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Palestine

July 26, 2026

Ramallah 2:44 pm

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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

Israeli soldiers take position during a protest against Jewish settlements in Jordan Valley near the West Bank city of Jericho November 17, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RTX2U5RA

Israel's controversial settlement bill provokes Palestinian blitz

Palestinians believe that the Israeli regularization bill, designed to authorize settlements built on Palestinian lands, serves as a "smoking gun," proving that Israel is not interested in negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gestures beneath a poster of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, during a rally marking the tenth anniversary of Arafat's death, in the West Bank city of Ramallah November 11, 2014. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday accused his Islamist Hamas rivals of carrying out a series of bombings against officials loyal to him in Gaza last week, in a move sure to harm already floundering unity efforts. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERS

Why didn't Fatah congress discuss report on Arafat's death?

Fatah's general congress has ended without discussion of an official investigation into late PLO leader Yasser Arafat's death, though the topic had been expected to be included in the meeting's agenda.

Participants clap and cheer before a speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during Fatah congress in the West Bank city of Ramallah November 30, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RTSU1YD

Hamas delegates find welcome at Fatah conference, but not trust

Despite the recent civility between Fatah and Hamas, it will take more than a Hamas delegation at Fatah's general conference to repair their nine years of division, as mutual distrust remains strong.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Benny Begin, the son of the late Prime Minister Menahem Begin and a member of Netanyahu's cabinet, arrive to the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem October 31, 2010. Netanyahu will travel to New Orleans early in November for an annual U.S. Jewish conference, but is unlikely to meet President Barack Obama, who will be in Asia. REUTERS/Jim Hollander/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTXU1NU

Is this the end of the liberal Likud?

The punishment of Benny Begin for voting against the settlement Regularization bill shows how extremist the Likud Party has become.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addresses a news conference during a NATO foreign ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir - RTSUY19

Can Kerry convince Obama on final MidEast move?

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who labored relentlessly to promote the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, wants President Barack Obama to support a UN resolution against the settlements before leaving office.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gestures as he speaks during Fatah congress in the West Bank city of Ramallah November 30, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RTSU1Z3

What were Abbas’ priorities at the Fatah congress?

The importance that Abbas gave to national issues reflects the priorities that the seventh Fatah congress will give in Palestinian affairs for years to come.

GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP - FEBRUARY 9: Palestinians policemen stand guard in front of Egypt embassy, February 9, 2006 in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Earlier Palestinian gunmen abducted an Egyptian diplomat, Hussam al-Mawsili, on a Gaza street, witnesses said. (Photo by Ahmad Khateib/ Getty Images)

Will Egypt open embassy in Gaza?

The renovation of an Egyptian consulate in the Gaza Strip has raised hopes of increased Egyptian engagement in Gaza as reports say Egypt has threatened Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with moving the Egyptian Embassy from Ramallah to Gaza.

Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh leads the morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City July 6, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RTX2JVUJ

How a new generation of members could shake up Hamas

A new generation of Hamas members is seeking election to the Shura Council to reshape and revitalize the movement.

A picture taken on October 21, 2014 in the West Bank village of Zayem near Jerusalem, shows the Israel's controversial separation barrier with the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the background. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Will Israel expand settlement to Jerusalem border?

Israeli plans to expand the Ma’ale Adumim settlement and achieve territorial continuity all the way to Jerusalem might spark international uproar.

Meet Gaza’s top businesswoman

Mona Adnan Ghalayini, Gaza’s top businesswoman, talks to Al-Monitor about her journey to reach the position she currently occupies despite the social restrictions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attend a Gaza reconstruction conference in Cairo October 12, 2014. Egypt, which brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza after a 50-day war, used a reconstruction conference in Cairo on Sunday to call for a wider peace deal based on a 2002 Arab initiative. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR49UU5

Who better to achieve Palestinian reconciliation than Egypt?

Lately, Egypt has been trying to revive Palestinian reconciliation as part of its efforts to regain its sponsorship role in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Haifa, Israel November 27, 2016. REUTERS//Dan Balilty/Pool - RTSTI2W

Will Netanyahu’s collective blame sink Israel?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's collective blame strategy will punish many Israeli Arabs who had no connection to the wildfires and will only aggravate tensions between Jews and Arabs.