News roundup for Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Day 1,020 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 280 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.
12 Palestinians were killed and 12 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
ISRAELI MEDIA: ‘An Inferno’: Gazans Face Sweltering Conditions* in Tent Camps for Third Summer in a Row: Most Palestinians in Gaza live in tents erected in displacement camps, but residents say the plastic used to construct tents traps hot air and has escalated the already dire humanitarian crisis across the Strip.
*NOTE: While this article acknowledges the devastation and suffering in Gaza, it leaves out a few critical facts: As a de facto occupier of Gaza, Israel is obligated under the law of armed conflict to ensure that the occupied civilian population is provided with supplies essential to their survival, including basic food and medical supplies as well as clothing, bedding and means of shelter.
Instead, 90% of the homes have been destroyed or damaged, and Israel blocks the entrance of sheltering materials. Meanwhile, the Israeli military takes over more and more of Gaza, relegating Palestinians to a smaller and smaller space. In short, this humanitarian catastrophe is part of Israel’s own strategy.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Gaza Aid Worth Billions Is Stuck in Hormuz: The war with Iran has disrupted Gulf oil revenues, delaying billions of dollars in pledged funding – it’s hard to call someone and say, ‘Now send the billions you pledged,’ while they’re under Iranian attack.”
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,180 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.
- 73,305 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: As Jerusalem razes enclave to restore open space, Palestinians see city shutting them out: Residents of Silwan’s al-Bustan are up in arms over home demolitions, but authorities say structures were built without authorization and must make room for green space.
Israeli occupiers (i.e. settlers) forcibly displace Palestinian family from home in West Bank
Israeli Colonizers Attack Shepherds, Farms, and Homes In West Bank
Israeli Forces Abduct Residents, Uproot Trees in West Bank
Soldiers Demolish Homes, Structures In 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: Smotrich takes steps to make his major settlement policy shift harder to reverse: Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry, has turned the Settlements Administration into a formal agency of the Defense Ministry. He claimed this will help to perpetuate his success in massively expanding the settlement enterprise and make it more difficult for a new government to undo those gains (read about extremist Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich here).
Trenches intended to hold crocodiles are being dug around a high-security wing of a prison in southern Israel housing Hamas members. The trenches are reportedly being dug around the Ketziot prison and will extend about 170 meters. A local official said, “No one knows if there will actually be crocodiles there, but preparations are being made.”
RELATED: Israel advances crocodile plan to stop Palestinian prisoners escaping
The White House and the Israeli PM’s office are reportedly discussing a potential meeting between Trump and Netanyahu next week, but no meeting has been set yet.
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
Pentagon says US soldier missing after Iran’s Jordan attack is believed killed in action: Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad is believed to have been killed on July 17 during ‘enemy attack’ at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, says Department of Defense.
U.S. forces launch 12th night of strikes against Iran, CENTCOM says
Trump posted a threat Wednesday on social media: “any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz,” the U.S. “will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT.”
Rubio: Trump will take a ‘head for an eye’ if Iran doesn’t stop firing at US interests in Mideast
US informs Israel of plans to intensify Iran strikes in coming days: Report: Washington has reportedly notified Israel in advance as part of close security coordination between the two allies, and to enable Israel to prepare for a possible Iranian response on Israeli territory.
LEBANON
Lebanese president sets 3 conditions for Hezbollah disarmament: President Aoun said the process begins with removing the root cause long cited by Hezbollah to justify its existence: Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory, continues with the Lebanese army assuming full and exclusive operational control; and a reconstruction program run solely by the Lebanese state.
UN experts say Israel’s actions in Lebanon may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity: Experts cite forced displacement, attacks on civilians and destruction of health facilities as violations of international law.
Everything we know about the Lebanese army’s deployment to south Lebanon’s first ‘pilot zones’: According to the US State Department, pilot zone operations began on Monday in the southern villages of Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, under the supervision of the Lebanon Military Coordination Group established as part of the agreement. None of the three villages were under Israeli occupation. The rollout was immediately overshadowed by renewed violence after Israeli troops opened fire near the Lebanese army unit.
SYRIA
Israeli Forces Detain Then Release Multiple Locals in Southwest Syria
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 4,328 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:
US House passes $1.15 trillion military bill expanding Israel cooperation: Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who has been a vocal critic of the war on Iran, said in a social media post responding to the vote: “Final vote total for the NDAA today which tragically merges our military technology and supply chains with Israel’s. Let’s hope this version fails in the Senate because Section 219 is a betrayal of our sovereignty.”
RELATED: Inside the Pentagon Plan to Stitch Israel Into American Defense
Hegseth: “Greatest Threat” to US Would Be Failing to Give Pentagon $1.5T Budget
Nancy Pelosi’s Pick for Her SF House Seat Takes Anti-AIPAC Pledge: House candidate Connie Chan is backed by Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and now TrackAIPAC, signaling the growing influence of a politics skeptical of Israel.
William Lawrence Is Running in a Purple Michigan District — on His Pro-Palestine Credentials: Democratic leaders keep backing centrists, but a Michigan progressive is trying to harness left-leaning energy on Palestine.
The bloody legacy of Lindsey Graham in the Middle East: Across the Middle East, Lindsey Graham cheered on invasions, regime change, collective punishment, unconditional support for Israel and an almost pathological enthusiasm for bombing countries he would never have to rebuild.
Former Navy SEAL running for Senate in Minnesota touts lifelong commitment to US-Israel relationship
RELATED: Debunking 6 AIPAC Myths About the US-Israel Relationship
Bari Weiss’s Latest Hire Has an N-Word Problem
*NOTE: Bari Weiss is a self-proclaimed “Zionist fanatic” who has, in partnership with the Israel’s uber-supporters the media giant Ellison family, transformed CBS into an overtly pro-Israel news outlet.
Exhibit at Canada’s Human Rights Museum Shatters Myths About Israel’s Founding: Pro-Israel lobby groups have pressured the museum for years not to showcase the stories of Palestinian Canadians.
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
New York City’s Mayor Mamdani speaks the documented truth
Among the dead Tuesday was a family of six, killed by Israeli missiles as they slept
Released Palestinian Prisoner Dies from Israeli Torture, Prisoner Groups Say
Interview: Muslim leader speaks out after more than 80 days in ICE detention: ‘It brought back memories from Palestine’
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 22, 2026*:
- At least 74,486 Palestinians killed, 186,864 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,305 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,918 injured
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,181 killed (~244 children), 13,000 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 22, 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 targets X users, right-wing media with $2 million ad push
- ‘Our role is to hold on’: Palestinian artists in Israel after October 7
- ‘My Father Is a Hero’: Detained Palestinian Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s Son Speaks to Zeteo
- Israel threatens to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem
- Series of Reports Ignored by Media Show Jeffrey Epstein’s Extensive Work With Israeli Intelligence
- Babies in Gaza Die Preventable Deaths Due to Medical Shortages Imposed by Israel
- AG Complaint Filed: Israel Interfering in US Elections Thru Brad Parscale
- Bethlehem: Every morning the same question: “Why are we still here?”
- Israel’s War Kills More U.S. Troops
- Lethal Precision Without Accountability: Israeli Government “Quadcopter” Use in Gaza
- ‘Sip your coffee while watching the sunrise’: How Israel is colonizing the West Bank by selling Palestinian land to Jewish Americans
- Pro-Israel GOP donors fueling Rep. Stevens’ Dem primary in Michigan
- Yesterday’s US-Iran escalation is a mere prelude to what is likely to come
- Wall Street Journal: Israel’s $50 Million Experiment to Change U.S. Public Opinion
