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Palestine

July 25, 2026

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Culture

How Argentina-Spain World Cup final became debate over Israel, Palestine

Governments and fans alike have turned teams and players into symbols of political division.

Government Media Office Director Ismail Thawabteh (R) and Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem (L) speak at a press conference.

Explainer

What does Hamas' move to dissolve its Gaza government mean?

Hamas has agreed to hand civilian administration over to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, but the committee is not yet in Gaza and may not deploy until Hamas’ disarmament is resolved.

Joint List Party leader Ayman Odeh attends a meeting on April 5, 2021 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Interview

Ayman Odeh says Arab parties could back Bennett or Eisenkot to block Netanyahu

In an interview with Al-Monitor, head of the Arab-Israeli Hadash-Ta'al Knesset faction, Ayman Odeh, said his party is prepared to make difficult decisions to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Ayman Odeh

Head of the Knesset's Hadash-Ta'al faction

Latest News

Who is Melat Kiros, the pro-Palestinian who unseated a longtime Democrat?

Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Amnesty International accuses Israel of state-led ethnic cleansing in West Bank

Israeli security forces attempt to disperse Palestinians who had gathered to protest the reported burning of land by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian village of Idna, west of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on June 5, 2026.

Ireland bans hard-line Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich: What to know

Israeli policemen surround Israeli Minister of National Security and far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir as he arrives outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Record Israeli arms exports highlight global rush for air defense

People stand in front of the Arrow 3 shield system during an event of the German Air Force to declare the Initial Operating Capability for the Arrow Weapon System for Germany at the Annaburger Heide Air Base in Schoenewalde / Holzdorf, eastern Germany, on Dec. 3, 2025.

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

Veiw of the media complex (L) that houses the offices of Hamas-run Al Aqsa television and radio after it was targeted in an Israeli strike in central Gaza City early on July 29, 2014. Israeli aircraft, tanks and navy gunboats pounded symbols of Hamas control in Gaza City in the heaviest night of bombardment in three weeks of Israel-Hamas fighting. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED ABED (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

Gazans tune into airwaves to cut through static of war

Because of electrical outages, radio remains the most reliable way for Gazans to follow the news.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers remarks on July 1, 2013 at the opening of the High-level Segment of the 2013 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in Geneva. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Palestinian NGO closes in on consultative status at UN

The Palestinian Return Center has taken a step toward consultative status as a nongovernmental organization dealing with Palestinian refugee issues, a recommendation that still needs ratification by the UN's Economic and Social Council.

Tunnel workers work inside a smuggling tunnel dug beneath the Gaza-Egypt border in the southern Gaza Strip October 8, 2013. Hamas is struggling to meet its payroll in the Gaza Strip, where income from taxes has been badly hit since neighbouring Egypt started destroying a network of tunnels used to smuggle food, fuel and weapons into the Islamist-run enclave. Picture taken October 8, 2013.
REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) - RTX144I5

Amid crackdown, tunnel smuggling is risky business in Gaza

As the Egyptian army intensifies its campaign to destroy the border tunnels from southern Gaza, many still rely on smuggling goods for work, as no better jobs are available.

Christians, Muslims and Jews take part in a protest in Jerusalem, against attacks by suspected far-right Israelis, dubbed "price tagging", May 11, 2014. The top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land said on Sunday a spate of attacks he described as acts of terror against the church were poisoning the atmosphere ahead of this month's visit by Pope Francis, and urged Israel to arrest more perpetrators. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3OOUL

Israel not doing enough to stop 'price tag' attacks

Despite declarations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about forcefully fighting price tag attacks, these acts of vandalism and violence against Muslim and Christian places of worship continue.

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses during remarks on Jewish American History Month at the Adas Israel Congregation synagogue in Washington May 22, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RTX1E5LF

Why Israel needs Obama

Israel needs a US president who attempts to guide it away from occupation, and who isn't afraid to criticize it while showing empathy to both Israeli and Palestinian children — the way President Barack Obama is acting.

Members of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas take part in a parade marking the sixth anniversary of the death of former Hamas interior minister Saeed Seyam, in Gaza City January 18, 2015. Seyam was killed by an Israeli air strike during the three-week offensive Israel launched in 2008 and 2009. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY ANNIVERSARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR4LUNJ

Gaza deputy minister: PA behind recent bombings

In this interview with Al-Monitor, Gaza's Deputy Minister of Interior, Kamel Abu Madi, speaks out on who should be held accountable for the recent bombings.

Palestinian patients wait to undergo kidney dialysis at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City September 12, 2013. Cairo closed the Rafah crossing completely on Wednesday after assailants crashed two explosive-laden cars into a security building adjacent to the border zone, killing six Egyptian soldiers. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, said 1,000 patients a month required medical care in Egypt and in other countries. Rafah's closure, he said, would also affect the import of medica

Gaza doctors find jobs in German clinics

Amid the worsening living conditions and employment opportunities, doctors in the Gaza Strip take German classes to apply for jobs in Germany, which provides many incentives for medical practitioners.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini (L) shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RTX1DRH1

Palestinians see no reason to negotiate as Israeli settlements continue

As international efforts intensify to resume the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Palestinians feel that discussions will go nowhere as long as the Israeli government sticks to its policy of settlement expansion.

MK Jelin: Gaza Strip is a 'ticking time bomb'

Yesh Atid Knesset member Haim Jelin argues that following Operation Protective Edge, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have been part of a regional diplomatic initiative fighting radical Islam.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) executive committe member, Hanan Ashrawi speaks during a press conference on February 24, 2015 in the West Bank city of Ramallah, a day after a verdict of a New York court was issued finding the Palestinian leadership responsible for six deadly attacks in Jerusalem that killed Americans. In a verdict issued late on February 23, a US jury found the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and the PLO responsible for six attacks which killed 33 people and wounded more t

Hanan Ashrawi: US must act quickly to save two-state solution

In this interview with Al-Monitor, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi speaks about the controversy surrounding Israel’s upcoming report on Gaza, current negotiations and potential solutions.

Palestinian supporters of Hizb ut-Tahrir take part in a protest against satirical French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which featured a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad on the cover of its first edition since an attack by Islamist gunmen, in the West Bank city of Ramallah January 24, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST RELIGION) - RTR4MQRG

Pan-Islamic movement becomes political player in Palestine

Hizb ut-Tahrir in the Palestinian territories emerged as a political party that seeks the return of the Islamic caliphate, unlike Hamas and other Islamic parties that focus on the resistance against Israel.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem June 7, 2015. REUTERS/Sebastian Scheiner/ Pool - RTX1FH4S

Netanyahu must prove 'good faith' to restart peace talks

If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is genuinely interested in promoting a new diplomatic peace initiative, he must demonstrate his willingness with actions, such as releasing Palestinian prisoners and working to bolster the Palestinian Authority rather than Hamas.