## From the Margins: #### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, and the broader SWANA region: April 3, 2026 *These roundups are, and will always be, free. No paywalls. If you find them useful, you can help fuel future ones with a cup of coffee [here](https://paypal.me/ridaaburass?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US). Thanks!* **TL;DR**: The Iran War continues to dominate headlines globally; meanwhile, Israel expanded its military occupation and escalated its attacks in Lebanon. Israeli strikes continue to kill Palestinians in Gaza on a near-daily basis; at least 713 Palestinians have been killed since the so-called ceasefire came into effect, last October - an average of over four Palestinians daily. In the West Bank, Israeli military and settler attacks continue, claiming lives on a near-daily basis; settler gangs rampaged across the West Bank this week, destroying property, harassing, and assaulting residents. Israel's controversial death penalty bill, which only applies to Palestinians, was approved. --- ##### The Gaza Strip: - 2026-03-30 - [Three Palestinians were killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168812) in an Israeli drone strike near Gaza City. - 2026-03-30 - Israeli forces [shot and critically injured](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168828) a 10 year old boy in the central Gaza Strip. - 2026-03-31 - [Three Palestinians were killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168866) in Israeli drone strikes in across the Gaza Strip. - 2026-04-02 - A Palestinian man [was killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168926) by Israeli gunfire in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. The official Gaza death toll since October 7, 2023, [has risen to 72,289](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168921); at least 713 of them were killed since the so-called ceasefire came into effect, last October. - 2026-04-03 - A new humanitarian aid flotilla [has been announced](https://www.newarab.com/news/pro-palestinian-flotillas-new-gaza-mission-start-april-12), set to depart from Barcelona to Gaza on April 12. - 2026-04-03 - "[UNRWA is warning](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2638662/middle-east) it may soon be forced to scale back essential services in Gaza and the West Bank as a deepening funding crisis threatens the future of the UN agency, relied on by millions of Palestinian refugees". ---- ##### The West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2026-03-30 - [Israeli forces shot and killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168811) a Palestinian man near Hebron. - 2026-03-30 - [Israeli forces shot and killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168831) a Palestinian man near Tulkarm. - 2026-03-30 - Israeli forces [demolished four Palestinian homes](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168825) in Silwan. - 2026-03-31 - [Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168868) and set property ablaze near Tubas, injuring four. - 2026-03-31 - Israeli military forces and settlers [attacked and forcibly evicted](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168860) 16 families from the Bedouin community of Khirbet al-Sidra near Jerusalem. - 2026-04-01 -[ A general strike was held](https://www.newarab.com/news/ramallah-shut-down-strike-against-israels-death-penalty-law) across the West Bank today, to protest Israel’s recently approved death penalty law (see item under "Israel", below). - 2026-04-01 - Israeli settlers [uprooted olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168891) near Salfit. - 2026-04-02 - [The al-Aqsa mosque remains closed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168914), for the 34th consecutive day. - 2026-04-03 - Israeli forces [conducted several raids in the West Bank](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168937). In one case, they [raided a Palestinian home](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/168934), ransacked its contents, harassing members. ---- ##### Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians): - 2026-03-30 - [Land Day](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/30/land-day-what-happened-in-palestine-on-march-30-1976) commemoration events were held at [several](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2026/03/30/%D8%A5%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8050-%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D8%A8%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AC-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B8%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%86%D8%A9) [Palestinian](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2026/03/30/%D8%A5%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1-%D9%83%D9%86%D8%A7) [towns](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2026/03/30/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8050-%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%86%D9%87%D8%AC-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-) within the Green Line. #arabic - 2026-04-02 - [Another Palestinian citizen of Israel was killed in a crime-related incident](https://www.arab48.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9/2026/04/01/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1) today, bringing the total number of homicides within the community to 73 so far this year. #arabic - [Gun violence is a systemic problem](https://abrahaminitiatives.org/victims-of-violence-and-crime-in-arab-society-in-2024/) within the '48 Palestinian community, perpetuated by institutional neglect. - 2026-04-02 - Palestinian legal rights organisation Adalah [has warned](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-citizens-israel-face-stark-shelter-shortages-legal-group-warns) of severe disparities in access to bomb shelters between Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel. --- ##### Israel: - 2026-03-30 - Israel's ruling coalition [funneled 250 million NIS to ultra-Orthodox sector](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-03-30/ty-article/.premium/budget-passes-netanyahu-coalition-funnels-massive-last-minute-funds-to-haredim/0000019d-3d7e-ddaa-abbd-bdff3a1d0000) in a last-minute maneuver, hours before Israel's 2026 budget was passed, bypassing oversight. - 2026-03-30 - The Israeli coalition [passed a death penalty bill]([https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-parliament-vote-death-penalty-palestinians-0](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/law/2026-03-30/ty-article/.premium/0000019d-3d7c-dc64-a3df-fd7f69770000)), applying only to Palestinians (and not Jews) convicted of terrorism, [drawing condemnation among EU states](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-03-30/ty-article/.premium/major-european-states-urge-netanyahu-drop-death-penalty-bill-before-knesset-vote/0000019d-3d0c-d991-affd-bf8c120d0000). - 2026-04-03 - An IDF official [said disarming Hezbollah is unrealistic](https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-official-says-disarming-hezbollah-unrealistic-not-a-goal-of-lebanon-operation/), and is not a goal of Lebanon operation. --- ##### SWANA and beyond: - 2026-03-30 - Spain [closed its airspace to US planes](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/30/spain-closes-airspace-to-us-planes-involved-in-war-on-iran) involved in war on Iran, the latest step in the country’s opposition to the conflict. #spain - 2026-03-30 - Trying to maintain their image as a stable and safe haven, [the United Arab Emirates has launched a major crackdown](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-arrests-dozens-british-citizens-over-online-posts-amid-iran-war) on social media posts and videos depicting Iranian missile attacks, arresting dozens of foreign citizens. #UAE - 2026-03-30 - The war [has brought serious shocks](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/war-wipes-120bn-uae-markets-economy-comes-under-pressure) to the Emirati economy, wiping $120bn from the Abu Dhabi and Dubai stock exchanges. - 2026-03-30 - Israeli PM [Netanyahu said](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/netanyahu-orders-army-seize-more-land-lebanon-expand-buffer-zone) the military will seize additional territory in southern Lebanon and expand the so-called “buffer zone”. #lebanon - 2026-03-31 - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz [reiterated](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/katz-says-israel-will-demolish-lebanon-border-villages-create-gaza-style-buffer-zone/) that the Israeli military is planning to establish a new security zone in southern Lebanon, and says that “all homes in Lebanese villages near the border will be destroyed — in accordance with the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza,” in order “to remove, once and for all, the threats near the border.” - 2026-03-31 - Syrian President [Ahmed al-Sharaa met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/idlib-downing-street-ahmed-al-sharaa-meets-british-pm) in Downing Street this morning. #syria #UK - 2026-03-31 - [More than 200,000 people have fled Lebanon for Syria](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2638288/middle-east) since the start of the Iran War. #lebanon - 2026-04-03 - More than 100 US-based legal experts [condemned](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/3/over-100-us-legal-experts-condemn-strikes-on-iran-as-possible-war-crimes) military strikes on Iran as a violation of the United Nations Charter and potentially amounting to “war crimes”. #iran