In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raid Sabastia, touring an archeological site. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian child during a raid in Ramallah. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian child during a raid in Beit Furik. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently disperse protesters in Husan, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also issue a punitive home demolition notice to the family of a Palestinian prisoner in Ramallah. Meanwhile, Israeli forces close 2 entrances to al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces also arrest 15 Palestinians, including 4 children, during raids in and around Jalazone refugee camp, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Hebron and Jerusalem. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, al-Bureij refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat refugee camp, and Rafah, killing at least 43 people, including a Belgian aid worker and his son in Rafah. Israeli forces also fire tank shells at Palestinians trying to return to their homes in northern Gaza, killing at least 4 people. A baby delivered from her dead mother’s womb dies in an incubator 5 days later. In Lebanon, Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Arab al-Aramshe and Shebaa Farms. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/25; AP, UNOCHA 4/26)
More than 34,305 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 14,520 children and 10,000 women, and around 77,293 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 477 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 117 children. More than 4,974 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, 260 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,584 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. 84 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA 4/25; UNOCHA 4/26)
The UN asks people in Gaza to preserve “all forensic evidence” related to the mass graves found in Gaza until the UN gets a mandate to investigate them. 392 bodies have been found in 3 mass graves at the Nasser Hospital and dozens of bodies have been found at al-Shifa Hospital. The Gaza Civil Defense says some bodies found at the Nasser Hospital show signs of torture while around 20 people appear to have been buried alive. U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan says in response to reports about the mass graves that “[w]e want answers. We want to see this thoroughly and transparently investigated.” (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA 4/25; UNOCHA 4/26)
The Gaza Civil Defense issues a heat warning for displaced Palestinians in Gaza, saying the heat can escalate outbreaks of epidemics and diseases. (AJ, WAFA 4/25; UNOCHA 4/26)
The U.S. military says it has begun constructing the floating pier that will be placed on Gaza’s coast to facilitate aid deliveries directly to Gaza by sea. (AJ, HA, REU 4/25; AJ, AP, HA, NYT, NYT 4/26)
Israel says it will allow UK-appointed observers to visit detention facilities holding Palestinians arrested in Gaza. (HA 4/25; HA 4/26)
Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya says Hamas is serious about releasing Israeli captives but that it requires a permanent ceasefire. Al-Hayya also says that Israel has presented maps to mediating countries showing Israel’s intention to annex 20% of Gaza. (AJ, HA, REU 4/25; AJ 4/26)
PA president Mahmud Abbas discusses the situation in Palestine with Finnish president Alexander Stubb during a phone call. (WAFA 4/25)
The Israeli military tells the government that it is ready to invade Rafah when a date is set by the security cabinet. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi says he rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians to the Sinai Peninsula and other places. Palestinian ambassador to Egypt Diab Allouh says between 80,000 and 100,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza to Egypt since 10/7/2023. (AJ, HA 4/25)
French president Emmanuel Macron speaks with Jordanian king Abdullah II, with Macron saying in a statement that the 2 condemn recent Israeli settlement expansion announcements and that France is considering additional sanctions on Israel. (AJ 4/25)
The U.S. Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the UK issue a joint statement calling on Hamas to release Israeli captives. (AJ, HA, HA, REU 4/25)
The U.S. State Department Arabic language spokesperson Hala Rharrit resigns over U.S. support for Israel’s war on Gaza. (AJ, REU 4/25; WAFA 4/26)
108 people are arrested at student protests at Emerson College in Boston, while 28 are arrested at Emory University in Atlanta. Police are filmed using tasers and pepper spray on protesters at Emory University. 550 students and professors have been arrested at campuses across the U.S. since last week. The University of Southern California cancels its main-stage graduation ceremony after police arrested nearly 100 pro-Palestine protesters on its campus on 4/25. (AJ, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU 4/25; AJ, AP, WAFA 4/26)