News roundup for Thursday, June 18, 2026, Day 986 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.
Three Palestinians were killed and others wounded in an Israeli drone strike in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, marking another violation of the October 2025 ceasefire. The attack took place in one of the busiest and most densely populated areas of Gaza City.
“During a period supposedly defined by restraint and protection, a child has been killed, on average, every single day for more than eight months,” UNICEF spokesman James Elder told reporters. “For many, many months, the world has been told there is a ceasefire in Gaza. Yet for Palestinian children, this so-called ceasefire has become a cruel and a deadly illusion.”
Gaza municipalities warn of humanitarian, health catastrophe as basic services near collapse: Shortages of fuel additives, diesel and spare parts are pushing water, sewage and waste systems toward collapse in Gaza, Union of Gaza Strip Municipalities says.
RELATED: UN relief chief says Gaza held together by ‘humanitarian workarounds, Palestinian perseverance’
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), ostensibly part of the Trump-created “Board of Peace,” said Thursday it has finalized priorities for recovery and reconstruction and is ready to begin field operations “once the necessary conditions are in place.” The committee, a non-political body tasked with managing daily civil affairs in Gaza, began operating from Cairo in January but has yet to start work inside the Gaza Strip.
*NOTE: The so-called Board of Peace is a pay-to-play group of wealthy and powerful Israel supporters, dictators, and authoritarians, as well as Israeli prime minister and war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu and two Israeli real estate tycoons – but no Palestinians. In fact, the organization’s charter makes no reference to Gaza.
The lower-tier technocratic committee (the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, NCAG), made up of Palestinians, will do the grunt work in Gaza – if and when Israel allows the group to enter the Strip.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,005 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 incidents during the first three weeks of the ceasefire.
- 73,016 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.)
Israel kills toddler in Palestinian father’s arms in Gaza, recalling Mohammed al-Durrah killing 25 years ago: Father says soldiers wrapped Rayan in nylon bag and threw him aside ‘as if he had no value’, tears running down his face.
After a year of displacement, Tulkarm’s Palestinians allowed home for two hours: Residents granted brief access to retrieve belongings left behind after fleeing Israel’s operation in the refugee camp.
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate denounces Israeli seizure of church land in Jerusalem
Israeli Army Abducts 10 Palestinians in Nablus, Qalqilia, and Hebron
Israeli authorities on Thursday issued demolition orders* for nine inhabited Palestinian homes in the West Bank city of Hebron, in the latest home demolitions in the occupied territory. In 2025, Israel demolished more than 1,267 Palestinian structures on the grounds of unlicensed construction, according to the Israeli anti-settlement group B’Tselem.
*NOTE: Most home demolitions ordered by Israel are due to Palestinians’ “building without a permit.” Israel admits that its construction permit system is highly discriminatory. Since 2016, 95% – 99% of Palestinian requests for building permits have been rejected, according to data provided by the IDF’s Civil Administration. According to UN data, at least 14,000 homes have been demolished, displacing over 22,000 Palestinians, since 2009.
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.
JD Vance has strong words for Ben Gvir, Smotrich after their criticism of the Iran deal: “I guess my response to them would be: What is your exact proposal? You’re a country of nine million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.”
Political circles in Israel were reportedly “in a state of shock” following the US Vice President’s remarks. The Israeli government had chosen not to respond to Vance’s comments to avoid deepening disagreements with the Trump administration. Vance’s remarks were interpreted by some as suggesting a possible review of the level of US military support for Israel.
Israeli officials fear rift with US could lead to arms embargo: Report: Rift with White House could result in arms shipment delays, security restrictions, Israeli newspaper Maariv reports.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Analysis: Netanyahu’s Last Stand: When Reality Is Low, Go Lower
IRAN & LEBANON – 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.
Both President Trump and Iranian President Pezeshkian signed an interim peace agreement to end the war in Iran. Posting the text of the 14-point agreement on X, Pezeshkian wrote that the agreement “is a historical document and a message from a powerful Iran: Peace will be realized in the shadow of mutual respect.”
Iran postponed talks with the US, slated for Friday, in protest of “continued” Israeli ceasefire violations, with chief negotiators pulling out of their scheduled trip at the last minute following “directives” from the “top Iranian leadership.”
Iran Warned Trump: If You Do Not End War on Lebanon, We May Strike Israel Without Warning
‘No one can tell us what to do,’ Israeli defense minister says amid US criticism
Under peace deal, US forces lift blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports
Iran says traffic through Strait of Hormuz ‘will be increased gradually’
Iran waives Hormuz transit fees for 60 days, requires advance passage permits
Maximum pressure: How Trump spent five years proving Obama was right about Iran
Three people were killed and three others injured Thursday in Israeli drone strikes targeting two cars in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media, despite a US-Iran understanding aimed at ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, taking effect.
Israeli army announces continuation of war on Lebanon, in defiance of US-Iran agreement: In a post on X, the Israeli army said Thursday that its troops would continue operating in southern Lebanon to remove threats and strengthen protection for residents of northern Israel. An attached a map showed its deployment, up to 10 km (6.2 mi.) inside the Lebanese borders.
UPDATE: Israel and Hezbollah agree to renew ceasefire after conflict threatens to derail US-Iran talks
Hezbollah committed to ceasefire as long as Israel abides by deal, says Lebanese parliament speaker
Hezbollah says Israel has ‘60 days’ to withdraw from Lebanon: Lawmaker urges Lebanese authorities to closely examine US-Iran memorandum, says Israel must fully withdraw within 2 months without direct negotiations.
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 3,912 people since March 2, 2026
- Arab states: at least 154 (including Palestine, excluding Lebanon)
- Israel: at least 54 people (Iran killed 20 civilians; Hezbollah killed 30 soldiers, 4 civilians)
MORE NEWS & HEADLINES:
After US-Iran deal, Israeli minister threatens war on Syria ‘sooner or later’: Hours after the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending war on all fronts, diaspora affairs minister Amachai Chikli said, “We will wage war on Syria, sooner or later, because it and Türkiye are far more worrying than Iran.”
RELATED: Israeli Troops Raid Syria’s Quneitra, Interrogate Journalist After Searching His Home
Echoes of the Lügenpresse: Unmasking Axios and its Israeli ties: If any newspaper had a co-founder born in Russia for instance, and a Pentagon reporter who served in the Russian Intelligence, the American public would call that a national security scandal. But because the country is Israel, and because Axios has successfully branded itself as the ‘worthy’ alternative, this arrangement has largely gone unnoticed for a full decade.
“Israel Asked Facebook* to Censor Iran War Content, Internal Documents Show: Company records show that Israel petitioned Meta to take down Facebook and Instagram posts expressing support for Iran, opposition to Israel, and even depictions of Iranian missile impacts.
*NOTE: Israel and its advocates have spent enormous sums in recent months, in a scramble to rehabilitate Israel’s genocide-tarnished image by peddling lies. Pro-Israel billionaires have bought social media corporations and TV networks in order to control their content; Israel has hired influencers to whitewash its image, media creators to manipulate artificial intelligence chatbots, and enlisted organizations to target groups with pro-Israel propaganda.
RELATED: Army ex-spokesman says Israel lost social media battle, calls for propaganda overhaul
Israel’s Largest Weapons Contractor Could Score Huge U.S. Army Weapons Deal: Trump’s Pentagon may cut a massive deal with Elbit, an Israeli company accused of helping carry out its genocide in Gaza, amid Republicans’ push to fuse the U.S. and Israeli militaries together.
Palestine Action: History will judge Britain for these draconian sentences
Paris grants honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians, journalists
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
‘He wanted to burn me alive’: 92-year-old recounts West Bank settler* attack
US wants part of the billions Israel owes to the Palestinian Authority
Israeli army included on UN blacklist for 3rd year over ‘grave violations’ against children
‘Without me there is no Israel’ says Trump warning Tel-Aviv to stop flattening homes in Lebanon
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – June 18, 2026*:
- At least 74,185 Palestinians killed, 185,901 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,016 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,265 injured
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,169 killed (~244 children), 12,666 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 – June 18, 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)
- What Ceasefire? Israel Has Now Killed Over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza Since October
- U.S. Whole-of-Government Takeover by Israel
- Netanyahu’s Mouthpieces Turn on Trump, Revealing a Deeper Israeli Ingratitude
- Senate wants to force US to share sensitive intel with Israel
- Trump ended his idiotic Iran war. Good.
- Khanna Becomes First in Congress to Sign ‘Peace Pledge’ Promising to Reject AIPAC Funds
- Look who’s losing it over Trump’s Iran deal
- What would happen if US actually cut off military aid to Israel?
- Western Media Normalize Ethnic Cleansing of Lebanon by Viewing It Through Israel’s Eyes
- Behind the Screen, Netanyahu Is Annexing Gaza ‘Step-by-Step’
- How pro-Palestinian Groups Are Using AIPAC’s Playbook in New York and Beyond
- Trump Administration Targets Americans Opposed to Zionism
- Gaza children running out of time to treat blast-induced hearing loss
- The U.S. and Iran have struck a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, but Israel may prevent an end to the war
