In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shoot and injure 2 Palestinians harvesting olives during a raid in Amatin. Israeli settlers also vandalize olive trees and steal an olive harvest in Yasuf. Elsewhere, Israeli settler steal olive harvest and harvesting equipment in Haris. Israeli settlers also steal a vehicle and solar panels during a raid in Kisan. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers raze agricultural land in Ein al-Beida and Khalayel al-Loz. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Baqa ash-Sharqiyya. Israeli forces also fire tear gas at a school in Husan and near a mosque in al-Khader, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces prevent Palestinians from harvesting olives and seize vehicles in Qusra. Israeli forces also arrest 15 Palestinians during raids in and around Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Tubas. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Beit Lahiya, Gaza City, Rafah, and al-Bureij refugee camp, killing at least 143 people, including at least 109 people in Beit Lahiya. 4 Israeli soldiers are killed in Jabalia refugee camp. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Baalbek, Haret Saida, Sidon, Sarafand, and other towns and villages. An Israeli soldier is killed in southern Lebanon. 8 Austrian soldiers are lightly injured in an attack on Camp Naqoura; it is unclear who is responsible. In Yemen, Houthi forces launch a drone at Ashkelon; no damage is reported. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/29; AJ, AJ 10/30)
More than 43,061 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,000 children and 11,487 women, and around 101,223 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 763 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 166 children. More than 6,500 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, 365 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,373 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. 87% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. (AJ, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 10/29)
The World Food Programme says the likelihood of a larger group being impacted by famine in northern Gaza will increase if more aid is not allowed in. (AJ, WAFA 10/29)
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri says Hamas is open to any proposal that would end the suffering of the Palestinian people and lead to a permanent ceasefire. (AJ 10/29)
Palestinian National Council president Rawhi Fattouh calls for Israel to be expelled from the UN due to the 10/28 passing of its anti-UNRWA legislation. The PA cabinet condemns the legislation during its weekly meeting in Ramallah. (WAFA, WAFA 10/29)
The Knesset passes a bill aimed at preventing the reopening of the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem. The legislation prohibits the establishment of consulates or official representations of foreign countries without their representatives having submitted their letters of credentials to Israel. The Knesset committee also advances a bill for the second and third reading in the Knesset that will allow the interior minister to deport relatives of people who are found to have committed an act of terrorism, if the relatives are suspected of having knowledge of planned attacks or express support for the attack. (HA, HA 10/29)
Hezbollah announces that Naim Qassem has been selected by the Shura Council to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as secretary-general. Qassem has been deputy secretary-general since 1991. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant posts a picture of Qassem on X, writing “Temporary appointment. Not for long.” (AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU 10/29; HA 10/31)
At the UN Security Council, member states discuss the situation in the Middle East. PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour says “Israel has crossed every red line, broken every rule, [and] defied every prohibition. When is enough really enough?” saying it is the duty of the Security Council to act. U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield says the U.S. “rejects any Israeli effort to starve Palestinians in Jabalia, or anywhere else.” Algerian ambassador to the UN Amar Bendjama says the international framework built after World War II is crumbling because the world is unable and unwilling to hold Israel accountable for its crimes. (AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 10/29)
Norway asks the ICJ to clarify Israel’s obligations to Palestinians under international law in response to the Knesset passing anti-UNRWA legislation. Irish prime minister Simon Harris calls on the EU to review its ties with Israel because of the legislation. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says that there could be consequences for Israel for the legislation under U.S. law and policy. Miller also says the U.S. is concerned about the Israeli attack on Beit Lahiya today, calling it a “horrifying incident with a horrifying result.” France “firmly condemns” the attack on Beit Lahiya. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT 10/29; AJ 10/30)
Spain cancels a contract to buy ammunition for its police from the Israeli company Guardian LTD. (AJ 10/29)