In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to olive trees in Madama. Israeli settlers also steal a tent in Khallet Khader. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian child and open fire at an ambulance during a raid in Balata refugee camp. Israeli forces also arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah and Jenin. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, al-Mawasi, and Gaza City, killing at least 66 people. Israeli forces order 29,000 Palestinians in al-Bureij refugee camp and Nuseirat refugee camp to evacuate. An Israeli soldier succumbs to injuries sustained on 7/20 in Rafah. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Hula, Taraya, Markaba, Ayta ash Shab, Khiam, Shaheen, Yaroun, Meiss Ej Jabal, Chihine, Kafr Kila, and Burj el-Shemali. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Shtula and Manara. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/28; REU 7/29)
More than 39,324 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 16,054 children and 10,869 women, and around 90,830 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 585 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 138 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, 328 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,161 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. Doctors at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Dayr al-Balah says wounded people are dying on the floor of the emergency room because the hospital lacks medicine and medical supplies. Al-Shifa Hospital acting director Dr Marwaan Abu Saadah says he hopes the hospital’s emergency department can start receiving patients within 2 weeks. UNRWA says that only 14% of Gaza is not currently under evacuation orders. (AJ, HA, WAFA 7/28)
The PA Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs says at least 7 Palestinian prisoners at Ofer Prison have attempted suicide due to the “bad detention conditions, the brutality of jailers, and malnutrition and medical neglect.” (AJ, WAFA 7/28)
The Israeli Security Cabinet authorizes Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to decide how to respond to the attack on Majdal Shams on 7/27. Israel has blamed Hezbollah which has denied responsibility. The U.S. claims that Hezbollah launched the attack and that it is working on a diplomatic solution. Lebanese foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib says his government has urged the U.S. to call for Israeli restraint. French president Emmanuel Macron speaks with Netanyahu, urging him to avoid an escalation. Gisha says that Netanyahu has canceled his approval for 150 Palestinian children to leave Gaza to receive treatment for their injuries in the UAE because of the strike on Majdal Shams. Haaretz reports that the families of those killed in the Majdal Shams attack refused a request by Netanyahu to meet with them. Residents also tell Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to leave the town, calling him a criminal. (AJ, AX, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 7/28; AJ, HA, NYT, REU 7/29)
Mossad director David Barnea meets with CIA director Bill Burns, Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate director Abbas Kamel in Rome for ceasefire negotiations. (AJ, AX, HA, HA, NYT 7/28)
UK prime minister Kier Starmer meets with Israeli president Isaac Herzog. A UK readout of the meeting says Starmer urged Israel to take immediate steps toward a ceasefire. (AJ, HA 7/28)
Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdogan says in a televised meeting of the AK Party that “[w]e must be very strong so that Israel cannot do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them.” (AJ, HA, NYT, REU 7/28; AP 7/29)
3 Israeli soldiers who were stationed in Gaza tell the Observer that they saw widespread looting, vandalism, and destruction of Palestinian homes by other soldiers. (AJ 7/28)
U.S. Congressional staffers launch a website, the Congressional Dissent Channel, where they share objections to Israel’s war on Gaza and the lack of a congressional response. (NYT 7/29)