To our readers: since October 7th, 2023, If Americans Knew has provided a roundup of the latest Palestine and Palestine-adjacent news. Now, 170+ days after a “ceasefire” was declared in Gaza (October 11, 2025), the assault on the Palestinian people is still going, with no end in sight. Our Daily Updates will continue to keep you abreast of the news – but without the words “war” or “ceasefire.”
It has now been 910 days since Israel began its 2023 genocide on the Palestinian people. Below is a roundup of news from Friday, April 4, 2026.
Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
ISRAEL-US WAR ON IRAN – NEWS & HEADLINES:
Why is If Americans Knew covering the war on Iran? It can not be overemphasized that Israel has been the impetus behind US policies and actions vis-a-vis Iran for years. This is especially true right now, under Donald Trump. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing the US to attack Iran for decades.
The American people have made clear that they do not want to go to war with Iran, but Israel partisans and the Israel lobby use their massive political clout to bring about whatever is beneficial to Israel – including putting the US military in harm’s way. For more background on Israel’s role in American wars, watch IAK’s short film, “The Israeli Hit List.”
WHO reports over 20 attacks on health care in Iran since early March
Another US warplane crashes as search continues for missing F-15 crew member: An A-10 attack aircraft crashed near the Strait of Hormuz about an hour after an F-15 was shot down over Iran. The A-10 pilot was rescued safely, while the search continues for the second crew member from the F-15, who remains missing. NBC reported that two Black Hawk helicopters were damaged during the rescue mission in difficult conditions.
Iran Shoots Down F-15 Fighter Jet After Trump Bragged They Had No Capability: “We are unstoppable as a military force,” Trump boasted before Iran shot down one U.S. plane and another crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. One crew member from the downed jet was rescued by American forces; the search for the other crew member continues.
Two US choppers struck by Iranian fire during search for downed F-15: Two US air force helicopters, were reportedly struck by Iranian fire on 3 April while searching for the F-15 jet shot down by Tehran a day earlier. Helicopter crew are said to be safe.
Iran hits major Israeli, US industrial targets: Iran said targets included “American steel industries in Abu Dhabi, American aluminium industries in Bahrain, and the Rafael arms factories of the Zionist regime”.
Iran reportedly recovering bombed missile bunkers within hours after being struck: Iranian personnel are reportedly digging out underground missile bunkers and silos from the rubble, bringing them back into service hours after being struck by the US and Israel, according to US intelligence reports.
US proposed 48-hour ceasefire with Tehran on April 2, reports Iranian media: Iran reportedly did not respond in writing but instead replied “on the ground” by continuing heavy attacks.
Iran’s March 3 drone attack on US Embassy in Riyadh led to more damage than publicly revealed: An Iranian drone attack on the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia in March reportedly resulted in more damage than was publicly revealed. Strikes heavily damaged three floors, including a CIA station, leading to a blaze that raged for half a day and irreversible damage. At the time, the Saudis claimed there was limited fire and minor damage.
DEATH TOLL – WAR ON IRAN (tentative):
- United States: 13* (this number is believed by some to be an undercount)
- Israel: 24 (another source says 29)
- Iran: at least 3,530 (1,606 civilian, 1,213 military, 711 unclassified)
- Other Arab states (including Palestine, excluding Lebanon), at least 144
ISRAEL’S WAR ON LEBANON – NEWS & HEADLINES:
Although Israel signed a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon in November 2024, Israel has attacked Lebanon almost every day since, committing over 10,000 air and ground violations – the most violated ceasefire deal in recorded history – and killing over 300. 80,000 residents remain displaced and unable to return home.
Additionally, Israel continues to occupy five Lebanese hilltops seized during the latest war, and other Lebanese areas it has held for decades. (Read about UNIFIL, the UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, here.)
IDF official says disarming Hezbollah unrealistic, not a goal of Lebanon operation: This despite previous statements by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Katz saying that Israel would not give up on disarming Hezbollah.
Israeli army planning demolition of villages, towns along border in southern Lebanon: According to the plan, all villages and towns in southern Lebanon will be demolished, and Lebanese people will not be allowed to return there again. The occupied area, 3 kilometers deep into Lebanese territory, will be branded as a “security zone.”
DEATH TOLL – WAR ON LEBANON (tentative):
- In Lebanon, at least 1,368 people have been killed (124 children and 86 women, 53 healthcare workers).
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.
Six Palestinians were injured when Israeli military drones fired missiles at an area in northern Gaza on Friday evening, in yet another breach of the ceasefire framework, which ongoing Israeli military operations across the Strip have steadily eroded.
Israeli entry restrictions cause critical shortage of medical supplies: MSF: Doctors Without Borders says, the needs in Gaza are massive, yet not enough aid is entering because Israeli authorities are blocking it. Just outside of Gaza, there are trucks with food and medicine waiting, yet they are blocked. MSF has not been able to bring in any supplies since 1 January 2026. This shortage in proper care will inevitably lead to preventable deaths among patients suffering from chronic diseases.
Disease risk rises in Gaza as Israeli siege continues, health minister warns: Deteriorating environmental conditions in Gaza are driving a sharp rise in disease risks, as rodent infestations spread across areas devastated by the Israeli siege.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 713 since ceasefire began Oct. 11, 2025
- At least 72,289 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls) since Oct. 7, 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 continues to bar Muslims from Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque: Israeli authorities continue to bar Muslims from Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest mosque in Islam, keeping the site closed since late February under emergency measures linked to the war with Iran.
Soldiers Abduct Several Palestinians In West Bank Invasions
Israeli Colonizers Continue Bulldozing Palestinian Near Nablus
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 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.)
IDF extends time reservists must serve this year, amid Iran and Hezbollah wars: In 2026, reservists to be called up for nine weeks, instead of six weeks, as military faces mounting manpower shortage.
1 killed in Israeli shell targeting rural area of southern Syria*
*NOTE: Although Israel is not at war with Syria, the Israeli army has carried out over 1,000 airstrikes and 400 cross-border raids on Syria since December 2024.
MORE NEWS & HEADLINES:
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
US intelligence assesses Iran maintains significant missile launching capability, sources say
Israel Is Conducting a Campaign to Ethnically Cleanse Southern Lebanon of Shia Residents
Autistic children in Gaza face massive regression as Israel’s genocide destroys therapy, care and stability
How Israel’s record $271B budget will finance expanding illegal settlements
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – APRIL 3, 2026*:
- At least 73,432 Palestinians killed, 183,740 injured – including:
- At least 72,289 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 172,040 injured in Gaza
- At least 1,143 killed (~232 children), 11,700 injured in the West Bank
*NOTE: Thousands of those killed in Gaza have yet to be identified, and an estimated 8,000 more are still buried under rubble (some sources put the number of missing as high as 14,000); 3,000 more are reportedly missing. Only the dead who are brought to hospitals are included in the official fatality count. Additionally, the numbers of injured are very conservative estimates.
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – April 3, 2026: ~1,661 – 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 conflict with Lebanon or the war with Iran).
By one count, Israeli attacks have killed approximately 282 Palestinian journalists and media workers (most recent March 9, 2026); Palestinians have killed 4 Israeli journalists (other groups have tallied between 215 and 356 Palestinian journalists killed – depending on the criteria used).
**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 Is Blocking Palestinians from Easter at Church Where Jesus Resurrected
- Plot to assassinate Palestinian activist follows harassment campaign promoted by Zionist groups and elected officials
- Prominent New York synagogue hosts presentation on why U.S. Jews should support the ethnic cleansing of Gaza
- Tapper vs. Piker: Is the CNN Anchor Auditioning for David Ellison?
- ‘War crime’: Global condemnation as Israeli ministers celebrate death penalty law targeting Palestinian prisoners
- 7 Ways Israel Is Turning Lebanon Into Gaza
- World’s Leading Football Bodies Under Fire Over Israel Policies
- Experts warn of possible use of nukes against Iran
- Israeli invasion of Lebanon could be worse than 1982, warn European officials
- Passover: Liberation and collective punishment
- Gaza families reunite years after babies evacuated amid Israel’s war
- International Rescue Committee warns Gaza’s children face grave protection risks
- Iran’s Alleged 47-Year War on America: Debunking the 1,050 American Deaths Canard
