In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian man during a raid in Huwwara. Israeli settlers also set fire to Palestinian vehicles and spray racist graffiti during a raid in Qalqas. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attack Palestinian shepherds in ‘Ain al-Hilweh. Israeli forces shoot and injure 2 Palestinian children during a raid in ‘Askar refugee camp. Israeli forces also injure a Palestinian man with a stun grenade during a raid in al-Khader. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home in Ein ad-Duyuk at-Tahta. Israeli forces also arrest 15 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid Isawiya, assaulting Palestinians, spraying skunk water on homes and vehicles, and arresting a man. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Rafah, al-Mawasi, Gaza City, Nuseirat refugee camp, and al-Bureij refugee camp, killing at least 39 people. A Palestinian child dies of malnutrition at Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, raising the number of deaths from starvation to at least 39. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Shaqra, killing 2 people and injuring 3 others, including a child. Israeli forces also bomb Kunin and Shebaa Farms. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at al-Rahab. (AJ, HA, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/29)
More than 39,363 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 16,054 children and 10,869 women, and around 90,923 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, 329 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,166 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. 29 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry declares a polio epidemic across Gaza. WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris says there needs to be a ceasefire for the WHO to vaccinate the population in Gaza to effectively combat the poliovirus. (AJ, AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 7/29; UNRWA 7/30)
Israeli military police raid the Sde Teiman detention camp, arresting 9 Israeli soldiers who are under investigation for torturing and raping a Palestinian detainee at the camp. Soldiers at Sde Teiman reportedly use pepper-spray against the military police during the raid. After the raid, Israeli members of the public and the Knesset raid Sde Teiman and the Beit Lid military base, attempting to free the 9 Israeli soldiers. Prime Minister Netanyahu “strongly condemned” the storming of Sde Teiman. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says he has authorized the military to “take measures and act immediately to prevent the entry of unauthorized citizens into bases.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls on Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi to stop the investigation, calling the 9 soldiers “heroic warriors.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, saying “[w]e are not on the brink of the abyss, we are in the abyss. All red lines were crossed today.” (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, WAFA 7/29; AJ, AX, HA, HA, HA 7/30)
Haaretz reports that the Israeli military also is investigating an incident where Israeli soldiers filmed and posted a video of themselves blowing up the main water reservoir in Rafah last week. The soldiers reportedly had received approval from their commander to blow up the reservoir but had not been received approval from senior military officers. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA 7/29)
Hamas and Egyptian officials say ceasefire negotiations are still at an impasse over Israel’s insistence on its forces remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor and in the middle of Gaza between Wadi Gaza and Gaza City. Hamas says Prime Minister Netanyahu is adding new conditions to the ceasefire deal in an effort to stall it. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU 7/29)
Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz says he has instructed Israeli diplomats to engage with NATO members to have Turkey expelled from the alliance, citing Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdogan’s threat to invade Israel. (AJ, AJ, HA 7/29)
Lebanese foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib says he has received assurances that the anticipated Israeli assault on Lebanon in response to the attack on Majdal Shams on 7/27 will be limited and not prompt an all-out war. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian speaks with French president Emmanuel Macron, telling him that an Israeli attack on Lebanon “will have serious consequences.” Many airlines cancel scheduled flights to Beirut International Airport, with some suspending flights until the beginning of August. (AJ, HA, REU 7/29; REU 7/30)
U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken speaks with Israeli president Isaac Herzog, urging Israel to prevent an escalation with Hezbollah. Netanyahu vows a heavy retaliation against Hezbollah, which has denied involvement in the Majdal Shams attack, during a visit to the town. Hundreds of people protest Netanyahu’s visit, calling him a war criminal. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says during a press briefing that Israel has a right to respond to the attack on Majdal Shams and that the occupied Golan Heights are part of Israeli territory. (AJ, AP, AP, NYT, REU, REU 7/29)