After reports of incendiary kites and balloons being flown from Gaza into southern Israel in the morning, an Israeli drone bombs an alleged staging area for such attacks near Rafah in the afternoon, killing 1 Hamas fighter and injuring 3 other Palestinians. Unidentified Palestinians in Gaza then launch 2 mortar shells across the border fence into Israel; they land in an open area, causing no damage. Israeli tanks then shell a Hamas post in southern Gaza, causing moderate damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 4 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina. Four Palestinian families demolish their own homes in Bayt Hanina to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. In the West Bank, IDF troops issue 1 Palestinian arrest summons during a late-night raid near Hebron and patrol near Hebron. (MNA, WAFA, YA 7/19; PCHR 7/26)
Israel’s Knesset passes the Nation-State Bill into law, with 62 MKs in favor and 55 opposed, codifying Israel’s status as the nation-state of the Jewish people and asserting “the realization of the right to national self-determination in Israel is unique to the Jewish people.” (EI, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/19)