News roundup for Saturday, July 11, 2026, Day 1,009 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 270 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.
Two Palestinians were killed and three others injured on Saturday in Israeli airstrikes in the southern and central Gaza Strip, according to medical sources.
The Man Who Walked Toward the “Yellow Line” in Gaza—and the Son He Carried With Him: Osama Al-Shafi had already begun showing signs of psychological distress, worn down by the harshest of living conditions and the horrors of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. He had earned a meager living from a horse-drawn cart but two months earlier, the horse was killed by shelling. After that, he could no longer provide for his family. The shortages of food and basic necessities grew sharply worse.
Osama’s mental deterioration from the stresses of war culminated in him wandering in a disassociated state towards Israeli soldiers who detained him and his infant son.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,094 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.
- 73,120 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 MEDIA: Settlers Blocked Access to a Palestinian Family’s Toilet. Then the IDF Declared It a Closed Military Zone: One morning, the Hathaleen family of Umm al-Khair discovered that their outhouse had fallen within the illegally expanding boundaries of the nearby Carmel settlement. Then the IDF made things even worse. The family now has to cross the road to use the neighbors’ toilet.
West Bank Overnight: Israeli Military and Paramilitary Invasions and Attacks
Israel targets more than 500 acres in occupied West Bank with military orders: Palestinian commission says 49 orders issued since January impose sweeping restrictions on use of privately owned land.
Israeli Forces Injure 4 Palestinians Near Ramallah
Israeli occupiers attack workers, destroy farm in 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.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Israel’s Children Must Stop Feeding Netanyahu’s War Machine: The best of our children are drafted to defend criminals and guard the ‘miracles’ – so many miracles that our kids are considered war criminals around the world.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Israel Prison Service Restricts Red Cross Visits to Palestinian Prisoners Despite High Court Ruling: A month after the High Court struck down a blanket ban on visits placed after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, the Israel Prison Service introduced new rules hindering their implementation.
Israeli army begins major reduction of reserve soldiers amid budget strain: Move comes amid financial pressure on military, with reserve force expected to shrink by around 10,000 personnel.
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 negotiations with Iran set to resume: Report: Officials say President Donald Trump ‘directed’ teams to talk but added if Iran keeps ‘shooting at ships or … any other hostile act, then we’re going to hit them back.’
Iran’s supreme leader vows to avenge slain predecessor Ali Khamenei
LEBANON
Israel launches fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon, injuring 7 despite US-brokered deal: Israeli forces hit several towns in south as framework agreement calls for phased withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
How dare you ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu speak for us, Lebanese Christians? Netanyahu claims that Christian villages want annexation, but the outrage from these communities exposes Israel’s real intentions, writes Tracy Chamoun.
*NOTE: Israel is not the “friend of Christians” that it claims to be. Israeli policies have imposed severe and unnecessary restrictions on worship at multiple Christian (and Muslim) religious sites. For example, blocking worshipers, and even top Christian leaders, from attending historic churches on high holy days; allowing the humiliation of clergy, arresting Christians who are victims of hate crimes, and painting anti-Christian graffiti on churches; as well as bombing and killing Palestinian Christians in Gaza.
Israeli army preparing to withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon* within days: Report
*NOTE: Critical context from yesterday’s news: Will Israel withdraw from “pilot zones” in Lebanon, according to agreement? It’s not adding up: US and Lebanese sources insist the withdrawal will happen in days, and Lebanese forces will take over the zones. Nevertheless, Israeli officials are openly rejecting any withdrawal from south Lebanon. And of the three named towns to change hands, two reportedly were never even occupied to begin with.
SYRIA
Israeli army launches incursion, sets up checkpoint in southwest Syria: Israeli forces establish temporary checkpoint to inspect passersby in Quneitra countryside, Syrian media reports.
DEATH TOLL – WARS ON IRAN & LEBANON (tentative):
- 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:
Armed Israeli Settlers* Detained Ro Khanna. He Wants Their Illegal Outposts Demolished: In the Palestinian village of Zanuta, Ro Khanna encountered hostile, assault rifle-toting Israeli settlers, identified as Hilltop Youth, who harassed and threatened them for over an hour. IDF soldiers showed up, but only to visit with the settlers. Then the settlers and soldiers suddenly drove off, and Israeli police arrived and instructed the group not to return under threat of arrest.
“It’s the most arrogant and humiliating treatment of American citizens I have endured,” Khanna said, and commented that anyone who visits the West Bank “would conclude that it is apartheid.”
*NOTE: The Hilltop Youth group are radical extremist gangs, aged between 16 and 26, who left school to live in settlement outposts (illegal under Israeli law) erected on the hilltops near Palestinian villages. They carry out attacks against Palestinians and their properties, citing alleged Biblical texts on killing non-Jews, under the full sight of the Israeli army and police. The Hilltop Youth are backed by several Israeli political parties, including the Religious Zionism Party of Finance Minister Smotrich.
Lindsey Graham, staunch backer of Israel and US wars, dies aged 71: Graham backed Israel in the US Congress and called for increased military assistance to Tel Aviv alongside increased aid for illegal settlements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized him as a close friend of Israel, while President Isaac Herzog declared Graham’s support for the country had been unwavering.
Throughout Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, Graham repeatedly defended Israeli military actions and opposed efforts to restrict US support for Israel. His comments frequently drew criticism from Palestinian rights advocates, human rights groups and Muslim civil rights organizations.
RELATED: ‘One of Israel’s greatest friends’: Netanyahu, Herzog lead tributes as Israel mourns Lindsey Graham
The New York Times enabled the Gaza genocide and lost its legitimacy in the process: Some of NYT’s most thoroughly discredited pieces have had a serious impact – for example, libelous reporting on UNRWA led directly to months of famine and mass starvation among Gazans. Many stories were sourced to Israeli agencies with well-established records of lying and disinformation – that is, NYT provided propaganda instead of facts. There may be a strong case for prosecuting many at the paper for their role in the genocide.
RELATED: NYT Reported Iran Deal From Pro-Israel, Pro-War Perspective (much, much more on pro-Israel media bias here)
Palestine and the role of the activist intellectual: Philip Weiss speaks with Bruce Robbins about his book “Who’s Allowed to Protest” and the new McCarthyism on campus targeting those who support justice for Palestine.
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
Palestinians mourn Gaza aid worker killed in Israeli strike after organizing World Cup screenings
Israeli army begins major reduction of reserve soldiers amid budget strain
Will Israel withdraw from “pilot zones” in Lebanon, according to agreement? It’s not adding up
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 11, 2026*:
- At least 74,299 Palestinians killed, 186,534 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,120 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,615 injured
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,179 killed (~244 children), 12,919 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 11, 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 Continues to Shoot Children in the Head During the Gaza Ceasefire
- Israel announces theft of Palestinian land in West Bank to expand road for settlers
- What would you do to help end a genocide?
- These Palestinian families in the West Bank have barricaded themselves inside their homes to survive Israeli settler attacks
- How Israel and American Zionists are canceling First Amendment
- Israel is murdering Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The U.S. media is covering up the crime: 2 Articles
- Inside the growing religious revolt against Christian Zionism
- Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens on the debate stage
- Far-Left Dem Says 9/11 Was Blowback. So Did Pat Buchanan
- Congress Aims to Give Israel Leverage Over America
- Annus Mirabilis – Actions by the Israeli Government to Annex the West Bank
- AP-NORC poll: About 3 in 10 US adults believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians
- Who Should You Believe About What’s Happening in Gaza? Mehdi Names Them All in 60 Seconds
- Why Gaza is the world’s most dangerous place for children
