News roundup for Sunday, July 5, 2026, Day 1,003 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 injured in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City on Sunday, when a drone struck a group of civilians outside a water distribution station.
An estimated 5,160 children’s bodies have not yet recovered from the rubble, according to Save the Children. An unknown number of children were buried in unmarked graves or remain missing.
In the past week, Israeli forces have expanded their ‘kill zone’ in the Gaza Strip, and has now pushed the population of 2.3 million Palestinians into 35% of the land of the Gaza Strip, creating even more overcrowded conditions than existed previously. Israel kills any Palestinian that dares cross the arbitrary ‘yellow line’ to reach their land.
RELATED: Israel’s “Yellow Line” Is a Death Trap for Palestinians. We Drove Into It.
Israel’s death towers: Gaza civilians killed by remote attacks during ceasefire: “Military lifters” or watchtowers have reportedly been deployed at 23 different locations within the Yellow Zone in the eastern Gaza Strip. They enable extended visual coverage of vast areas and the capacity to open fire across wide civilian zones. Israeli fire from military lifters, quadcopters, and snipers increasingly target Palestinians in supposed safe zones.
Health authorities in Gaza have recorded 9,300 cases of contagious skin diseases over 2 weeks, in what medical officials describe as a rapidly escalating public‑health emergency driven by overcrowding, deteriorating sanitation, and a critical shortage of medicines amid the ongoing siege and constant Israeli attacks.
Israel eyes return to Gaza war within months, Channel 12 reports: Israel believes fighting in Gaza could resume within the next 2-3 months, potentially before October’s elections, when the US-led “Board of Peace” is expected to conclude that Hamas has violated the agreement by refusing to disarm*. This could pave the way for Israel to renew raids in Gaza.
*NOTE: While Trump and the negotiators have been insisting all along that Hamas must disarm, and even claiming that Hamas agreed to disarm – the facts are different. See video, or read Israel’s Best-Kept Secret: Palestinian Resistance Never Agreed to Disarm
**NOTE: Israel has committed over 3,500 ceasefire violations against the population of Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire began.
Gaza’s musicians reopen bomb-shattered conservatory – in tents: The tents are the new home of the Gaza branch of Palestine’s national conservatory, dedicated to teaching classical, popular and traditional music. The institution, founded in 1993, once enjoyed well-equipped offices in Gaza City, three pianos and store rooms full of instruments and musical scores. Its alumni travelled the world to perform.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,072 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.
- 73,098 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.)
A four‑month‑old Palestinian infant died on Sunday evening after Israeli soldiers blocked his family and the ambulance transporting him at a military roadblock, delaying his access to urgent medical care for more than an hour. Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers fired tear‑gas canisters at Palestinians who rushed to help the family.
The IDF said troops had ‘allowed the baby and his family to pass without any delay.’
Also on Sunday, Israeli occupation forces reportedly shot and killed 16-year-old Walid Nidal Abu Suneina and injured two other children with live ammunition, after storming the Qalandia refugee camp.
ISRAELI MEDIA: Israeli Police Officer Filmed Throwing Stun Grenade Into Palestinian Car in East Jerusalem, while trapping its occupants inside. In a video circulated on social media, the officer can be heard shouting, “Shut your mouth, who are you talking to like that?” He then throws the stun grenade and holds the car door closed, preventing the driver from escaping.
Police said the officer acted “not in accordance with procedure” and that the case is under investigation*.
*NOTE: Israel’s self-investigations – on the rare occasions when they do take place – consistently whitewash its crimes and fail to appropriately punish the perpetrators and tend to focus on individuals and individual incidents, ignoring the dangerous, far-reaching policies and assumptions rampant in Israeli thinking: impunity, lethality, and dehumanization.
Human rights groups have documented Israel’s lack of integrity when reporting on its own behavior toward Palestinians. Israeli sources, including the government itself, have a long track record of lying.
- Permanent Hearing Loss: Detonating a device that produces 160 – 180 decibels in an enclosed metal cabin far exceeds the threshold for immediate and permanent auditory damage.
- Ruptured Eardrums: The intense overpressure inside the cabin instantly bursts eardrums.
- Severe Disorientation: The shock wave rapidly compresses the body, which leads to vertigo, loss of equilibrium, nausea, and potential nosebleeds.
- Temporary Blindness: If a flash component is present, the intense burst of light overwhelms photoreceptors, causing temporary flash blindness that can last for several seconds to minutes. (Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4)
Israeli occupiers (i.e. settlers) set fire to a restaurant in the occupied West Bank on Sunday after stealing money from there, local sources told Anadolu. They smashed its doors, stole money, and set it on fire, completely destroying it, the sources stated, adding that the attack occurred under the protection of the Israeli army.
Israeli forces, settlers disrupted worship in Jerusalem and Hebron many times in June: The Palestinian ministry of religious affairs reported that in June, Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound 26 times, while over 4,200 Israeli settlers entered the compound under Israeli police protection. An extremist rabbi entered the compound more than once with settlers and performed Talmudic rituals there.*
At the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, the ministry said 950 Israeli soldiers entered the site in June, while the call to prayer was prevented 84 times.
*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.)
Rights groups raise concerns over theft during Israeli military raids in the West Bank: Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations say they have documented a growing number of incidents in which Israeli soldiers have stolen money, jewelry and other personal belongings during military raids on Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank. The number of such allegations has reportedly risen significantly since October 2023; complaints have not resulted in the return of their property or disciplinary action.
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.
Israel’s Supreme Court gives government deadline in case of 14 detained Gaza doctors: Israel’s Supreme Court has reportedly given the government until Tuesday to respond to a petition seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza held without charge or trial. Among them is beloved physician Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, who has life-threatening health conditions due to beatings and medical neglect by Israel. The petition was filed on April 30, but the government repeatedly sought extensions before the court set a final deadline.
Netanyahu denies Trump restricted Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Report: Israeli army plans to discharge 10,000 reservists by end of July amid budget crunch
US to urge Israel to curb violence against Palestinians in West Bank: Quoting unnamed US sources, Israel’s Channel 13 said Washington was “deeply concerned” about a rise in settler attacks and violence by Israeli soldiers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The subject will reportedly be raised during an expected meeting between President Trump and Israeli PM Netanyahu in Washington next week.
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
Iranian parliament speaker: We have no peace with US and will not recognize Israel
LEBANON
The Israeli army carried out airstrikes, drone activities, and artillery shelling* in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanese media reported. This despite a framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel on June 26 under US mediation, which aims to end the conflict and secure Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Also on Sunday, (ironically) Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir threatened Lebanon with a “swift offensive” in the event of any violation of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
RELATED: Lebanese Christian border villages deny Netanyahu’s annexation claim
*NOTE: Israel usually manages to work a loophole into ceasefire agreements. For example, the April 2026 statement of agreement between Israel and Lebanon (Hezbollah was not part of the negotiations) included:
“Israel shall preserve its right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.(emphasis added). This shall not be impeded by the cessation of hostilities. Besides this, it will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets, in the territory of Lebanon by land, air, and sea.”
This clause has enabled Israel to claim that it was maintaining the ceasefire even as it has attacked southern Lebanon, killed thousands, and destroyed entire towns.
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 4,319 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:
How Congress manipulates its own rules to make sure Israel still gets its weapons
10 countries ban Ben-Gvir, Smotrich from entering their territories
UK MPs urge sanctions on Netanyahu and Israeli justice minister over torture of Palestinians
🚨🇮🇹 The #HindRajabFoundation has filed a criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier Arik Ben Asulin. Evidence shows Ben Asulin, currently believed to be present in Italy, participated in the demolition of civilian infrastructure in Gaza – a war crime he also publicly… pic.twitter.com/9i960oPDlj
— The Hind Rajab Foundation (@HindRFoundation) July 3, 2026
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
Could Israel really build settlements in Gaza?
Defying a High Court Ruling? Just Another Day in Netanyahu’s Israel
How Congress manipulates its own rules to make sure Israel still gets its weapons
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 5, 2026*:
- At least 74,275 Palestinians killed, 186,472 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,098 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,553 injured
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,177 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 5, 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)
- Archive of Israeli War Crimes Contains Over 64,000 Videos
- British Museum made false claims about its removal of ‘Palestine’ from displays
- Huckabee: Israel ‘the 436th congressional district’ of US
- The Gaza Ethnic Cleansing Agenda Continues To Roll Forward
- America’s Hard Left and Right Have Had It With Israel
- Massie Introduces House Resolution to Honor USS Liberty Crew & Declassify Files
- Palestinian Prisoner Society: Israel Normalizes Torture Through Public Abuse Videos
- EU hides secret Gaza files as UN says Israel is committing genocide
- Israeli forces kill Palestinian goalkeeper Saleem Al-Ashqar in Gaza
- US Presbyterian Church votes to recognize Gaza genocide
- NYT Reported Iran Deal From Pro-Israel, Pro-War Perspective
- How to Show That Israel’s Sexual Violence Against Palestinians Is Systemic — and Has Gone on for Decades
- 22 Democrats Join GOP to Block Lebanon War Powers Resolution, Enabling Netanyahu’s Sabotage of US-Iran Ceasefire
- Israeli land theft in West Bank since October 7 equal to previous 22 years
