In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives in Maeen in the Masafer Yatta area, stealing their crops. Israeli settlers also attack Palestinians harvesting olives in Burqa and Ramim. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set up a new outpost in Bayrin near Hebron. Israeli forces shoot and injure 3 Palestinian children during a raid in Beit Furik. Israeli settlers also attack Palestinians in Juret al-Khiel, forcing 8 families of 41 people to flee their homes. Israeli forces also raze land in Sabastia. Elsewhere, Israeli forces prevent Palestinian farmers from harvesting olives in Kafr ad-Dik. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Jabalia refugee camp, Rafah, Dayr al-Balah, al-Mawasi, Gaza City, and Beit Lahiya, killing at least 23 people. An Israeli colonel is killed in an explosion in Jabalia refugee camp. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Beirut, including the vicinity of Beirut International Airport, Bednayel, Nabatieh, Maarakeh, Baalbek, Hermel, and Ali al-Nahri. Israeli forces also demolish a UNIFIL observation tower and perimeter fence in Marwahin and kill 3 Lebanese soldiers in a strike on a vehicle in Ain Ebel in what is described as a deliberate targeting of the soldiers. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at 3 Israeli military bases near Haifa, Safed, and Tiberias. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/20; AP 10/21; UNOCHA 10/24)
More than 42,603 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,000 children and 11,487 women, and around 99,795 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 759 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 165 children. More than 6,500 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, 356 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. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 10/20)
The PA issues a statement saying “[g]enocide is unfolding in northern Gaza in its clearest form,” saying the “occupation army is forcing residents of northern Gaza to either flee under bombardment or face killing in what resembles a circle of certain death.” (AJ 10/20)
Israel announces that it will start targeting Hezbollah’s financial assets and institutions. 3 branches of al-Qard al-Hassan are attacked in Beirut today. (AJ, HA, NYT 10/20; AP 10/21)
Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz says he has ordered legal action against French president Emmanuel Macron after Macron banned Israel from having stands at the Euronaval arms trade show in Paris on 11/4. (AJ, HA, REU 10/20)
Shin Bet director Ronen Bar meets with Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate director Hassan Mahmoud Rashad in Cairo. Axios reports that the 2 discussed the possibility of jumpstarting negotiations with a limited prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal. (HA 10/20; AX 10/21)