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Palestine

July 27, 2026

Al Bīrah 12:04 pm

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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

Social media becomes electoral war zone for Hamas, Fatah

While the official campaign period for Palestinian local council elections doesn't begin until Sept. 24, Hamas supporters have already launched several social media initiatives aimed at drumming up support.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attends a joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini - RTX2IQKE

How Palestinian youth joined Ban Ki-moon's UN expert group

Al-Monitor spoke with Hussein Murtaja from Gaza City who was selected by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on International Youth Day to be part of the expert advisory team for a study about youth, security and peace.

Israel's Or Sasson (white) competes with Egypt's Islam Elshehaby during their men's +100kg judo contest match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 12, 2016. / AFP / Toshifumi KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)

'Delegitimization war' heats up between Israel, Palestine

Both Israel and the Palestinians are preoccupied by delegitimization campaigns and negative propaganda instead of focusing on dialogue.

The original dishdash: Online restaurant access comes to Gaza

A Palestinian professor's new online business allows residents of Gaza City to browse menus and order meals for delivery from various restaurants, the first service of its kind in the Gaza Strip.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas smiles during his arrival for an official visit at Khartoum Airport in Sudan July 19, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah - RTSIPWP

New Palestinian initiative outlines Fatah-Hamas reconciliation

The High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel has proposed a new initiative to achieve reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, which includes the formation of a unity government and the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections.

Arab Israeli police recruits detain their colleague during a simulation as part of a training exercise at Israeli police academy center in Beit Shemesh, Israel August 24, 2016. Picture taken August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTX2N06B

Is Israel at fault for surging Arab crime?

Israeli security forces invest time and effort to track weapon factories in the West Bank but neglect to deal in depth with illegal weapons of Israeli Arabs.

Palestinian politicians anxious to hit campaign trail after 11 years

In the Gaza Strip, where the last local council elections were held in 2005, political parties are launching their campaigns a little early.

An Israeli security personal stands guard during a march marking Jerusalem Day, the anniversary of Israel's capture of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war, outside Jerusalem's Old City June 5, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTSG3Z9

Will 50 years of occupation unite Israel's peace camp?

The Israeli peace camp must rise to the challenge and craft an effective message during the 50-year celebration of Israeli occupation.

Members of Palestinian security forces take position following clashes with Palestinian youths in the old town of the West Bank city of Nablus August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini - RTX2MOYM

Security unrest continues in Nablus

Palestinian security forces have launched a broad campaign against armed individuals in Nablus, leading to clashes resulting in the killing of five people, including two security team members. The apparent extrajudicial killing of one suspect has deeply angered Nablus residents.

Israeli border policemen perform a security check on a Palestinian youth at Damascus Gate just outside Jerusalem's Old City before Friday prayers October 23, 2015. Palestinian factions called for mass rallies against Israel in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in a "day of rage" on Friday, as world and regional powers pressed on with talks to try to end more than three weeks of bloodshed. Israeli authorities also lifted restrictions on Friday that had banned men aged under 40 from using the flashpoi

Al-Aqsa Mosque back in the eye of the storm with renewed clashes, arrests

Various minor infractions have once again increased tensions at Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Palestinians complain that restoration work has been disrupted and Israeli visitors have exceeded agreed-upon limits.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) gestures during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Jerusalem July 16, 2012. Clinton, arriving in Jerusalem from newly Islamist-controlled Egypt, told a wary Israel on Monday to treat the Arab Spring as an opportunity as well as a source of uncertainty convulsing the Middle East. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR34ZPE

Israelis, Palestinians prepare for next US president

While the Palestinians prepare different strategies depending on the candidate who wins the US election, the Israelis plan to stick with the same approach in either case.

Palestinian children swim in a pool as they enjoy the warm weather with their families at the Blue Beach Resort in Gaza July 25, 2015. A luxurious new tourist resort has opened in the Gaza Strip, its manicured lawns, sparkling pool and private beach in stark contrast to the impoverished territory still struggling to recover from last year's war. The Blue Beach Resort, made up of 162 chalet-style rooms set among palm trees and overlooking the Mediterranean, hopes to become the "most significant tourist attra

Forget the Riviera: Women find summer fun at Gaza beach homes

Women in Gaza have been renting private vacation properties this summer where they can lounge, laugh and swim more freely.