In the West Bank, hundreds of Israeli settlers with a military escort raid Duma, shooting and injuring 5 Palestinians and setting fire to homes, vehicles, and agricultural land. Israeli settlers also attack and assault 4 Palestinians near al-‘Awja. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man in Beit Furik. Israeli forces also continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 71st day in a row. Elsewhere, Israeli forces continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 65th day in a row, forcing Palestinians in part of Tulkarm refugee camp to flee their homes. Israeli forces also demolish a horse stable and sheds and deliver a demolition notice for a car wash in Abu Dis. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in Deir al-Hatab, Yatma, and Beit Sahour. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat refugee camp, Maghazi, Dayr al-Balah, and Shati’ refugee camp, killing at least 42 Palestinians, including journalist Mohammed Saleh al-Bardawil. Israeli forces also issue new evacuation orders for parts of Beit Hanun and Beit Lahiya and additional neighborhoods of Rafah. A rocket is launched at Israel; no damage is reported. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb the Dahiyeh neighborhood of Beirut, killing 4 people, including Hezbollah member Hassan Bdeir. In Yemen, U.S. forces bomb Saada, Hajjah, and Hodeidah. (NYT 3/31; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/1; UNOCHA 4/4)
More than 50,399 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,749 women, and around 114,583 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 937 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 186 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, 408 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,579 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. 92% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. The Gaza Bakery Owners Association says all bakeries in Gaza have closed due to a lack of fuel and flour. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 4/1; HA, NYT 4/2)
Peace Now says Israel has advanced plans for 14,335 new housing units in the West Bank in 2025, the highest number in more than a decade. (PCN 4/1)
The PA asks Hungary for official clarification on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to the country on 4/2. (AJ 4/1)
Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says Israel will not “allow [PA president Mahmoud] Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to use illegal construction as a toll to create a strategic threat against the settlements.” (AJ 4/1)
Israeli Democrats party leader Yair Golan calls the settler attack in Duma a pogrom, saying it is a result of deliberate policies that encourage settler violence. (AJ 4/1)
The UN condemns Israel’s killing of the 15 emergency workers who were found dead in Rafah on 3/30 after having gone missing on 3/23. The UN also calls the Israeli assertion that there is enough food in Gaza “ridiculous” and denies the Israeli claim that Hamas had seized humanitarian supplies. (AJ, REU, WAFA, WAFA 4/1)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retracts his appointment of Eli Sharvit as the new Shin Bet director, reportedly because U.S. senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) criticized the decision due to Sharvit’s criticism of President Donald Trump’s climate policies. (AJ, AJ, NYT, REU 4/1)
President Trump speaks with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in a phone call, discussing “Gaza, and possible solutions, Military preparedness, etc.” according to a Trump social media post. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says there will be “hell to pay” if Hamas does not release the Israeli captives. (AJ, HA 4/1)
Germany issues deportation orders for 4 foreign nationals who have taken part in Gaza protests but have not been convicted of any crimes. (AJ 4/1; HA 4/4)
Republican politician Randy Fine wins a special election for a U.S. congressional seat in Florida. Fine has a long history of anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic statements, including calling for the destruction of Gaza. (AJ 4/2)
The Hind Rajab Foundation says it is launching legal action with the ICC, the Hungarian Public Prosecutor, and European airspace authorities in response to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned trip to Hungary on 4/2. (AJ 4/1)