In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives in al-Khader, Susiya, and Ras al-Muwaris. Israeli settlers also assault a Palestinian child, vandalize a generator and bags of barley and bran during a raid in Wadi Qana. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers throw stones at vehicles traveling near Yatma. Israeli settlers with a military escort also steal a herd of sheep in Jurish. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers steal a tent and furniture during a raid in al-Fakhit. Israeli forces assault a Palestinian man during a raid in Jalazone refugee camp. Israeli forces also fire tear gas at Palestinians harvesting olives in Salem. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians protesting a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also seize 3 vehicles in Khillat al-Mai in the Masafer Yatta area. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Jabalia refugee camp, Gaza City, Shati’ refugee camp, Nuseirat refugee camp, Beit Lahiya, and Maghazi, killing at least 62 people, including 39 in Jabalia refugee camp. Israeli forces also directly target al-Awda and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza. The Israeli military says it has sent another army unit into Jabalia and there are reports that all communications have been cut off in the camp. South of the Dead Sea, 2 gunmen wearing military uniforms cross into Israel from Jordan, shooting and injuring 2 Israeli soldiers before being shot and killed. Jordan says the 2 men are not Jordanian soldiers. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Ansar, Hanine, al-Duwayr, Sajd, Khiam, Ramiyah, Baraachit, Dabbal, Ayta ash Shab, al-Dhayra, Maroun al-Ras, Bint Jbeil, Majdal Selm, Hadatha, Yatar, al-Bustan, Yaroun, Marouhin, Tarbikhah, Kfar Rumman, Dibel, and Jabal al-Rafii. Israeli forces also order the evacuation of 23 villages, telling residents to flee north of the Awali River. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at the Philon base in Rosh Pina and at Haifa, and launch drones at a base near Hadara. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/18; AJ, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/19; UNOCHA 10/22; UNOCHA 10/24)
More than 42,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,000 children and 11,487 women, and around 99,546 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 744 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 155 children. More than 6,315 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, 353 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,345 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. The WHO says Israel is barring medical specialists from entering Gaza. UN special rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri says Israel has instituted a system designed to cause confusion about what aid it will allow into Gaza and says that the aid convoys that do enter Gaza are often targeted by Israeli forces. (AJ, HA, WAFA 10/18; WAFA 10/19)
UNOCHA condemns Israel’s “war-like” tactics against Palestinians in the West Bank. (AJ, REU 10/18)
Hamas political bureau deputy chairperson Khalil al-Hayya confirms during a televised address that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat on 9/16. Al-Hayya says the captives held in Gaza will not be released until there is a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Palestinian prisoners are released by Israel. The PLO expresses condolences over the killing of Sinwar and calls for national unity. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan meets with a Hamas delegation in Turkey, expressing condolences over the death of Sinwar. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian issues a statement offering condolences over the killing. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, WAFA 10/18)
PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour and 11 other Arab ambassadors meet with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, discussing the need for an immediate ceasefire, support for UNRWA, the push for a new ceasefire resolution in the Security Council, and the possibility of expelling Israel from the General Assembly. (AJ 10/18)
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel says third party countries that enable Israel’s “unlawful occupation” and assist it should be considered complicit in Israel’s violations of international law. (AJ, WAFA 10/18)
Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz condemns UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres for not welcoming the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, saying he is “leading an extreme anti-Israel and anti-Jewish agenda.” (AJ 10/18)
Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati accuses Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf of wanting to interfere in Lebanese politics after Ghalibaf said in an interview that Iran was ready to negotiate with France on implementing UN Resolution 1701 in southern Lebanon. Mikati also meets with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in Beirut, discussing a diplomatic solution to end Israel’s attacks. Meloni says that attacks on UNIFIL troops are unacceptable. (AJ, AJ, HA, NYT, REU 10/18)
U.S. president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, and UK prime minister Kier Starmer meet in Berlin, discussing the situation in the Middle East and other topics. Biden tells reporters that there “is an opportunity in my view, and my colleagues agree, that we can probably deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while. In other words, it stops the back and forth.” (AJ, AP, HA 10/18)
Politico reports that the Belgian prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into possible war crimes committed by a Belgian soldier fighting with Israel in Gaza. (AJ, HA 10/18)
Documents that appear to be leaked from U.S. intelligence agencies on Israel’s plans for attacking Iran circulate on the social media platform Telegram. (AX, HA, HA 10/19; AJ, AP, REU 10/20; HA 10/21)
Members of the Greek dockworkers’ union block the loading of a container of ammunition headed to Israel from North Macedonia at the Piraeus Port. (HA, REU 10/18)