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

Palestine cover image

Palestine

July 29, 2026

Ramallah 4:58 pm

29°C

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

A Palestinian man flashes a poster by the militant group Islamic Jihad of the six Palestinians who escaped from an Israeli prison, as people celebrate in the Jenin camp in the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Sept. 6, 2021.

West Bank city of Jenin roils as Israel prepares for possible escalation

The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are atop a barrel of gunpowder that could explode at any time.

Members of the Humsa Al Baqai'a Beduin community.

Elderly Palestinian resists Israel’s settlement ambitions

A 76-year-old Palestinian has been resisting Israel’s attempts to confiscate his land in the Jordan Valley for years.

A Palestinian youth prepares to throw a tire onto a fire following a rally in support of Palestinian prisoners near the West Bank town of Nablus last week. Zakaria Zubeidi, one of six Palestinians who broke out of Israel's Gilboa prison, was allegedly beaten after being recaptured Saturday.

Palestinian escapee allegedly beaten by Israeli forces after being recaptured

The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said Zakaria Zubeidi suffered physical injuries in Israeli custody.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks at the United Nations Security Council, New York, Feb. 11, 2020.

Palestinian NGOs begin campaign against political corruption

The deterioration of democratic policies in the Palestinian leadership has led a coalition of nongovernmental organizations to call what is happening in Palestine "political corruption."

People gather during a demonstration demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention facilities, Ramallah, West Bank, Aug. 29, 2021.

Confidence-building measures with Israel trigger mixed reactions among PA leaders

Palestinian leaders exhibit varying reactions toward the confidence-building measures with Israel.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli goodwill gestures fail to hook Palestinian fishermen

Fishermen in Gaza are not celebrating Israel's expansion of their fishing zones, saying the measures are largely empty and there are no guarantees they will last.

Palestinians rally denouncing the Palestinian Authority following the violent arrest and death in custody of activist Nizar Banat, Ramallah, West Bank, Aug. 2, 2021.

Palestinian Authority under fire over freedom of expression

Activists and human rights defenders have condemned the Palestinian Authority trials of 30 activists, political figures and national figures.

A demonstrator holds up a spoon, reportedly the digging tool used by six Palestinian prisoners who escaped from Israel's Gilboa prison, during a rally in solidarity with them in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Sept. 8, 2021.

Israel, Hamas exchange fire after escaped Palestinian prisoners caught

Israel has arrested four of the six Palestinian prisoners who escaped from prison last week.

Gaza horse

Gaza blockade leaves horses hungry

Arabian horse owners in the Gaza Strip are struggling to keep their horses healthy amid crippling food and medicine shortages.

Arab Israeli protesters lift Palestinian flags and spoons, reportedly the digging tool used by six Palestinian prisoners who escaped from Israel's Gilboa prison, as they demonstrate in the mostly Arab city of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel, on Sept. 10, 2021, to denounce punitive measures taken by the Israel Prison Service against Palestinian prisoners following the jailbreak.

Jailbreak unites Palestinians, confounds Israelis

And: required reading to understand the last two decades in the Middle East: the 'Axis of Evil' speech

Supporters of Islamic Jihad distribute sweets to celebrate the escape of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison, Rafah, Gaza Strip, Sept. 6, 2021.

Gaza factions suspend popular activities to advance mediation efforts

Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip agreed to suspend popular activities until mid-September, to allow the mediators’ efforts for the reconstruction process to succeed.

MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images

Israel warns Gaza citizens living next door to Hamas members

Israel reportedly sent text messages to citizens in Gaza warning them that they are living in the same buildings as Hamas members and they may become targets in future fighting.