In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shoot and kill a Palestinian ambulance driver and injure 2 others in as-Zawiya. Israeli settlers also raid Turmus ‘Ayya, damaging homes and vehicles. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raid homes and block infrastructure in at-Twana in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli settlers also throw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli forces continue their raid on Nur Sham refugee camp for third day in a row, killing 9 Palestinians, including a child, and injuring at least 11 others, bringing the death toll between 4/19 and today to 14, including 2 children. Israeli forces also raid the Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm, detaining medical staff. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Beit Furik. Israeli forces also seal off the entrance to Turmus ‘Ayya. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza City, Jabalia refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, and Beit Hanun, killing at least 37 people. Doctors at Al-Helal Al-Emirati Maternity Hospital in Rafah deliver a baby from the womb of a mother who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Rafah, the baby’s father and sister are also killed in the airstrike. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Ayta ash Shab, Jibbain, and Kfar Kila, killing 3 people. Hezbollah forces fire an anti-tank missile at a house in Metula, causing damage. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/20; AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 4/21; AP, UNOCHA 4/22)
More than 34,049 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 14,520 children and 10,000 women, and around 76,901 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 471 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 116 children. More than 4,890 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 1,582 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. 220 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. UNOCHA says 66% of humanitarian missions in Gaza are impeded or delayed by Israeli authorities. (AJ 4/20; UNOCHA 4/22)
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich instructs government ministries to legalize 68 settlement outposts to connect them to infrastructure, provide municipal services, and build public buildings. (HA, PCN 4/21)
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh meets with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, discussing aid to Gaza, ceasefire negotiations, and Palestinian reconciliation. Haniyeh tells Anadolu Agency that Hamas will be part of the governance of Gaza after the war but does not insist on being the sole authority. Haniyeh says all Palestinian groups should be part of the PLO and that a unified national government should rule Palestine and ensure that elections are held. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU 4/20; HA, HA 4/21)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas says the PA will reevaluate its bilateral relationship with the U.S. following the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council on 4/18 of Palestine’s bid for full UN membership. Abbas also meets with new head of the Central Elections Committee Rami Hamdallah, issuing a decree restructuring the committee. PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks with French foreign minister Stephane Sejourne in a phone call, thanking him for the French vote in favor of full Palestinian UN membership at the Security Council. (AJ, AX, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/20)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry says it will summon the ambassadors of France, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Slovakia, and Ecuador to protest their votes in favor of full Palestinian UN membership at the UN Security Council on 4/18. (AJ 4/20)
The U.S. House of Representatives votes to approve a bill providing Israel with $17.18 billion in military aid, including $5.2 billion for missile defense systems, $3.5 billion for purchasing advanced weapons systems, $1 billion to enhance Israel’s weapons production, and $4.4 billion for other supplies and services to Israel. $9.2 billion is approved for humanitarian aid to Gaza. 58 members of the House vote against the bill, including 37 Democrats and 21 Republicans. PA presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh calls the aid to Israel a “dangerous escalation” that will “translate into thousands of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the passing of the bill “demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and defends Western civilization.” (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA 4/20; AJ 4/21)
Axios reports that the U.S. will sanction the Israeli military’s Netzah Yehuda battalion. Prime Minister Netanyahu calls the potential sanctions “absurd and morally incorrect,” saying he will fight it “with all my strength.” War cabinet member Benny Gantz says he will act “to have this decision changed.” It is later reported that Gantz asks Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reconsider sanctioning the battalion. (AJ, AX, HA 4/20; AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU 4/21; REU 4/22)