Palestine - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Palestine cover image

Palestine

September 6, 2026

Ramallah 12:49 pm

28°C

A woman walks past a model of a Lora missile, Israel's long range artillery missile at the Israel defence stall at the international DefExpo 2008 defence fair, in New Delhi on February 16, 2008. India kicked off South Asia's largest defence fair, with hundreds of global weapons firms offering their latest hardware to the country's technology-hungry military. About 450 weapons companies from 30 countries are present at the four-day "DefExpo" in New Delhi, with several big-ticket announcements expected. AFP P

Analysis

LORA missile test reveals limits of Germany’s Gaza criticism of Israel

The German navy tested Israel’s LORA ballistic missile as Berlin considers acquiring the system, deepening defense ties with Israel despite criticism of the Gaza war.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Israeli soldiers arrive in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has faced escalating Israeli settler violence over the past month, on Aug. 29, 2026.

Analysis

As Israeli settler attacks mount, Trump avoids public pressure on Netanyahu

President Donald Trump has stayed silent amid a spate of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Evan Vucci / Getty Images

Analysis

Why Palestinians see success of Trump talks as contingent on Israeli elections

Some view the channel to Jared Kushner as necessary for reaching a political settlement, but others see a US effort to secure Palestinian acquiescence to Trump’s Gaza plans.

Mohammed Najib

By Mohammed Najib

A boy walks carrying a table on his back past salvage workers scrapping the rubble of a building that was destroyed during Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza City on Aug. 16, 2026. — Photo by Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty Images

Israel, Hamas bide their time as Gaza peace plan stalls

As the Israel-Hamas ceasefire approaches the one-year mark in October, the Board of Peace is under pressure to deliver results in the Gaza Strip.

Latest News

Ex-defense minister: Israel in ‘worst possible’ Gaza situation as Hamas gains strength

Palestinian militant group Hamas police officers stand guard as people attend the opening of the Fatah party's eighth general conference at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City on May 14, 2026.

Turkey seeks Interpol Red Notices for Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla

Murat Kocabas / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Fatima AbdulKarim

In Ramallah, reporting on the West Bank

Gaza municipalities suspend services amid coronavirus crisis

Municipalities in the Gaza Strip issued a decision to reduce some services provided to citizens in light of the coronavirus crisis.

Palestinians look out a window of a building damaged by an Israeli air strikes in the past during a rally marking the 46th anniversary of the founding of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in Gaza City December 7, 2013. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST ANNIVERSARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - GM1E9C71LLS01

How a jailhouse letter to Abbas could fast forward Palestinian unity talks

It remains unclear whether tentative steps will lead to a genuine unification of the fractured Palestinian national movement.

Former US Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden speaks about COVID-19, known as the Coronavirus, during a press event in Wilmington, Delaware on March 12, 2020. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Intel: Progressive coalition pushes Biden on Middle East policy

More than 50 progressive advocacy groups on Monday sent a letter to former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, urging him to make concessions to the left on Middle East policy.

A Palestinian runs away from tear gas fired by Israeli forces during a raid after an Israeli soldier was killed by a rock, in Yabad near Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC2YMG9FT10W

Israeli soldier killed by rock in West Bank raid

An Israeli soldier was killed during a pre-dawn raid near Jenin when a large rock was dropped on his head, the first IDF death during military operations this year.

A Palestinian waves the national flag as he stands near the border wall between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a protest calling for an end of Israel blockade to the Gaza Strip, April 10, 2008. . REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA) - GM1E44B08HW02

Why is Egypt building more walls around Gaza?

Although Hamas has taken several measures to boost security on the border with Egypt and prevent any attempt to infiltrate into the Egyptian territory, Egypt continues to build walls and destroy the tunnels.

Will EU sanction Israel over annexation plans?

European Union foreign ministers might consider threatening Israel with sanctions, in an effort to thwart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank.

UN calls on Israel to release Palestinian children from jails amid coronavirus

Three UN officials urge Israeli authorities to free detained Palestinian children to protect them from COVID-19.

A Jewish shepherd wears a prayer shawl as he stands near houses in the Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Yericho in the Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 27, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC2COE9DADQT

Poll: Most Israeli Jews support annexing parts of West Bank

The poll for April from the Israel Democracy Institute found differing opinions between the left and right and Jewish and Arab Israelis.

A Palestinian woman sits outside her home in Jabalia refugee camp, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the northern Gaza Strip May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem - RC2CIG93IB6K

Intel: Amid US funding gap, UN Palestinian refugee agency seeks $93M in coronavirus aid

As the coronavirus continues its spread through the impoverished West Bank and Gaza Strip, the United Nations refugee agency for Palestinians is seeking emergency funding to help with what it calls the worst financial crisis in the organization’s 70-year history.

The Muslim Ibrahimi Mosque, adjoining the Jewish Tomb of the Patriarchs, is seen closed during Friday prayer over concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RC2ONF9J9POW

Israel expands settlement projects around Hebron’s mosque

Israel has approved a project near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in another step toward annexation.

Netanyahu’s future coalition, without the settlers?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got the recommendation of 72 Knesset members for him to form and lead Israel’s next government, but the list does not include the signatures of his allies from the Yamina party.

Palestinian police officers check the identity card of a vehicle's occupant during a home-confinement order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 7, 2020. Picture taken April 7, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RC2X0G91R5K3

Rights group criticizes arrests in Palestinian territories

Amnesty International said Palestinian authorities arrested five people in March and April without proper cause.