose de facto annexation
Jared Kushner’s Role as ‘Special Peace Envoy’ Is a 5-Alarm Constitutional Fire
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – MAY 8, 2026*:
- At least 73,892 Palestinians killed, 184,235 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 72,736*** killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 172,535 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.
***NOTE: The Health Ministry stated that 103 additional fatalities were recently added to the cumulative statistics after their data were verified and officially recognized by the Committee for the Accreditation of Martyrs earlier this month.
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – May 8, 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)
- A Conservative’s View: Trump’s War on Iran Is Destroying America
- Israel’s war on the West Bank comes for Palestinian greenhouses
- New $270 million Israeli-only roads project in the West Bank is Netanyahu’s latest bid to impose de facto annexation
- Gaza investigation: A family’s fight to find their missing relatives
- MSF: Israel’s deliberate restriction of food and aid led to alarming malnutrition levels in Gaza
- WATCH: Two Supreme Court Justices were secret agents who helped Israel cover up its attack on the USS Liberty
- Bari Weiss ‘Meddles’ With ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ Story on Palestine
- Zionists Are Gunning for Your Freedom of Speech
- The horrors in Gaza continue: Here are the facts
- Israeli General Is Running a Sophisticated, Sociological Engine of Violence
- Israel has stolen $4.8 billion from Palestinians
- The pro-Israel political consensus is collapsing in both parties
- Prominent Christian Zionist Group Is Lobbying U.S. Lawmakers on Israel—Without Revealing It’s Funded by Israel
- Israel’s subversion of Foreign Agents Registration Act
