In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assault Palestinian shepherds near Badia Yatta in the Masafer Yatta area. 2 Israeli settlers are shot and wounded near Nabi Ilyas. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Ramallah. Israeli forces also block the main entrance to Qalqilya. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 15 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, and Jerusalem. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Nuseirat refugee camp, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Beit Lahiya, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Beit Hanun, killing at least 38 people. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Khaim, Kawkaba, Jennata, and Meiss Ej Jabal. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/7; UNOCHA 4/8)
More than 33,175 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,750 children and 8,900 women, and around 75,886 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 448 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 112 children. More than 4,700 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, 259 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,549 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 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 103 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (AJ, WAFA 4/7; UNOCHA 4/8)
Palestinian writer and activist Walid Daqqa dies in Israeli custody at the Shamir Medical Center. Daqqa was arrested in 1986 and has been suffering from cancer for several years. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society says Daqqa died due to deliberate medical neglect as part of Israel’s “slow killing” policy. Amnesty International says Daqqa’s death in custody is a “cruel reminder of Israel’s disregard for Palestinians’ right to life,” adding that Israel must return his body to his family. Daqqa was a member of the editorial board of the IPS Arabic language journal Majallat al-Dirasat al-Filastiniyya. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA 4/7; ADM, AJ, AP, IPS 4/8)
The Israeli military says it has withdrawn the 98th commando division from Khan Yunis “in order to recuperate and prepare for future operations,” and that it is increasing the number of soldiers near Lebanon. A brigade of Israeli troops, stationed along the military corridor established by Israel, remain in Gaza. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israeli forces will be prepared for a mission in Rafah. The military also says that 604 Israeli soldiers have been killed since 10/7/2023, including 204 in Gaza of which 41 were killed by friendly fire. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU 4/7; AP, AP, HA, UNOCHA 4/8)
Hamas releases a statement saying its ceasefire negotiation delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, has arrived in Egypt and met with Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate director Abbas Kamel. The statement says Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of Palestinians to their homes, relief for and reconstruction of Gaza, and a deal to exchange Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives. CIA director Bill Burns meets with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo. Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Mossad director David Barnea, and Shin Bet director Ronen Bar are also in Cairo for the ceasefire negotiations. (REU 4/6; AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU 4/7; HA 4/8)
PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa meets with Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi in Amman. (WAFA 4/7)
Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani says Iraq will send 2.6 million gallons of fuel to Gaza and treat wounded Palestinians. (AJ, REU 4/7)
UK foreign secretary David Cameron writes in the Sunday Times that UK support for Israel is not unconditional, and that the UK expects Israel to abide by international law. (HA 4/6; AJ, AJ, REU 4/7)