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Palestine

August 4, 2025

Ramallah 3:56 pm

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Meeting of the Association Council between the European Union and Israel in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hebrew State Gideon Saar and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU countries at the European Council in Brussels in Belgium, on Feb. 24, 2025.

Analysis

'Diplomatic tsunami': Israel grapples with isolation from Europe, Palestine's recognition

Israel is being ostracized not only by European states that have long criticized its policies but also by some of its traditional allies such as Germany and Italy as the hunger crisis in Gaza deepens.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Palestinians shove to receive a hot meal at a charity kitchen in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on July 22, 2025.

'A complete farce': Gaza residents say Israel's aid policy shift has done little as hunger grows

While global media outlets continue to show images of humanitarian aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip, we — residents of this besieged coastal enclave — have yet to feel the tangible affect of these convoys as our children’s stomachs remain empty.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 29: Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the conflict in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question at the United Nations headquarters on April 29, 2025 in New York City. The Security Council held a meeting on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds its second day of hearings into Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians after more than 50 days of Israel’

Interview

Palestinian UN envoy: Saudi-France summit was 'historic' milestone, builds on France recognition

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour told Al-Monitor in an interview that the the summit created fresh momentum for Palestinian statehood in line with recent recognition moves by countries such as France and the UK.

Riyad Mansour

Riyad Mansour

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN

People carrying aid parcels walk along the Salah al-Din road near the Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, used by food-seeking Palestinians to reach an aid distribution point set up by the privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF, on June 25, 2025.

Analysis

As US envoys head to Gaza, details scant on Trump's 'food centers'

Despite criticism, the Trump administration is sticking with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as its answer to the growing humanitarian catastrophe.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Latest News

US hits Palestine officials with visa bans amid growing statehood recognition

Protesters hold Palestinian flags during a demonstration organized by several peace organizations in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, at Dam Square in Amsterdam, on Oct. 13, 2024.

AIPAC denies pulling Randy Fine endorsement after derogatory comments on Gaza starvation

Florida's Republican state senator, Randy Fine, speaks with the media on April 1, 2025, in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Analysis

Annexation, siege or transfers: Netanyahu's 3 options as Israel's Gaza quagmire deepens

TOPSHOT - People walk with sacks of flour delivered after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza on July 27, 2025 coming from the Zikim border crossing. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP) (Photo by BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

US calls Saudi-French UN conference on Palestine ‘publicity stunt’ as Riyadh rallies behind PA

Conference co-chairs French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, attend a ministerial high-level meeting during a United Nations conference at UN headquarters on July 28, 2025, in New York City.

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

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to hold a press conference in the East Room of the White House, Washington, DC, Feb. 4, 2025.

Analysis

Secret US-Hamas talks shock Israel but will Netanyahu dare challenge Trump?

Israeli officials would have gladly done without the "help," but are staying out of Trump's way, seeing "no stability, no certainty, no way to predict anything."

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Dahlan

Analysis

What’s behind Abbas’ amnesty gesture as Dahlan, others eye role in postwar Gaza?

The move relates to exiled rival Mohammed Dahlan and comes as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are pushing for reforms of the Palestinian Authority.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

A Palestinian family (C-L) eat an iftar meal, the breaking of the fast, in their destroyed house amid the rubble of buildings in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 4, 2025, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. UN chief Antonio Guterres said he strongly endorsed an Egyptian plan put to Arab leaders at a summit in Cairo on March 4 for Gaza's reconstruction without displacement of its Palestinian inhabitants. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP) (Photo by BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images)

White House rejects Arab plan for postwar Gaza, insists on Trump's

The Trump administration has rejected a joint Arab proposal for postwar Gaza out of hand, insisting on its plan to treat Gaza as a real estate development that observers have likened to ethnic cleansing.

People watch on a big screen as Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, welcomes Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas ahead of an Arab League summit on Gaza on March 4, 2025.

Arab states back Egypt’s $53 billion Gaza plan, ‘technocratic’ administration

The plan, which additionally calls for the UN to consider sending peacekeepers to the Palestinian enclave, could face obstacles from Israel and Hamas.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends the extended format meeting of the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Live Updates

Arab summit adopts Egypt’s alternative plan to Trump’s Gaza takeover: What to know

Arab states adopted an Egyptian plan calling for a “technocratic" committee to administer the Gaza Strip under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority as part of a broader two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: (L-R) Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham accept the Documentary Feature Film award "No Other Land" onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Palestinian-Israeli documentary, Iranian film win at Oscars: What to know

Two films from the Middle East won Oscars at Sunday's Academy Awards, highlighting the growing reputation of the region's film industry at a time of ongoing tensions and crises.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrives at the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MAXIM SHEMETOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Inside Egypt's Arab summit plan to use leverage to thwart Trump’s Gaza plan

Cairo is coordinating with Arab League member states to forge a united front and support for its plan to counter the US president's vision of taking over Gaza.

Shahira Amin

By Shahira Amin

Hamas fighters gather at the site of the handing over of two Israeli hostages in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, as part of the seventh hostage-prisoner release on February 22, 2025. Palestinian militants freed two Israeli hostages on February 22, among the last live captives eligible for release under the first phase of a fragile truce that is also expected to see Palestinian prisoners released. (Photo by Abood Abusalama / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by ABOOD ABUSALAMA/Middle

Analysis

With Trump losing interest, Israel likely to buy time, extend phase one of deal

As US envoy Steve Witkoff shifts focus to Russia and Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas deal faces mounting hurdles ahead of phase 2 this Saturday, making it more likely to extend current status-quo.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images

Gaza’s fragile calm teeters as Israel balks at full pullout

Israel and Hamas face a Saturday deadline to implement the next phase of the ceasefire, which includes the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the release of the remaining hostages.

A journalist tries to avoid mud splatter as Israeli forces drive on a destroyed road in the Nur Shams camp for Palestinian refugees near Tulkarem, after reportedly issuing demolition notifications for several houses amid a weeks-long offensive in the occupied West Bank on February 26, 2025. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Could Israel's West Bank operation lead to annexation long sought by right?

The Israeli military is currently operating in West Bank Area A, which under the Oslo Accords should be administered fully by the Palestinian Authority.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Truth Social. Photo collage created by Al-Monitor.

Trump’s AI Gaza video elicits mockery from Middle East social media users

The US president’s video depicting a future Gaza under American authority was widely shared on Arabic and Hebrew social media, with many Palestinian users criticizing it.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar (L) addresses a press conference with European Commission Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Vice President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Suica and after a meeting at the EU headquarters on the sidelines of the EU's foreign affairs council, in Brussels on Feb. 24, 2025.

Israel FM holds rare EU meeting as divisions on PA’s role in Gaza persist

Israel and the European Union are keen on relaunching dialogue, but divergences are almost irreconcilable, especially concerning the possible participation of the Palestinian Authority in the future management of Gaza.