News roundup for Sunday, July 26, 2026, Day 1,024 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.
Israeli occupation forces continued violating the “ceasefire” across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, carrying out drone strikes, artillery shelling, and home demolitions that killed nine Palestinians and injured thirty‑six others within twenty‑four hours, in attacks targeting displaced families and various parts of the devastated and besieged coastal enclave.
Among the dead were the head of the Internal Security Directorate in central Gaza and another officer, killed in an airstrike targeting their vehicle in Deir al-Balah.
Israel’s security cabinet has approved key legal measures related to the entry of the so-called International Stabilization Force to Gaza. An Israeli official said, “At this stage, the force is expected to consist of approximately 200 personnel from friendly countries such as Uganda and Morocco’; the force would operate on the Palestinian-controlled side of the Yellow Line, but would require approval of Netanyahu and other top officials. Part if the arrangement includes Israel deciding how much aid and food can enter Gaza.
*NOTE: There is an international warrant for the arrest of Israeli PM Netanyahu for the alleged use of starvation as a weapon of war and other war crimes.
Reporters in Gaza Are Under Attack. Will I Be Recognized as One If I Am Killed? Israel routinely targets Palestinian journalists and then questions their credibility after death.
DEATH TOLL – GAZA GENOCIDE (tentative):
- At least 1,200 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.
- 73,326 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.)
More than 1,000 Palestinian Children Displaced in West Bank This Year – Save the Children
Waves of settler attacks target mosques, homes and businesses across West Bank: Settlers attacked a stone quarry northeast of Ramallah, setting heavy machinery worth over $600K on fire and assaulting security guards. Elsewhere, settlers burned houses, vehicles, and mosques, spray painted graffiti, and attacked an ambulance transporting a patient. Settlers and soldiers also abducted Palestinians all over the West Bank.
Israeli army wounds Palestinian, orders demolition of 10 homes in occupied 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.
Netanyahu accuses Mamdani of ‘fomenting hate’ in calls for PM’s arrest*: Israeli prime minister says ICC’s war crime charges are ‘bogus’ and plans to be in New York for UN gathering this fall.
*NOTE: The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on Nov. 21, 2024, over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where more than 72,000 people have been killed in a brutal assault since Oct. 2023. Several Hamas members were also charged, but Israel has since assassinated them.
Israel has run an almost decade-long secret “war” against the International Criminal Court, deploying its intelligence agencies to surveil, hack, pressure, smear, and allegedly threaten senior ICC staff in an effort to derail the court’s inquiries into Israeli leaders’ crimes. Read more here.
Netanyahu says he intends to attend UN General Assembly *despite NYC Mayor’s arrest threats: Israeli Prime Minister says he is not concerned about Zohran Mamdani’s remarks.
*NOTE: When Netanyahu spoke at the 2024 UN General Assembly in 2024, huge crowds protested his presence, and a large portion of the diplomatic and civilian audience boycotted as people walked out on him.
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
US pauses Iran attacks for second night after Trump advised to halt bombing: Top military officials say campaign has reached its limit of effectiveness and warn of dwindling stocks of munitions.
Trump giving Iran peace talks ‘some space’ as strikes halt: US envoy
The Iranian army spokesman warned that the Middle East war would expand if the United States and Israel chose to press ahead with further attacks against Iran, In a video released Sunday,
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that an oil tanker exploded on Sunday morning when it collided with a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, after it traveled off course from Iran’s designated route.
LEBANON
Lebanese army says Israeli attacks hindering progress toward normalcy: The Lebanon “pilot zones” project finally got underway last week. The Lebanese Army now says their deployment into those villages, as required by the deal, is being prevented by Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
The Lebanese military report that Israeli forces are blocking the civilians’ return, and in fact are causing so much danger it’s precluding a lot of the Lebanese military from even getting to the pilot zone they’re meant to occupy. Israeli military bulldozers not only continuing to level homes, but confiscating the rubble, as well as burning the ancient olive trees and other agricultural land that was the basis for the people’s living.
SYRIA
Israel launches military incursion into Syria amid UN condemnation: The head of the United Nations has condemned the persistent violation of Syria’s sovereignty, as Israel’s forces reportedly carried out new incursions into Syrian territory on Sunday. Israeli soldiers invaded and shelled parts of southern Syria, and dropped leaflets warning residents not to obstruct the advance of Israeli vehicles.
UN to submit report to Security Council on Israeli violations in Syria: Guterres: UN chief warns UN humanitarian assistance currently meets only around 20% of Syrian people’s needs.
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:
ICC’s Khan probe ‘reduced to political referendum’, Palestinian rights groups warn
*NOTE: Read Karim Khan’s backstory here, and the Israel connection here.
UK lawmakers demand full arms embargo and settlement trade ban on Israel
ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
Gaza Interior Ministry says Israel deliberately targeting police to spread chaos
Israeli Settlers Push Relentless Escalation in the West Bank as Palestinian Restraint Begins to Crack
US condemns violence by ‘all parties’ in occupied West Bank: State Department
The Eighth Front: Inside Israel’s $1 Billion Influence Campaign
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – July 26, 2026*:
- At least 74,511 Palestinians killed, 186,997 injured – including:
- Gaza: at least 73,326 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 173,997 injured
- West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,185 killed (~251 children) since Oct. 7, 2023, 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 26, 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)
- McCarthyism in Massachusetts
- Rebuilding of Gaza to cost seven times more than all previous wars: Oxfam
- James Woolsey, front man who promoted US wars for Israel, dies at 84
- Despite Israel’s multi-million propaganda project, some anti-genocide candidates are winning
- She Was a Bright Student. An Israeli Strike Ended Her Dreams.
- US House passes $1.15 trillion military bill expanding Israel cooperation
- ISRAELI MEDIA: ‘An Inferno’: Gazans Face Sweltering Conditions in Tent Camps for Third Summer in a Row
- Israel’s Coordinated Campaign to Propagandize Conservatives in America
- The Israeli Spy Behind PragerU’s Plan to Rewrite American Education To Indoctrinate Children
- The President of the World Jewish Congress just sent a warning to every Potential AMERICA FIRST Candidate wishing to run for U.S. Congress
- 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
