Arabic version: تكثيف الهجمات والإجراءات الاستيطانية الإسرائيلية قبل الانتخابات
According to Al Jazeera, Israel’s parliament dissolved on July 17 and set an October 27 election date as attacks in Gaza, settlement-related measures and restrictions across the occupied West Bank intensified. The UN human rights office said Israeli attacks killed at least 57 Palestinians, including six children and eight women, from July 13 to 20, warning the pattern raised concerns over continuing violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes in Gaza.
Hours after parliament dissolved, an Israeli drone struck a funeral procession outside Ahmad Yassin Mosque in Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least eight mourners. Al Jazeera reported further attacks on homes, displaced families, a police checkpoint and tents in al-Mawasi. Medical officials said an overnight air attack on July 21 killed Firas al-Masri, his wife Salsabeel and their four children in Gaza City.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on July 16 that 63 percent of Gaza households access less than six litres of drinking water daily and 60 percent live within 10 metres of exposed sewage. The Food and Agriculture Organization said livestock-feed imports had been blocked for more than a month, tripling barley prices and threatening livestock losses in August.
In the occupied West Bank, Israel’s security cabinet approved 1.3 billion shekels ($426.3m) for 34 new illegal settlements and an additional 1.075 billion shekels ($352.5m) for settler road infrastructure, Al Jazeera reported. Palestinian communities also faced demolition orders, land seizures, road and checkpoint closures, and settler attacks. In Deir Jarir, a raid and an attempted theft of about 70 sheep on July 19 left Ahmad Abu Makhou, 26, and Odeh Farakhna, 53, dead from gunshot wounds; witnesses gave conflicting accounts of whether soldiers or settlers fired.
Hamas elected Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau on July 20, ending nearly two years of collective leadership following Yahya Sinwar’s killing. Before the Israeli government’s dissolution, Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition also advanced legislation including a Communications Law giving the government control over broadcast media and protections for ultra-Orthodox men from conscription.