By Elham Asaad Buaras
London, (The Muslim News): Israeli forces killed at least 19 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours despite the ceasefire remaining in effect, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which said 18 people were killed in Israeli attacks while another died of wounds sustained in an earlier strike. Thirty-five wounded Palestinians were also transferred to hospitals, bringing the overall death toll since the start of Israel’s military campaign in October 2023 to 73,375, with 174,220 people injured.
The ministry said Israel has continued daily attacks across the enclave despite the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025. Since then, at least 1,250 Palestinians have been killed and 4,110 injured. On Saturday, the ministry reported that 152 Palestinians were killed during July, making it the deadliest month recorded so far this year.
The latest casualties came as Palestinian authorities said Israel continues military operations while restricting the entry of humanitarian aid through Gaza’s crossings, which remain largely closed except for limited aid deliveries. The two-year war, which began in October 2023, has destroyed an estimated 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, with the United Nations estimating reconstruction costs at approximately $70 billion.
On Friday, the Board of Peace and U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement to implement the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, with the board saying Hamas had accepted a detailed roadmap. Israel has not officially commented on the proposal.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Education said an Israeli bullet struck sixth-grade student Khaled Al-Ashram while he was attending class at Al-Sawafir School west of Gaza City. According to the ministry, the bullet pierced the child’s hand and lodged in his wrist as he sat at his desk holding a pen. The ministry condemned what it described as the direct targeting of a school, saying the attack violated children’s rights to life and education.
Israeli forces join settlers and attack Palestinian civilians, UK only condemned the Israeli settlers but not soldiers
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces demolished an agricultural shed and a farm room belonging to Ayed Rajal Nassasra in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus. Palestinian security sources said Israeli military vehicles accompanied by a bulldozer entered the eastern part of the town before demolishing the structures and bulldozing surrounding cultivated land.
Northeast of Ramallah, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli forces, intercepted a Palestinian vehicle traveling between the villages of al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah and assaulted a Palestinian couple in front of their children, according to Palestinian security sources. During the same incident, Israeli forces detained two brothers from Abu Falah while they were working on farmland in the Marj Si’ plain.
UK “strongly condemns escalating violence across the West Bank”, Prime Minister’s Spokesperson told The Muslim News. He added that “the recent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and communities are appalling, as are violent incidents in response. Settlements are illegal. Under international law, they undermine the viability of a 2-state solution, and they fuel insecurity for both Palestinians and Israelis.”
However, the Muslim News again asked the Spokesperson whether Prime Minister would also condemn Israeli soldiers who are helping Israeli settlers attacking and killing Palestinian civilians, he answered, “So I think I’ve just said the UK strongly condemns the escalating violence across the West Bank, and I’ve set out our position. I don’t think I could be much clearer than that.” He did not condemn Israeli soldiers who are with settlers carrying out the attacks.
In the Bethlehem governorate, settlers assaulted elderly Palestinian Yahya Alyan while he was on his land in the Abu Njeim area southeast of Bethlehem. Palestinian security sources said he was severely beaten and sprayed with pepper spray, suffering bruises and breathing difficulties before receiving treatment at the scene. Israeli forces also raided the nearby Solomon’s Pools tourist site between Al-Khader and Artas, deploying around the second pool without carrying out arrests.
Palestinian officials say settler attacks—including assaults on residents, property destruction, arson, stone-throwing, uprooting of olive trees and crops, and attacks on homes—have intensified across the occupied West Bank. Approximately one million Israeli settlers currently live in settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are considered illegal under international law.
Iran holds talks with Oman and Pakistan
Regionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone conversations with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi to discuss the latest regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts. According to statements released by Iran, Araghchi and Dar stressed continued coordination aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability, while Araghchi and Albusaidi exchanged views on recent developments across the region.
The diplomatic contacts come weeks after military exchanges between the United States and Iran, during which Washington carried out strikes inside Iran and Tehran responded by targeting what it described as U.S. military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. The escalation followed the collapse of negotiations toward a final agreement after disagreements over security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy and shipping corridor.
[Photo: Relatives mourn during the funeral ceremony held at Al-Shifa Hospital for Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on different areas of Gaza City, Gaza, Palestine, on August 2, 2026. Photojournalist: Saeed M. M. T. Jaras/AA]
