In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up an outpost near Kafr al-Dik. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in ‘Asira al-Qibliya. Israeli forces also raid Jalazone refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish 4 tourist rental homes in Jericho. Israeli forces also issue a demolition notice for a home under construction in Kafr Aqab. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 18 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. 2 Israeli soldiers are injured by an IED near the Hermesh settlement. In East Jerusalem, Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir tours the Haram al-Sharif compound, releasing a video saying he is there to pray for the Israeli captives held in Gaza, stipulating that they should be released through force and that the government should not enter a ceasefire deal. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, Dayr al-Balah, Nuseirat refugee camp, Beit Hanun, and Khan Yunis, killing at least 54 people. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Safed al-Battikh, killing 5 people, including Hezbollah commander Ali Jaafer Maatouq and 2 other members of Hezbollah, 12 are reportedly injured. Israeli forces also bomb Ghazzeh, killing Islamic Group commander Mohammad Hamad Jabara. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Hadab Yarin and Metulla. An Israeli soldier succumbs to injuries sustained in a Hezbollah attack on 6/30. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/18; AP, HA, UNOCHA 7/19)
More than 38,848 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 16,054 children and 10,700 women, and around 89,495 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 569 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 134 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, 326 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,128 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. 26 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. Ukraine says it has shipped the first of 3 shipments of 1,000 tonnes of wheat to Palestine. (AJ 7/18; UNRWA 7/22)
The Gaza Ministry of Health says test conducted in cooperation with UNICEF have found the polio virus in sewage samples in Gaza. Oxfam says Israel has reduced the amount of water available in Gaza by 94%. (AJ, AP, WAFA, WAFA 7/18; GDN, UNOCHA 7/19)
Israeli Central Command commander Avi Bluth signs 2 orders transferring the enforcement, planning, and building authorities in the Agreed-Upon Reserve in the West Bank, also known as the Green Areas, to an Israeli official at the Civil Administration. The area, which spans 167,000 dunams (41,300 acres) east of Bethlehem and Hebron, was previously administered by the PA as part of the Wye River Memorandum. (PCN 7/19)
Amnesty International says it has documented 27 cases of Palestinians from Gaza being held without access to lawyers by Israel and subjected to torture. Amnesty says that as of 7/1, 1,402 Palestinians were detained under the Unlawful Combatants Law. (AI 7/18)
PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa meets with U.S. senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in Ramallah, discussing ceasefire efforts and PA reforms. (WAFA 7/18)
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziyad al-Nakhalah meets in Doha, discussing the resistance in Gaza. (AJ 7/19)
The Knesset extends a temporary law allowing Israel to ban foreign media until 11/30. (AJ, AP, HA 7/18)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu tours the Rafah crossing, saying maintaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor is critical to Israel’s objectives. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT 7/18)
Houthi interior minister Mohammed Ali al-Houthi says Houthi forces would cease some attacks on ships headed to Israeli ports if Israel allows aid to enter northern Gaza. (AJ 7/18)
The PA, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and France condemn National Security Minister Ben-Gvir’s raid on the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas calls on the OIC to take “serious action to stop these systematic violations.” The PFLP calls for a broad mobilization to confront Israel’s assaults on holy sites in Palestine. (AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 7/18)
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says, “the bloodshed in Gaza must stop now,” saying too many civilians have been killed. (AJ, WAFA 7/18)
FIFA says it has decided to delay a decision on whether to ban Israel from international soccer competitions until after the Olympics in Paris. (NYT 7/18; AJ 7/19)