In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raid Fandaqumiya, setting fire to a vehicle and throwing stones at Palestinians and their property. Israeli settlers also throw stones and Molotov cocktails at Palestinian vehicles and Israeli forces near the Oz Zion settlement outpost. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raid Khalet al-Daba in the Masafer Yatta area, setting fire to a home and throwing stones at vehicles. Israeli forces punitively demolish 2 homes in Bayt Ta’mar belonging to the families of 2 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces on 2/22. Israeli forces also demolish 2 homes in Birin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces issue a demolition notice for a home in Bayt Jala and 2 stop-work orders for homes in al-Walaja. Israeli forces also arrest 10 Palestinians during raids in and around Tulkarm, Ramallah, Hebron, and Qalqilya. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat refugee camp, Mawasi, Jabalia refugee camp, and Beit Lahiya, killing at least 58 people. An Israeli soldier is killed in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Ramyeh and Hula. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at the Golan Heights, killing an Israeli soldier. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/4; AJ 7/5)
More than 38,011 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 15,694 children and 10,000 women, and around 87,446 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 554 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 132 children. More than 5,420 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 321 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,018 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 79,000 housing units have been destroyed and 370,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023. 10 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. The Kuwaiti Field Hospital near Rafah announces it will cease operations within 24 hours due to a lack of fuel. The Gaza Ministry of Health reports that the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis will have to cease operations within hours due to a lack of fuel. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 7/4; UNRWA 7/8)
An Israeli official tells Reuters that there has been a significant breakthrough in the ceasefire negotiations. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells U.S. president Joe Biden that he will send an Israeli delegation to Qatar to resume negotiations. The Israeli security cabinet discusses the ceasefire negotiations. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU 7/4; HA 7/5)
The Israeli newspaper Maariv reports that the government’s judicial advisor has requested that Israel close the Sde Teiman detention center. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara tells Prime Minister Netanyahu that it could have “far-reaching consequences” if Israel continues to operate Sde Teiman as a detention center, saying National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is blocking the transfer of Palestinian detainees from the detention center to Israeli prisons. (AJ 7/4; HA 7/5)
The Arab League Council convenes for an extraordinary meeting on the situation in Palestine. The council tasks the Arab Group at the UN with studying steps to freeze Israel’s participation at the UN General Assembly and condemns the UK’s intervention on behalf of Israel at the ICC. (WAFA 7/4)
The Labour Party wins the UK elections in a landslide, with leader Keir Starmer becoming the new prime minister. PA president Mahmoud Abbas congratulates Starmer in a statement, expressing hope that he will continue to promote friendly relations with the PA. (HA 7/4; AJ, AJ, NYT, WAFA 7/5)