News roundup for Monday, July 13, 2026, Day 1,011 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 several others wounded on Monday by Israeli military fire across the Gaza Strip, while a third Palestinian succumbed to critical wounds sustained in an earlier Israeli attack.
Palestine calls for urgent international action to free detained Gaza hospital director: UN envoy warns Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s life is at imminent risk, calls for immediate release. (Dr. Abu Safiya’s story here.)
Hamas has dissolved its government in Gaza, but its residents’ lives are still a living hell
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,100 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.
- 73,223 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 forces killed Palestinian Nasr Za’al Eid Ka’abneh, 20, with live ammunition in the vicinity of the Apartheid Wall in Bir Nabala town in the occupied West Bank.
‘Like walking into a cage’: Israel tightens its grip on Hebron*: By taking over planning jurisdiction, unilaterally modifying religious sites, and erecting new checkpoints, Israel is accelerating its annexation of the Old City.
*NOTE: Around 35,000 Palestinians live in the West Bank city of Hebron, where the Ibrahimi Mosque is located, along with about 800 illegal Jewish settlers, who are protected and supported by 1,500 Israeli soldiers. To read more about Israeli settler violence (backed by Israeli military) in the West Bank city of Hebron, go here, and see this video. Find more on the Ibrahimi Mosque here.
Israel signed a 8.5 billion-shekel ($2.3 billion) framework agreement to expand illegal settlements* in the occupied West Bank, including the construction of 12,000 new housing units and major infrastructure projects, according to Israeli media. The agreement would “give significant momentum” to the process of expanding settlements in the region and modernizing their infrastructure.
*NOTE: More than 700,000 settlers live illegally on Palestinian land in over 500 Jewish-only settlements and settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Some settler groups have a history of violence against Palestinians, often with the assistance of Israeli military forces. Learn more about Israeli settler violence here and here. It is noteworthy that settlers are only rarely prosecuted for their crimes.
In a landmark advisory opinion on July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian land “illegal” and demanded the evacuation of all settlements.
Ben Gvir takes part in raid of West Bank village: Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reportedly accompanied by several settlers on Monday, raided the village of al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah. The village has been subjected to repeated and sustained attacks by settlers, backed by the Israeli army.
Israeli Forces Abduct Several Across West Bank
Jerusalem: Israeli Authorities Force a Palestinian to Demolish His Home
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.
Marwan Barghouti* left bleeding after Israeli prison guard shot him at point-blank range: Barghouti’s cell door was opened suddenly, when a prison guard reportedly fired a rubber bullet at his leg from point-blank range, causing severe bleeding. He received no treatment following the injury for four to five days. Barghouti’s son said the attack was part of a long-running campaign aimed at breaking his father’s resolve and ultimately killing him inside his prison cell.
*NOTE: Marwan Barghouti was jailed in 2002 for alleged involvement in various attacks that resulted in the deaths of five people. He denied not only the Israeli charges but also the legitimacy of the court which tried him. He reportedly faced an unfair trial with “numerous breaches of international law.” So, while is serving 5 life sentences, he and others reject both the charges and the trial’s outcome.
Barghouti recently announced his intention to run for President from prison. Recent Palestinian polls suggest that he is the most popular Palestinian leader today, and would unify the Palestinian people as no other could.
Israeli gov’t considers moving over half a billion shekels from Arab sector* to Shin Bet: If the government approves the reallocation of funds, it would signal a shift of priorities away from growing Arab society and towards increased law enforcement and intelligence.
*NOTE: Palestinian residents of Israel (which make up 21% of Israel’s population) have been chronically underfunded in the area of education, healthcare, and public services. This is no accident, but part of the structural inequality and Jewish supremacy enshrined into law in Israel.
Multiple human rights organizations have documented and reported that Israel is indeed practicing apartheid, including: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Israeli human rights groups B’Tselem, and Yesh Din , the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, the International Court of Justice, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic.
Netanyahu selectively investigates security leaks for his own political gain, NYT reporter alleges: Journalist Ronen Bergman said that Netanyahu simultaneously leaks security information and then investigates it, allegedly making decisions that will serve him politically.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip gives him a “good feeling,” describing it as the result of what he called a “deliberate policy” aimed at eliminating threats. Katz also announced plans to establish three military-linked settlement outposts in the territory.
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
Iran claimed Sunday that it killed three American military personnel in an attack on a U.S. Army base in Kuwait. U.S. Central Command responded: “There are zero reports of U.S. service member deaths or injuries in the region.” On Monday, however, the Pentagon’s Iran war death toll went up by one. Pentagon statistics show a sailor died in what was provisionally deemed a “non-hostile” fatality with a “pending” caveat, meaning it could later be revised to a hostile death.
US strikes southern Iran in 3rd consecutive day of military action
Iran strikes American military assets in Gulf and Jordan, after US hits Iranian cities
Iran says US urged 2 supertankers to use illegal route before they were hit in Strait of Hormuz: IRGC Navy says vessels switched off their navigation systems and ignored repeated warnings before being disabled.
1 dead, 8 injured in attack on two UAE tankers in Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump on Monday proposed that the U.S. could charge fees for “guarding,” the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently under Iran’s control. “We’re gonna keep the strait and we’ll probably run it,” Trump told Fox News. The president added, “We guarded the Strait for 50 years —more — and we never got paid for it….we guarded it for nothing. And now we are gonna guard it and we are gonna get paid for guarding it.”
Former Iranian commander says Tehran could target Trump inside the White House
Trump says US likely to take control of Hormuz, expects other countries to contribute financially
Trump formally notifies Congress of resumed military action against Iran
“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving… The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,”” – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/9iKOWCPq06
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 13, 2026
Inside Israel’s Secret Operation to Cultivate Ahmadinejad: Israel engaged in a yearslong effort to groom former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset who, when the time came, could be installed as Iran’s new leader – this according to both American and Iranian officials familiar with the operation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive intelligence.
Israel’s decision to build a regime-change plan around Mr. Ahmadinejad is an extraordinary twist in the saga of the country’s relations with the former president, who was known for accelerating Iran’s nuclear program, calling regularly for the destruction of Israel and denying the Holocaust.
RELATED: Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad denies report alleging Mossad contacts
LEBANON
Israel sets new terms* as sixth round of Lebanon talks resume in Rome
*NOTE: As usual, Israel is stalling the ceasefire agreement by moving the goalposts in the middle of negotiations.
Netanyahu has repeatedly delayed ceasefire agreements – he has said as much; Israeli media report it as well.
Israel signed an agreement in October 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%). Additionally, Israel unilaterally ended the January 2024 ceasefire, assassinated Gaza’s chief ceasefire negotiator, and attempted to assassinate the entire negotiating team.
Israeli army demolishes, burns homes in southern Lebanon despite framework deal: Israeli forces continue operations in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire and US-sponsored withdrawal framework, according to Lebanese state news agency.
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:
The New Israel-Backed Nonprofit Feeding Lawmakers Model Legislation: The State Legislator Israel Caucus says it’s an independent nonprofit. The Israeli government discreetly paid for its first D.C. junket.
Pen America chief resigns, accuses literary institution of erasing Palestinians
Germany advances bill to jail, fine people who deny Israel’s ‘right to exist’: The lower house’s own research service warns that the bill would likely violate the German Constitution’s protections for free expression.
UK effectively bans Iran’s IRGC as national security threat
Norway uses influence in football to push for Israel’s suspension from FIFA
Germany blocks EU move to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
I Joined Rep. Ro Khanna on His West Bank Visit. Here’s What I Saw
Power cuts plunge Gaza hospitals into darkness as Israel’s attacks persist
Smotrich says Steve Witkoff called Gaza Palestinians ‘two million Nazis’
Mamdani should be ‘Tehran’s mayor,’ Jews who voted for him are ‘idiots,’ says Dershowitz
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 13, 2026*:
- At least 74,402 Palestinians killed, 186,573 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,223 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,654 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 13, 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)
- Commentary: Israel’s Claims that Iran Plans to Assassinate Trump
- Israel’s “almost daily” incursions into southern Syria stay under the radar
- The New York Times enabled the Gaza genocide and lost its legitimacy in the process
- Settlers Blocked Access to a Palestinian Family’s Toilet. Then the IDF Declared It a Closed Military Zone
- Israel wants to build space attack lasers now
- Exposed: How Israeli Spies Control Your VPN
- Trump Could Move U.S. Bases to Israel. Here’s Why They’d Become Netanyahu’s Newest Human Shields
- How the US law on dual citizens was changed for Israel
- Tucker Carlson Interview with Survivor of Israel’s Lethal Attack on the USS Liberty
- Inside the German pro-Israel Lobby’s Campaign to Defund UNRWA
- 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
