News roundup for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Day 1,013 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.
Among the victims in Gaza Wednesday were Omar Sami Ahmad Abu Qasim, 33, his wife Asma Ghazi Abu Qasim, and their six-year-old daughter Habiba, who were killed when an Israeli airstrike struck their apartment near Al-Baraka Roundabout in western Deir al-Balah. The couple’s young son, Sami Omar Abu Qasim, survived the attack.
The not-so-secret Israeli strategy: This is the real Gaza plan: Here is the bottom line: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no intention of leaving Gaza. While no houses are being built, no schools are being constructed, and no hospitals are being revived, the only numbers that keep growing are those of the dead and wounded.
Palestine Letter: The school of Palestinian journalism: For years, mainstream media outlets lectured Palestinian journalists on the importance of “objectivity.” But the genocide in Gaza made us realize that they’re the least objective of all. Their narratives were constructed around lies, twisted facts, and celebrated pieces of journalism that were entirely free of evidence and systematically biased. Israeli claims were taken at face value, and Palestinian numbers were systematically doubted or ignored. Gaslighting, however, was on full display.
Calculated chaos: Inside Israel’s transfer of Palestinian bodies to Gaza: Humanitarian workers describe a haphazard and deliberately opaque system for returning dead and living Gazans during the first months of the genocide — one that helps explain why thousands are still missing.
Morocco signs agreement with Board of Peace to join Gaza international force: Military says agreement provides legal framework governing technical and operational aspects of Morocco’s participation in International Stabilization Force in Gaza.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,123 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.
- 73,246 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 occupiers (i.e. settlers) stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, chanting provocative songs and slogans inside its courtyards, the Jerusalem Governorate said. Israeli forces reportedly carried out 26 incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in June.
*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.)
Widespread Israeli Demolitions Hit Multiple West Bank Districts
Soldiers Abduct Palestinians, Seal Towns Across West Bank
Israeli Bulldozers Uproot Olive Groves Near Jenin
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.
Netanyahu Government Seeking Ways to Limit Expats From Flying Into Israel for Election, Sources Say: Transportation Ministry officials, concerned that tens of thousands of Israelis could return to the country to vote for parties that do not support PM Netanyahu, are considering to curb non-scheduled charter flights from landing in the days leading up to October 27’s election.
Israeli prime minister plans US visit next week, Israeli broadcaster reports
Israel’s Netanyahu appears in court as corruption trial resumes
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
U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday morning that it had struck an assortment of military sites in Iran during a 7-hour bombing run. Iranian media reported that U.S. strikes hit a wheat storage facility; President Trump on Tuesday said all of Iran’s power plants and bridges would be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to the negotiating table.
At least 35 civilians have been killed and over 300 others injured in recent US attacks on southern Iran, the Iranian Health Ministry said Wednesday,
Iran responded to American attacks with strikes they claimed hit US military sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, among other targets.
US grants UAE privileged access to advanced AI tech as ‘reward’ for supporting war on Iran
US President Donald Trump issued a new warning Wednesday to Iran: “I don’t like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know — they know the story. They better behave,” he said, adding later, “They’re nasty people, but they want to make a deal. I can tell you they want to make a deal.”
Trump Dismisses Responsibility for Minab Massacre, Saying Photo Evidence Is “AI”: The US is widely acknowledged to be responsible for the strike, including within internal Pentagon investigations.
LEBANON
Lebanese official says launch of ‘pilot areas*’ to begin within days after Rome talks: The implementation of a plan to create two pilot zones in southern Lebanon from which the Israeli army will eventually withdraw is expected to begin within days, according to a Lebanese official.
*NOTE: Israel and Lebanon signed this agreement on June 26; Israel announced on July 1 that it was delaying the implementation of its withdrawal from the pilot areas. A US official claimed last week that the withdrawal would take place this week; Israeli media stated it would happen within days. Lebanon has now officially rejected the plan. At any rate, Israeli officials have for weeks been openly rejecting any withdrawal from south Lebanon. And of the three named towns (“pilot zones”) to change hands, two reportedly were never even occupied to begin with.
Israel also signed an agreement on October 9, 2025 to “gradually withdraw” from Gaza. Today, Israel has not only not withdrawn, it is holding more of Gaza than before – going from 53% to approaching 70% (with possible plans for 100%).
SYRIA
Israeli forces briefly detain Syrian man during incursion into Quneitra: SANA: State news agency says troops searched civilians and set up temporary checkpoint before withdrawing.
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:
‘They want to break our will’: Gaza flotilla activist tells of rape in Israeli detention: Anna Liedke is one of more than a dozen Gaza flotilla activists to talk about rape in Israeli detention. “Sexual violence and rape are recurring violations that have been perpetrated against Palestinian prisoners for nearly three years … Israel is prepared to expand this conduct to foreign citizens acting in solidarity with Palestinians,” said her attorney.
US House rejects Massie amendment to eliminate $3.3B in US military aid to Israel: The lower chamber voted 314-104 against the amendment, with 10 members voting “present.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against the amendment.
Inside the Pentagon Plan to Stitch Israel Into American Defense: Americans have grown weary of bankrolling other nations’ wars while their own towns go without, and the honest answer is not a slyly buried merger engineered to outlast every vote. The answer is a clean break.
Iran Sent Message to JD Vance Warning that Kushner and Witkoff Were “Abusing” Their Inside Access to Negotiations: A senior Iranian official said Tehran privately told Vance the pair were exploiting the negotiations for financial gain. The Trump administration says it never happened.
Latest Case of “Palestine Exception” to Free Speech Is “Golden Gate Defendants”: The Golden Gate Defendants have spent two years enmeshed in a drawn-out trial and now await sentencing in August.
Lindsey Graham Wasn’t Israel’s Friend – He Was a Friend of Its Worst Instincts
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
Katz Says Israel Won’t Withdraw From Gaza Even If Hamas Disarms
IDF is facing a personnel and equipment shortage
Netanyahu to attend Lindsey Graham funeral Saturday in Washington, seeks Trump meeting
‘Palestine is disappearing’: Church backs genocide report despite Chief Rabbi’s bid to block debate
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 15, 2026*:
- At least 74,425 Palestinians killed, 186,646 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,246 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,727 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 15, 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)
- Senators Block $1.15 Trillion Pentagon Bill Over Trump’s Illegal Iran War, Israel Integration
- Tucker Carlson’s left-right, third party dream
- Family Wiped Out, Police Targeted: Israel’s Genocide Claims 16 More Lives
- Dead or Detained? Families in Gaza Search for Their Loved Ones
- Christians Should Stop Trying To Fix Israel’s “Problem”
- Top House Democrats vow to oppose bid to cut US military aid to Israel: 2 Articles
- ‘Palestine is disappearing’: Church backs genocide report despite Chief Rabbi’s bid to block debate
- No, Israel does not have ‘a right to exist.’ Quite the contrary, actually.
- Flashback: US game plan on Iran written in Tel Aviv, claim Israeli insiders
- The real cost of the Iran War: $103 billion in 120 days
- Israeli defense minister seeks pardon for soldier who killed incapacitated Palestinian at point blank range
- A new US-Iran war would end where the last one did
- The New Israel-Backed Nonprofit Feeding Lawmakers Model Legislation
- The deep-state cult of Leo Strauss & his powerful disciples
