Epal European Palestinian Media Center Bulletin, Issue No. 2417, Date: Friday, April 17, 2026

1. Two martyrs shot by occupation forces in Gaza and Khan Younis

Field sources reported that two civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli occupation forces in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City and in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Local sources stated that the child, Saleh Badawi, was killed and others were injured after being shot at on Kashkou Street in Al-Zeitoun.

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**2. Al-Quds International sends urgent message: protecting Al-Aqsa’s identity requires collective Arab action**

The Al-Quds International Foundation sent urgent messages to the foreign ministers of 14 Arab and Islamic countries, warning of the consequences of closing Al-Aqsa Mosque for 40 days and then reopening it through a unilateral decision by the occupation.
It stressed that the Israeli occupation has undermined the historical status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque by encroaching on the established roles of the Jordanian Waqf, which holds exclusive authority over its administration and maintenance, and by imposing its police as a “de facto authority.”

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**3. Qandil: prisoners’ conditions are dangerous and death penalty law paves the way for direct killing after torture**

Abdullah Qandil, director of the “Waed” Prisoners Association, stated that the situation of Palestinian prisoners is undergoing an unprecedented shift.
The increase in their numbers is no longer just a statistic but reflects a policy aimed at fully controlling prisoners’ lives and reducing their rights to a minimum.
He added that violations inside prisons have escalated in an organized and harsher manner, including beatings, isolation, starvation, and medical neglect, along with the use of administrative detention without trial.
He also pointed to the deterioration of conditions for women and children both physically and psychologically amid the absence of effective international oversight.

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**4. Warning of collapse of Gaza’s waste management system amid worsening environmental crisis**

Ahmed Al-Soufi, head of the Joint Services Council for Solid Waste Management in Khan Younis, Rafah, and the central area, warned of an imminent collapse of the waste management system in Gaza.
He said the crisis has gone beyond a humanitarian issue and turned into a rapidly escalating environmental and health disaster, threatening the lives of residents and displaced people due to the accumulation of waste in streets and the inability to access dumping sites.

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**5. Reinstatement of soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian prisoner**

Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved the return to service of soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the “Sde Teiman” military base, according to Haaretz.
The case dates back to July 2024, when soldiers allegedly tortured and sexually assaulted a prisoner, causing severe injuries.
Despite this, they were reinstated after charges were dropped, even though an internal investigation has not yet been completed.

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**6. 86 Palestinian female prisoners, including mothers, pregnant women, and the sick**

Latest statistics show that 86 Palestinian women are being held in Israeli prisons, including some detained before the war.
Among them are 25 administrative detainees, as well as relatives of martyrs and prisoners, and two minors held in Damon prison.
Their conditions are worsening due to severe overcrowding, forcing many to sleep on the floor.

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**7. 271 settler attacks in the West Bank since early April**

The “Mu‘ta” Information Center documented 271 attacks carried out by settlers across various parts of the West Bank since the beginning of April 2026.
Nablus recorded the highest number with 63 attacks, followed by Ramallah (56), Hebron (51), and Salfit (29), among others.

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**8. “Shikli Plan” to displace 170,000 Palestinians in the Negev returns to implementation**

The “Shikli Plan,” aimed at displacing around 170,000 Palestinians from the Negev, is back in motion a year after its approval.
The plan, led by Israeli minister Amichai Shikli, is seen as an attempt to eliminate Palestinian presence in the region.
Palestinian leaders have held meetings to discuss ways to confront it.

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**9. #Video: Palestinians confront settlers in the West Bank**

Residents of the town of Al-Shuyukh confronted settlers who attempted to seize a Palestinian home and land northeast of Hebron.

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*European*

**10. Spanish prosecution opens investigation into CAF company**

The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an official investigation into the involvement of CAF in the Jerusalem light rail project, accused of supporting illegal settlements.
Human rights groups are calling for the case to be referred to the national court.

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**11. 350 European officials call for suspension of association agreement**

Ministers and senior European officials called for the immediate suspension of the association agreement with Israel due to human rights violations.
They criticized what they described as a “double standards” policy.

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**12. French police suppress pro-Gaza student protests**

French police forces intervened in several universities to disperse student sit-ins protesting the war in Gaza and the French government’s stance.

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**13. Israeli warning from Germany: concerning rise in antisemitism**

An Israeli journalist warned of a rise in antisemitism in Germany amid growing pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

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**14. #Video: verbal altercation forces Israeli soldiers out of a restaurant in Vietnam**

A verbal dispute in a restaurant in Vietnam led to two Israeli soldiers leaving, amid growing international criticism.

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*International*

**15. 40 U.S. senators vote against arming Israel**

Forty Democratic senators voted against supplying military equipment to Israel, marking a notable political shift.
This comes amid increasingly critical public opinion.

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**16. Protest outside Google in Chicago**

Activists protested outside Google offices in Chicago against the company’s cooperation with the Israeli government, particularly in the “Nimbus” project.

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**17. #Video: doctors protest outside the Capitol**

Hundreds of healthcare professionals demonstrated in Washington, calling for an end to war funding and protection for humanitarian workers.