In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal cattle from Palestinians near the Hamra settlement in the Jordan Valley. Israeli settlers also vandalize solar panels and water pumps in Khirbet al-Deir. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set up an outpost in Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Israeli settlers also raid ‘Asira al-Qibliya. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in Beita. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian child in Salem. Elsewhere, Israeli forces continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 95th day in a row, setting fire to a home in Nur Shams refugee camp and ordering the residents of 106 buildings in Nur Shams refugee camp and Tulkarm refugee camp to leave their homes ahead of mass demolitions on 5/2. Israeli forces also continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 101st day in a row. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli authorities force a Palestinian family to demolish their own in Isawiya. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Beit Lahiya, al-Mawasi, Rafah, Jabalia refugee camp, and Dayr al-Balah, killing at least 29 Palestinians. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Meiss ej Jabal, killing 3 people, including 1 Lebanese person and 2 Syrian nationals. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/1; AJ, AP 5/2; HA 5/3; UNOCHA 5/7)
More than 52,418 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 18,000 children and 12,749 women, and around 118,091 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 957 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 192 children. More than 8,000 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 411 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,634 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. (AJ, WAFA 5/1)
Gaza Health Ministry director Munir al-Bursh calls on the UN to officially declare famine in Gaza, saying the “field indicators and medical and humanitarian data confirm that international conditions for this have been met.” Al-Bursh says 92% of children and breastfeeding mothers suffer from severe malnutrition and 65% do not have access to clean water. UN human rights commissioner Volker Turk says the conditions imposed by Israel on Palestinians in Gaza are “increasingly incompatible with their continued existence as a group.” (AJ, AJ 5/1)
Hamas releases a statement protesting the Swiss decision to ban the group from 5/15, saying the decision represents “a dangerous bias towards the occupation and a denial of its legal and humanitarian obligations.” (AJ 5/1)
The ICJ holds the fourth day of public hearings on Israel’s humanitarian obligations in occupied Palestine. Representatives from Qatar, Pakistan, and other countries address the judges. (AJ, AJ 5/1)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the main objective of the war on Gaza is to “defeat our enemies,” not bring back the captives. (AJ, HA 5/1)
U.S. president Donald Trump says he is nominating National Security Advisor Mike Waltz as the next U.S. ambassador to the UN, making Secretary of State Marco Rubio the interim national security advisor. The Washington Post later reports that Trump was angry with Waltz over his and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s efforts to convince Trump to attack Iran when Netanyahu visited the White House in February. (HA 5/1; HA, HA, WP 5/3; HA 5/4)
A Pew Research Center poll finds that 29% of Democrats hold a favorable view of Israel while 62% of Republicans hold a favorable view of the country. (AJ 5/1)