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Palestine

July 25, 2026

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Flags of Spain and Argentina

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

Hamas policewomen take part in a graduation ceremony for members of Hamas security forces in Gaza City December 17, 2012. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - RTR3BO8W

Women's roles in Hamas slowly evolve

The Hamas movement is keen to encourage women’s participation in military and social life, depending on women to mobilize support.

Life in Gaza gives Palestinian satirists plenty of material

Gazans have embraced satirical videos and publications that reflect the Gaza Strip's economic, social and political crises.

Palestinian students cross the street as members of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas march in Gaza City February 10, 2015.
REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: MILITARY EDUCATION SOCIETY) - RTR4OYIN

Hamas denies abuse, detainment of Fatah leaders

Several Fatah leaders told Al-Monitor that the Hamas-affiliated security apparatuses in Gaza arrested them and violated their basic human rights, which Hamas rushed to deny.

A Palestinian woman, hoping to cross into Egypt, holds her son as they wait with others at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip August 12, 2014. Under Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Cairo has secured closures on the Gaza border, increasing economic pressure on Hamas from a long-running Israeli blockade. Talks to end a month-long war between Israel and Islamist militants in Gaza have made no progress so far, an Israeli official said on Tuesday, as a 72-hour ceasefire in the

Asmaa al-Ghoul on why she writes

Al-Monitor contributor Asmaa al-Ghoul shares her thoughts on journalism.

A Palestinian boy looks on near burning tyres during cashes with Israeli soldiers following a protest against the near-by Jewish settlement of Qadomem, in the West Bank village of Kofr Qadom near Nablus September 19, 2014. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR46XNM

PA clamps down on security amid unrest in West Bank

Recent clashes in the West Bank between security officials and protesters have triggered Palestinian fears that stability will be difficult to restore.

Palestinian boy Mohammed Wahdan, whom medics said was wounded in Israeli shelling, is held by his aunt as he receives psychological care at Shifa hospital in Gaza City August 14, 2014. In a ward at Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, child therapist Rabeea Hamouda is trying to elicit a response from two small brothers, Omar and Mohammed, aged three and 18 months, hoping for some words or perhaps a smile. For seven straight minutes the children, peppered with burns and shrapnel wounds sustained in Israeli shelli

Rasha Abou Jalal on why she writes

Al-Monitor contributor Rasha Abou Jalal shares her thoughts on journalism.

People pray during the funeral of 20-year-old Palestinian man Jihad al-Jaafari in the West Bank city of Bethlehem February 24, 2015. Israeli soldiers shot dead al-Jaafari in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the military and a Palestinian hospital official said. Residents of the Deheishe refugee camp in Bethlehem said Palestinians threw stones at Israeli soldiers who had entered the area and the troops opened fire. An Israeli military spokeswoman said the Palestinians hurled rocks, blocks and firebombs at

Shooting of Fatah activist could doom security cooperation

The security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is in jeopardy after Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Fatah activist in the Dheisheh refugee camp.

Palestinian children from the Al-Qarawi family watch television in a tent in the northern Gaza Strip June 9, 2010. The tent was erected after their family's house was destroyed during Israel's three-week offensive in Gaza last year. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR2EY18

Despite Hamas restrictions, Gaza actresses seek stage

The Hamas-led security apparatuses in Gaza limits the ability of actresses to play parts in high-profile movies as they are forced to wear the veil and avoid contact with male co-stars.

Palestinian Mohammed Sedody (R) of Shati club celebrates his goal against Khan Younis youth club during their semi-final soccer match as part of the local Ramadan soccer championship at Yarmouk stadium in Gaza City August 1, 2013. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER) - RTX127P6

Female journalists excel in Gaza's sports media

Despite societal barriers, more women journalists in Gaza are covering sports, but their numbers are still low relative to men.

Palestinians walk near the ruins of houses that witnesses said were destroyed or damaged by Israeli shelling during a 50-day war last summer, on a winter day east of Gaza City February 20, 2015. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY) - RTR4QE85

One man's return to Gaza

In an interview with Al-Monitor, the journalist Majdi Arbid, who fled Gaza eight years ago, tells of the dire situation he encountered when he returned.

A view of the northern Gaza Strip as seen from the Israeli farming community of Netiv Haasara September 2, 2014. Israelis living on the Gaza border have warily returned home after fleeing constant mortar and rocket fire during a seven-week war, feeling it is just a matter of time before their villages are targeted again. Picture taken September 2, 2014. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT) - RTR44YNP

Israeli violations of truce keep Gazans on edge

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reports that violations of the truce continue, with Israeli forces still firing across the border, hitting civilians and houses and making the entire area unlivable.

Israeli soldiers are pictured through a Palestinian flag as they stand guard during a protest by Palestinians against Jewish settlements near the West Bank city of Ramallah December 10, 2014. A Palestinian minister died on Wednesday shortly after an altercation with Israeli border police in the West Bank during which one of the policeman grabbed him by the neck. Ziad Abu Ein, 55, a minister without portfolio, was taking part in a protest against Israeli settlements when he was involved in clashes with aroun

Netanyahu has rejected two-state solution

Benjamin Netanyahu has declared several times, even to the US Congress, that he will accept the establishment of a Palestinian state, but all signs indicate that he now rejects a two-state solution.