Epal European Palestinian Media Center Bulletin, Issue No. 2521, Date: Friday, August 7, 2026

1. Palestinian Dies from Wounds Sustained in Earlier Airstrike in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis

Palestinian **Saadi Abu Rizq** (36) has died from wounds he sustained in an earlier Israeli drone strike that targeted the Al-Buraq South area in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

His death comes as Israeli airstrikes continue across the Gaza Strip, having killed and injured dozens of Palestinians in recent days. Residential neighborhoods and tents sheltering displaced families continue to be targeted amid an increasingly severe humanitarian crisis.

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### **2. Gaza Health Ministry: More Than 58,000 Chickenpox Cases Recorded Since the Beginning of 2026, Epidemic Warning Issued**

The Director General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, **Dr. Munir Al-Barsh**, announced that more than **58,000 cases of chickenpox** have been recorded in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of 2026, noting that more than half of the infections have been reported in **Khan Younis Governorate**.

Al-Barsh stated that the National Committee for Communicable Diseases has classified the current situation as an epidemic, calling for urgent, multi-sectoral intervention to contain the spread of the disease.

He added that the outbreak is directly linked to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, citing severe overcrowding in displacement camps, contaminated water sources, the collapse of sanitation services, accumulated waste, and shortages of hygiene supplies.

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### **3. Israeli Authorities Issue Demolition Orders for Homes and Structures in Jaba’, North of Jerusalem**

Israeli authorities have delivered demolition notices for several homes and structures in the town of **Jaba’**, north of occupied East Jerusalem.

According to the Jerusalem Governorate, the notices include the four-story home of the sons of **Zaki Abdel Rahman**, the four-story home of the **Dweik** family, the house of **Samir Radaideh**, and two livestock shelters belonging to **Ata Mleihat**.

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### **4. Gaza Agriculture Ministry Reports Unprecedented Destruction Caused by the War**

Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture stated that the poultry sector has suffered widespread devastation during the war.

Out of approximately **2,400 poultry farms**, the vast majority sustained severe damage, with destruction reaching **100%** in some categories.

Broiler chicken farms were the hardest hit. Closed poultry farms suffered total destruction, resulting in estimated losses of **$10.8 million**, while open farms sustained **95% damage**, with losses estimated at **$11.6 million**.

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### **5. Israeli Forces Continue Military Operation in Qalandia Refugee Camp and Kafr Aqab**

For the **third consecutive day**, Israeli forces have continued their military operation in **Qalandia refugee camp** and the town of **Kafr Aqab**, north of Jerusalem, carrying out extensive raids and deploying additional military reinforcements.

Israeli forces arrested **Mohammed Jamil Ammar** and blew up parts of his home during the raid on Qalandia camp. Ambulances were also prevented from entering the camp, obstructing the evacuation of sick and injured residents to hospitals.

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### **6. Ben Gvir Visits Negev Prison and Orders Confiscation of Palestinian Prisoners’ Clothing**

Israeli National Security Minister **Itamar Ben Gvir** visited **Negev Prison**, where thousands of Palestinian prisoners are being held, and ordered the confiscation of their remaining clothing.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Information Office reported that prison authorities immediately began implementing the order. According to the office, most prisoners now possess only one shirt, one pair of trousers, and one or two pieces of underwear, further worsening their already harsh detention conditions.

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### **7. Video Shows Palestinian Youth Confronting Ten Israeli Soldiers**

Footage circulated online documents Israeli forces assaulting an unarmed Palestinian young man inside **Qalandia refugee camp**, north of Jerusalem, during an operation involving home raids, searches, and arrests.

# **Local (continued)**

### **8. Israeli Settlers Escalate Attacks Across the West Bank**

Israeli settlers carried out a series of attacks targeting villages and towns in the governorates of **Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus, and Tulkarm**, setting fires, vandalizing property, and attacking Palestinian farmland and agricultural holdings.

In **Ramallah**, settlers released their livestock into farmers’ olive groves in the town of **Turmus Ayya**, north of the city, and damaged several Palestinian vehicles during an attack on the village of **Jibiya**.

In **Hebron**, settlers set fire to Palestinian-owned land near the settlement outpost in the **Al-Adisa** area of **Sa’ir**, north of the city.

In **Nablus**, settlers seized water resources designated for residents of **Madama**, **Asira al-Qibliya**, and **Urif**, south of Nablus.

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### **9. Palestinian Prisoners’ Club: More Than 60 Residents Arrested or Field-Interrogated in Qalandia Camp**

The **Palestinian Prisoners’ Club** stated that during the ongoing Israeli military operation in **Qalandia refugee camp**, Israeli forces arrested and conducted on-site interrogations of more than **60 Palestinians**, including women and children, according to local sources.

The organization added that the arrests and field interrogations were accompanied by what it described as serious violations against civilians, including severe beatings, the use of restraints as a form of torture and abuse, threats and intimidation, forcing residents to leave their homes, converting some houses into field interrogation centers, and extensive destruction of homes and private property.

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### **10. Israel Approves Recruitment of Foreign Workers to Replace Palestinian Labor**

Israeli Prime Minister **Benjamin Netanyahu** has approved an emergency government plan to recruit approximately **50,000 foreign workers** from Asian and Eastern European countries considered “friendly” by Israel to work in the construction and industrial sectors.

According to Israeli media reports, the plan is intended to permanently replace Palestinian workers from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It provides for a complete ban on their entry into Israel, citing security concerns following the events of **October 7, 2023**, reinforcing what Israeli authorities describe as a policy of “complete separation.”

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# **Europe**

### **11. UK Investigation Examines Charities’ Funding of Israeli Settlements**

British authorities have opened an official investigation into funding provided by charities registered in **England and Wales** to Israeli settlements built in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The inquiry—reported to be the first of its kind at this level—follows allegations that millions of pounds were transferred to settlement projects considered illegal under international law.

According to **The Guardian**, the Charity Commission for England and Wales is examining the amount of money transferred, whether those funds were used in accordance with the organizations’ stated charitable purposes, and whether regulatory or legal action should be taken.

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### **12. Scottish Greens Accuse SNP Government of Moving Closer to Barclays**

**Ross Greer**, co-leader of the **Scottish Green Party**, has accused the Scottish Government, led by the **Scottish National Party (SNP)**, of strengthening its ties with **Barclays Bank** through a government bond program.

Greer criticized what he described as the involvement of public institutions with banks that finance the arms industry linked to Israel and called for an end to all forms of financial complicity and indirect support for the war in Gaza.

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### **13. UK Supreme Court Schedules November Appeal on Palestine Action Ban**

The **UK Supreme Court** has scheduled **November 4 and 5** for the appeal hearing regarding the ban on **Palestine Action**, an organization known for direct action campaigns against companies linked to Israel’s defense sector.

The panel of judges will include **Lord Sales**, **Lord Leggatt**, and **Lady Simler**.

According to the statement, the legal proceedings represent an effort to criminalize the organization’s activities targeting arms manufacturers connected to Israel operating in the United Kingdom.

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### **14. Protest in Germany Denounces Government Support for Israel**

Activists and supporters in Germany staged a symbolic protest in which participants lay on the ground to represent victims, coinciding with the funeral of **112 Palestinians** whose remains were recovered from beneath the rubble of homes destroyed during Israeli airstrikes in 2023.

The demonstrators accused the German government of complicity in the war in Gaza following reports of new arms agreements that they say benefit defense companies while contributing to the continuation of the conflict.

 

### **15. Six Hundred Artists Urge Live Nation to Cut Ties with Israel**

More than **600 artists and music industry professionals** have signed an open letter calling on **Live Nation Entertainment** to immediately sever its ties with and divest from its subsidiary, **Live Nation Israel**.

The letter, organized by the **Musicians for Palestine** movement, criticizes the Israeli branch for promoting the Israeli military and alleges its complicity in the war in Gaza, which the letter says has resulted in the deaths of more than **70,000 Palestinians**.

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### **16. Criticism Over Appointment of Former “Friends of Israel” Leader to Burnham Government**

British Prime Minister **Andy Burnham** is facing growing criticism and political pressure less than a month after taking office following his appointment of **James Purnell** as his Chief of Staff.

Purnell served as chair of **Labour Friends of Israel (LFI)** between **2002 and 2004**.

**Jonathan Purcell**, deputy leader of the Green Party group on **Tower Hamlets Council**, condemned the appointment, describing it as evidence of the government’s alignment with Israel. He called for an immediate halt to arms exports to Israel, sanctions against Israeli ministers, and the release of information concerning British surveillance flights over Gaza.

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# **International**

### **17. Burger King Dismisses Employee After She Says “Free Palestine” to Israeli Customer**

Burger King has dismissed **Ariana Hamilton**, an employee at one of its restaurants in **Pennsylvania**, after she responded to an Israeli customer by saying, **”Free Palestine.”**

Hamilton said she had no intention of promoting hatred but was expressing her support for ending the war in Gaza.

According to her account, the customer, Israeli musician **Rami Feinstein**, entered the restaurant behaving aggressively. When she asked where he was from, he initially replied that he lived in New Jersey before displaying a Star of David necklace and saying, **”I’m Israeli. I’m from Israel.”**

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### **18. Donovan McKinney Wins Michigan Democratic Primary**

Progressive candidate **Donovan McKinney** defeated **Shri Thanedar** in the Democratic primary election for Michigan’s **13th Congressional District**.

With **99% of ballots counted**, McKinney secured **51.9%** of the vote compared to **48.1%** for Thanedar in the Detroit-area district, making him the Democratic nominee for the November general election against Republican candidate **T. B. Nicoriyak**.

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### **19. Pro-Israel Campaign Targets U.S. Publisher Over Susan Abulhawa Novels**

The pro-Israel organization **Canary Mission** launched a campaign against the American publishing house **Atria Books** after it announced plans to republish two novels by Palestinian author and activist **Susan Abulhawa**.

According to the statement, the organization cited Abulhawa’s previous comments regarding the events of **October 7** and the historical context of the conflict in an effort to pressure the publisher and accuse the author of antisemitism.

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### **20. Nationwide Mobilization Planned at 50 Locations Across Greece Against the War in Gaza**

Popular organizations across Greece have called for a **nationwide day of action** to be held on **Sunday, August 9, 2026**, with demonstrations planned in islands, cities, and mountainous regions, including the North Aegean islands.

By the previous evening, organizers said that **50 local mobilizations** had already been announced. The demonstrations aim to protest the continuation of Israeli military operations in Gaza, call for an end to government support for Israel, and demand immediate international sanctions to halt the violence and the ongoing conflict.