## From the Margins: #### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, and the broader SWANA region: April 24, 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**: Overshadowed by the Iran war/ceasefire/negotiations, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza persist, killing Palestinian civilians - including children - on a near-daily basis. In the West Bank, Israeli forces and settlers have shot, injured, and killed several Palestinians. Within Israel itself, Palestinian citizens continue to suffer from a high homicide rate - a systemic issue rooted in institutional neglect. Israel has carried out attacks in Lebanon, killing a prominent journalist. Reports also reveal that Israeli soldiers are have looted Lebanese homes on a large scale. --- ##### The Gaza Strip: - 2026-04-21 - Israeli forces [have killed at least six Palestinians](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/21/israeli-soldiers-and-settlers-kill-11-palestinians-across-gaza-west) across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours. - 2026-04-22 - [One Palestinian was killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169726) in an Israeli drone strike on Jabalia. - 2026-04-23 - [At least five Palestinians were killed](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2640913/middle-east) in Israeli attacks in Gaza, including three children. - 2026-04-24 - [Two Palestinians were killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169782) in an Israeli strike north of Gaza City. ---- ##### The West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2026-04-20 - [Israel re-opened Sa-Nur](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-re-opens-west-bank-settlement-evacuated-20-years-ago), a settlement in the northern West Bank, which was evacuated 20 years ago as part of Israel's "[Disengagement Plan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_disengagement_from_the_Gaza_Strip)". During the settlement's re-opening ceremony, Israeli Finance Minister [Bezalel Smotrich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bezalel_Smotrich) said: "We are cancelling the shame of the disengagement, burying the idea of a Palestinian state and returning to the settlement of Sa-Nur". - 2026-04-20 - Israeli forces [shot and injured](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169589) a Palestinian man near Jenin. - 2026-04-20 - Israeli forces [detained more than 50 Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169596) during several raids in the Hebron area. - 2026-04-20 - Israeli forces [uprooted dozens of olive and almond trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169616) near Nablus; yesterday, they uprooted more than 250 fruit trees in the same area. - 2026-04-21 - Israeli settlers [shot up the village of al-Mughayyir](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-settlers-kill-two-palestinians-including-student-ramallah-school-attack), near Ramallah, killing two - including a 13-year old student. - 2026-04-22 - Israeli settlers [shot and injured](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169735) a Palestinian resident near Ramallah. - 2026-04-23 - [Israeli forces shot and killed a 15 year old Palestinian teenager](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/169765) during a raid on the city of Nablus. ---- ##### Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians): - 2026-04-21 - [Another Palestinian citizen was killed in a crime-related incident](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%A9/2026/04/21/%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7-%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%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), bringing the total number of homicides within the '48 community to 87 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. - 2026-04-22 - With [several additional homicides](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%A9/2026/04/22/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AF), the total number of Palestinian citizens of Israel killed in crime-related incidents this week has risen to 12. This brings the Palestinian death toll from homicides to 89 this year, out of a total of 102 across Israel. By comparison, on this same date four years ago - prior to Itamar Ben Gvir’s appointment as Minister of National Security - the total number of homicides in Israel (including both Jewish and Palestinian citizens) [stood at just 32](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/law/2026-04-22/ty-article/.premium/0000019d-b6e2-ded5-abdd-b6ea956a0000). #arabic #hebrew - 2026-04-22 - For the second consecutive year, [police restrictions have forced the cancellation of the annual Palestinian Nakba commemoration march](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/education/2026-04-22/ty-article/.premium/0000019d-b617-d2d7-af9f-beb72e6b0000). The event typically involves Palestinian citizens visiting the ruins of villages depopulated during the [1948 Nakba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakba). #hebrew - 2026-04-23 - Israeli authorities [demolished a two-story building](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%A9/2026/04/23/%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%A8%D9%86%D9%89-%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D8%B0%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%B5) which included several residential units in [Kafr Qara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafr_Qara). #arabic - Israeli authorities very rarely approve zoning plans for Palestinian towns, cities, and neighborhoods, a deliberate policy which forces Palestinian citizens to build without permits. --- ##### Israel: - 2026-04-20 - An Israeli officer [is accused of profiting millions](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2026-04-20/ty-article/.premium/0000019d-aaf6-de87-a19f-bbf6d2870000) from smuggling goods into the besieged Gaza Strip. #hebrew - 2026-04-20 - Other offices were also accused today of [using their authority to steal tens of millions of shekels](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-893613), which they laundered through cryptocurrency. - 2026-04-24 - Israeli PM [Benjamin Netanyahu has been hiding a cancer diagnosis](https://www.haaretz.com/science-and-health/2026-04-24/ty-article/netanyahu-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer-without-informing-israeli-public/0000019d-bf3e-dbb2-a19d-bf7eed9f0000) from the public since 2024. --- ##### SWANA and beyond: - 2026-04-20 - More than five months after Iraq’s parliamentary elections, the [Coordination Framework](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordination_Framework) - the largest Shia bloc - [has still not nominated a Prime Minister](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/20/iraqs-ruling-shia-bloc-races-to-choose-pm-as-us-iran-watch) due to internal infighting. Caretaker PM [Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Shia%27_al-Sudani) seeks re-election but faces opposition from former PM [Nouri al-Maliki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouri_al-Maliki)’s pro-Iran bloc, which is opposed by the United States. #iraq - 2026-04-23 - Israeli soldiers [have reportedly looted](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-04-23/ty-article/.premium/israeli-soldiers-testify-to-looting-in-lebanon-commanders-know-and-do-nothing/0000019d-b999-d2d7-af9f-bbb986480000) Lebanese homes on large scales. #lebanon - 2026-04-23 - [Israeli attacks in Lebanon killed five people](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-kills-five-lebanon-beirut-seeks-truce-extension), including veteran journalist Amal Khalil, despite the ceasefire. #lebanon - 2026-04-23 - [Pakistan delivered weapons](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pakistan-delivers-weapons-libya-khalifa-haftar-sources-say) to [Khalifa Haftar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalifa_Haftar)'s eastern Libyan government as part of a deal backed by Saudi Arabia. #saudi #libya - 2026-04-23 - After spending 51 days behind bars, the [US-Kuwaiti reporter Ahmed Shihab-Eldin was acquitted](https://www.newarab.com/news/kuwait-acquits-journalist-ahmed-shihab-eldin-after-weeks-jail) by a court in Kuwait. #kuwait - 2026-04-24 - Syrian authorities [arrested Amjad Youssef](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/24/main-suspect-in-tadamon-massacre-arrested-in-operation), intelligent officer under the deposed Assad regime, the main suspect accused of the [2013 Tadamon Massacre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadamon_massacre) in Damascus, during which at least 41 people were killed. #syria