## From the Margins: #### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, and the broader SWANA region: April 17, 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/ceasefire continues to dominate headlines; as in the past few weeks, I tried to surface what's been drowned out by war-related headlines. The situation is still dire across the Occupied Territories: Palestinians are killed on a daily basis in Gaza; in the West Bank, Israeli military forces detained, shot, injured and killed several Palestinians, while settler gangs continued to destroy property, intimidate, and shoot Palestinian residents. The Israeli military Chief of Staff reinstates Israeli soldiers accused of raping a Palestinian detainee. Kuwait cracks down on media freedom, detaining Kuwaiti-American journalist over social media posts. The last remaining US troops in Syria have left the country, ending a 10-year presence. --- ##### The Gaza Strip: - 2026-04-13 - [Israeli forces killed two Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169366) in separate incidents across the Gaza Strip. - 2026-04-14 - [Four killed, including a child](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169454), in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in Gaza City. - 2026-04-14 - [Hamas has rejected the Board of Peace's disarmament plan](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4vvxxg8lgo), accusing it of bias toward Israel. Israel said it will not move forward without Hamas disarmament. - 2026-04-15 - Israeli forces [killed 11 Palestinians](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/15/israeli-attacks-kill-11-including-two-children-in-day-of-strikes-on-gaza), including two children, in separate attacks across the Gaza Strip. - 2026-04-15 - Gaza [continues to face](https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/4/15/as-world-focuses-on-iran-israel-engineering-starvation-policy-in-gaza) severe food, medicine, and fuel shortages. - 2026-04-16 - [Three Palestinian were killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169508) in Israeli drone strikes across Gaza. - 2026-04-17 - [Two Palestinians were killed](https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-strikes-desalination-plant-gaza-kill-two) in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza; the Israeli army targeted a water desalination plant in Shujaeyya, east of Gaza City. ---- ##### The West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2026-04-12 - Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir entered the al-Aqsa mosque compound - following a long and unprecedented closure amid the Iran War - filming a video [in which he said](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israels-ben-gvir-says-he-feels-owner-al-aqsa-mosque-compound): "Today, I feel like the owner here". Such provocations have become much [more frequent](https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/18/israeli-minister-itamar-ben-gvir-visit-al-aqsa-mosque) in recent years. - 2026-04-13 - Israeli forces [shot and injured](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169355) two Palestinian workers as they attempted to cross the separation wall. - 2026-04-14 - Israeli settlers [bulldozed Palestinian agricultural lands](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169441) near Bethlehem. - 2026-04-14 - Israeli settlers cut[ water pipes near Jericho](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169442), disrupting the flow of water to agricultural and grazing lands in the area. - 2026-04-14 - Armed settlers [tried to seize a Palestinian-owned house](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169461) northeast of Hebron. - 2026-04-14 - Israeli forces [detained three Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169463) during a 15-hour military raid on the town of Bal’a, east of Tulkarm. - 2026-04-14 - Three Palestinians [were injured in an Israeli settler attack](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169464) near Bethlehem. - 2026-04-15 - Israeli forces [marked dozens of Palestinian women](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-forces-number-palestinian-womens-hands-during-jenin-invasion) with numbers on their hands, before allowing them to retrieve belongings from the depopulated Jenin refugee camp. - 2026-04-15 - Israeli forces [bulldozed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169478) a metal factory and other industrial facilities in the town of Beit Ula, northwest of Hebron. - 2026-04-15 - Israeli settlers [shot and injured](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169483) a Palestinian man near Salfit. - 2026-04-15 - Israeli forces [razed agricultural land](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169484) and destroyed water pipes near Tubas. - 2026-04-15 - Israeli forces [demolished 13 residential and agricultural structures](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169485), including an inhabited home, in Jerusalem. - 2026-04-16 - Israeli forces [shot and killed a Palestinian teenager](https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-forces-kill-palestinian-teenager-seize-body) near Jerusalem. - 2026-04-17 - Israeli settlers [torched two Palestinian-owned vehicles](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169519) south of Hebron. - 2026-04-17 - Israeli forces [detained a dozen Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169521) across the West Bank early this morning. ---- ##### Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians): - 2026-04-15 - Read [Samah Salaime's excellent analysis](https://www.972mag.com/renewed-joint-list-divisions-israel-elections/) of Palestinian politics within Israel. Can this community's leader's overcome internal differences, and deliver unity? - 2026-04-16 - The violence epidemic continues to sweep through the Palestinian community within Israel, with [another homicide in the south](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%A9/2026/04/16/%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%B9). This brings the total number of Palestinian victims of homicide within the Green Line to 83 people 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. --- ##### Israel: - 2026-04-13 - The Israeli Police [recommended closing a case](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-04-12/ty-article/.premium/police-recommend-closing-case-against-sara-netanyahu-without-interrogation/0000019d-81f4-d87f-a7ff-abf71d960000) against the Prime Minister's wife, Sarah Netanyahu, over witness harassment. Sarah Netanyahu was accused of of asking the PM's chief of staff of harassing witnesses. - 2026-04-14 - In July, 2024, a mob of right-wing protesters [stormed an Israeli army base](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2q07kd3ld6o), to protest the arrest of soldiers who were accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainees. Today, [Haaretz reports](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-04-13/ty-article/.premium/shin-bet-warned-israeli-police-before-right-wing-mob-stormed-army-base/0000019d-8853-d7a4-a7df-bd5f15b10000) that the Israeli security services alerted the police of this ahead of time, but the latter only deployed a small force to the site. "'The incident is seen as a key milestone in Ben-Gvir's takeover of the police,' a senior Shin Bet official said". - 2026-04-16 - The Israeli military Chief of Staff [has approved the return to reserve duty of the soldiers](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-soldiers-suspected-raping-palestinian-detainee-allowed-return-service) accused of the Gazan detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility. - 2026-04-15 - Ukraine [asked Israel for clarifications](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893050) after a Russian cargo ship, carrying grain originating from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, docked at an Israeli port. #ukraine - 2026-04-15 - The Israeli Supreme Court [heard petitions](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893038) seeking to force PM Netanyahu to dismiss National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Though this is unlikely, the hearing is important nonetheless, potentially setting precedents regarding the high court's power over ministerial appointments in cases of misconduct. - 2026-04-17 - The Israeli government [will boost funding](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-04-16/ty-article/.premium/israeli-government-to-boost-funding-for-anti-arab-jerusalem-day-marches/0000019d-9687-d55a-a7ff-feff472a0000) for the annual, anti-Palestinian [Jerusalem Day marches](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czelwkwn3y2o), which have a worsening history of violence against Palestinian residents. - 2026-04-17 - New poll [shows](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-04-17/ty-article/.premium/channel-12-poll-likud-unchanged-on-25-seats-no-coalition-without-arab-parties/0000019d-9a69-d442-a59f-be7d3cdb0000) the Israeli opposition has no chance of defeating Netanyahu without the backing of Palestinian parties. --- ##### SWANA and beyond: - 2026-04-13 - Israel [continues to bomb Lebanon](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-strikes-lebanon-clashes-hezbollah-ahead-talks) overnight, and this morning, killing several people. #lebanon - 2026-04-13 - [Turkey's foreign minister said](https://www.newarab.com/news/ankara-says-israel-seeks-declare-turkey-new-enemy) Israel "cannot live without an enemy", and that the Israeli government is trying is portraying Turkey as one. Tensions between Turkey and Israel have steadily escalated since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. #turkey - 2026-04-14 - This important report reveals [systematic targeting of Iranian universities](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-iran-universities-became-target-us-israeli-attacks) throughout the Iran War. #iran - 2026-04-14 - This interesting report [details Turkey's plans](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pipe-dream-turkey-plan-redraw-middle-east-energy-iran-war-hormuz) to become a regional energy hub - spurred on by the energy insecurities caused by the wars in Iran and Ukraine. #turkey - 2026-04-14 - Pope Leo [did not pull punches](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/algeria-pope-calls-authorities-not-dominate-serve-people) on his historic visit to Algeria (he the first pope to visit the country), "urging local authorities to liberalise the country's political life and world leaders to abandon “neo-colonial” practices". #algeria - 2026-04-14 - There are [some reports of a double-suicide attack](https://en.hespress.com/135760-twin-suicide-attacks-rocked-algeria-monday-during-popes-visit-informed-source-verified-footage.html) coinciding with the Pope's visit. [It seems there were no casualties](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2026/04/14/pope-s-first-day-in-algeria-marred-by-failed-suicide-attack-near-algiers_6752401_124.html) other than the attackers, though details are scarce. - 2026-04-14 - Kuwait [detained Kuwaiti-American journalist](https://www.newarab.com/news/kuwait-detains-journalist-ahmed-shihab-eldin-over-social-posts) Ahmed Shihab-Eldin over social media posts covering the Iran War, drawing international condemnation. #kuwait - 2026-04-15 - Israel continues its attacks across Lebanon; [the Israeli army says](https://www.newarab.com/news/trump-says-iran-war-close-over-amid-ongoing-hormuz-blockade?blockId=block_77973) it has struck more than 200 "Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites" across the country over the past 24 hours. [At least 13 people were killed](https://aje.news/lxeq57?update=4494400). - 2026-04-15 - At least [four people were killed](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/15/four-killed-in-turkiyes-second-school-shooting-in-two-days) in two separate school shootings in Turkey. #turkey - 2026-04-16 - [Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed 172 children](https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/lebanonnews/2026-04-16/ty-article-magazine/.premium/israeli-strikes-in-lebanon-kill-172-children-far-from-hezbollah-war-front-lines/0000019d-9128-d9bd-abfd-fbed2d600000) since the start of the Iran War - many of them killed in airstrikes deep inside Lebanon, far from the front lines. #lebanon - 2026-04-17 - The last remaining US troops in Syria [have left](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-military-fully-withdraws-syria-after-10-years), ending a 10-year presence in the country, "[completing a handover](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/16/syria-takes-control-of-all-bases-where-us-forces-were-deployed) that Damascus says reflects the successful absorption of Kurdish-led fighters into national structures". - 2026-04-17 - Iran [continues to attack Kurdish areas](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/no-ceasefire-irans-kurdish-opposition-parties-exile) in Iraq, despite its ceasefire with the US. #kurdistan #iran