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Palestine

July 31, 2026

Ramallah 5:50 am

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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 gather at a checkpoint near Nablus in the occupied West Bank where a Palestinian who shot at Israeli troops on November 4, 2020 was killed when soldiers returned fire, Israel's army said. (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Palestinian who fired at Israeli troops fatally shot, IDF says

The Palestinians describe Bilal Rawajba's death as an "extrajudicial execution."

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners in Israel test positive for COVID-19

As of Tuesday evening, more than 80 prisoners at the Gilboa prison in central Israel had contracted the coronavirus, according to the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners' Affairs.

Palestinian fishermen fish in the Mediterranean sea in Gaza City on May 10, 2019 a week after a deadly two-day escalation in violence between the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and Israel. - Israel announced it is loosening restrictions on fishermen off the blockaded Gaza Strip by allowing them to travel up to 12 nautical miles into the Mediterranean one week after a ceasefire. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt to negotiate sea border with Palestine

Egypt reached demarcation agreements with Greece and Cyprus in August.

This picture taken on February 1, 2020 shows a view at an Arab League emergency meeting discussing the US-brokered proposal for a settlement of the Middle East conflict, at the league headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo. - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas announced on February 1 a cut of all ties with Israel and the United States, including security cooperation, days after Washington unveiled a controversial Middle East peace plan. Abbas spoke at an Arab League meeting in Cairo called after US Preside

Hamas balances ties between Turkey, Egypt

A Hamas delegation has concluded a visit to Cairo to brief Egyptian officials on the latest efforts to bring about elections after reaching an agreement with Fatah in Turkey.

Palestinian Muslim worshippers hold a protest sign against the normalisation of ties between Israel and two Arab states, during Friday noon prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in the old city of Jerusalem on September 18, 2020. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the foreign ministers of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed agreements establishing full diplomatic ties at a ceremony at the White House. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Palestinians furious as Israel escorts Arab delegations to Al-Aqsa

Tension is rising at Al-Aqsa Mosque, where self-appointed Jerusalemite defenders are harassing Gulf Arab visitors who come under Israeli protection.

Palestinian international peace conference gaining traction

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ proposal to hold an international conference on peace in the Middle East has gained the support of several member states of the United Nations Security Council.

Palestinian Football Association (PFA) head and member of the Fatah Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub, speaks during a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah on September 3, 2018. - The head of the Palestinian football association pledged on September 3 to appeal a 12-month ban and 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,600, 17,700 euros) fine against him by FIFA over comments made about Lionel Messi for "inciting hatred and violence", after calling on fans to burn the latter's pictures and jerseys in the buil

Palestinian president stacks Jerusalem branch with loyalists

The selection of members loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Fatah movement’s Jerusalem branch raised the ire of other Fatah leaders who called to review the selection process.

TOPSHOT - Flames are seen following an Israeli air strike in the town of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, early on October 23, 2020. - The Israeli army said two rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel on the night of October 22, without causing any casualties or damage, and that one had been intercepted by air defences. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel bombs Gaza after sustaining rocket fire

Israel frequently clashes with Hamas and other groups in Gaza, and the two last agreed to a cease-fire in September.

A picture taken on October 20, 2020, shows an Israeli observation post at the Gaza-Israel border, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. - Israel on October retaliated with airstrikes against a rocket fired from the Gaza strip, after it said it had discovered a tunnel that crossed "dozens of meters (yards) into Israel from Gaza" leading from Palestinian into Israeli territory, the army said. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli technology exposes Gaza attack tunnel, challenges Hamas

The Israel Defense Forces know that the uncovering of a large Hamas terror tunnel does not mean that group would abandon its efforts to attack Israel.

This picture taken on February 2, 2020 shows a view of a produce market in the occupied West Bank Palestinian city of Nablus, following the announcement of Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett to halt imports of all agricultural goods from the West Bank into Israel. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudis, Arab states drastically reduce aid to Palestinians

Arab grants and financial aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) have decreased since the beginning of this year by more than 81% compared to last year, exacerbating the financial crisis facing the PA.

First UAE delegation visits Israel amid Palestinian opposition

Palestinians continue to oppose the UAE's normalization with Israel, as UAE and Israeli officials sign agreement on visa-free travel in Tel Aviv today.

United Arab Emirates

This picture taken on October 19, 2020 shows a view of the entrance of the shock and trauma unit at the emergency medicine centre of Israeli Hadassah University Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. - Long-time chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was in "critical" condition and in a medically induced coma, said the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem treating him for coronavirus complications. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in Israeli hospital with COVID-19

The veteran Palestinian official's condition worsened on Monday, and he was placed on a ventilator.