In the West Bank, a Palestinian Red Crescent volunteer succumbs to injuries sustained from Israeli forces during a raid in Balata refugee camp on 7/27. Israeli settlers set fire to olive trees in Zeita. Israeli forces shoot and injure 3 Palestinians during a raid in al-Bireh. Israeli forces also fire stun and tear-gas grenades during a raid in Umm Safa, starting fires in 2 homes. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raze farmland near Ramin. Israeli forces also arrest 13 Palestinian during raids in and around Ramallah, Tayasir, al-Yamun, Tubas, Nablus, Tulkarm, ad-Doha, al-al-Asakra, Kisan, and Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest Supreme Islamic Council head Ekrima Sabri on suspicion of inciting terrorism after he mourned Ismail Haniyeh during a sermon at al-Aqsa Mosque. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Nuseirat refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Maghazi, killing at least 39 people. 10 rockets are fired at the Sufa military base, all are intercepted. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Hawsh al-Sayyid Ali, Blida, and Ayta ash Shab. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at the al-Rahab military outpost. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/2; UNOCHA 8/5)
More than 39,519 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 16,314 children and 10,980 women, and around 91,220 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 588 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 139 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 2,176 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. 10 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. A doctor at the Nasser Hospital says the hospital has run out of scrubs. The UN Satellite Centre says the debris generated in Gaza amounts to around 41.95 million metric tonnes, an increase of up to 83% since 1/7. (AJ, UNOCHA 8/2; UNRWA 8/6)
Israeli interior minister Moshe Arbel sends a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav Meira, telling her that he intends to revoke Ekrima Sabri’s residency permit. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says Israeli ceasefire negotiators will travel to Egypt over the weekend for talks. (AJ, HA 8/2)
Ismail Haniyeh is laid to rest at the Lusail royal cemetery in Qatar after a funeral service at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque. Fatah deputy leader Mahmoud al-Aloul, Fatah Central Committee secretary-general Jibril Rajoub, Hamas member Khaled Mashal, Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Palestinian National Initiative secretary-general Mustafa Barghouti, and Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attend the funeral. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan meets with Mashal in Doha ahead of attending the funeral service. UAE senior adviser to President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Anwar Gargash, express condolences to Haniyeh’s family and thanks Qatar for hosting the funeral. The Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv flies it flag at half-staff, leading to Israel summoning the Turkish deputy ambassador for a “severe reprimand.” (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA 8/2; NYT 8/5)
The U.S. Department of Defense says it is increasing its support for the defense of Israel and that it is ensuring that it is prepared to respond to “various contingencies” by moving additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East, deploying additional land-based ballistic missile defenses in the region, and deploying an additional squadron of fighter jets. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks with Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, discussing the 2 countries joint defense posture. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU 8/2; AP, NYT 8/3)
UK foreign secretary David Lammy speaks with Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz, calling for a ceasefire and a de-escalation with Iran and Hezbollah. Defense Secretary John Healy meets with Defense Minister Gallant. (AJ, HA 8/2)
Israeli Channel 12 reports that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shouted at Israeli ceasefire negotiators, including Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, during a meeting on 7/31, calling them “weaklings” and accusing them of working for Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar rather than him. (AX 8/3; NYT 8/4; REU 8/5)