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Palestine

March 23, 2026

Ramallah 8:53 pm

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Muslim worshippers break their fast outside the old city walls of Jerusalem on March 17, 2026, as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound remains closed.

Wartime closures at Jerusalem holy sites raise fears of lasting shift among Palestinians

Palestinians say sweeping restrictions during Ramadan and ahead of Eid reflect security concerns, but there is concern they could ultimately reshape access to worship in the Old City.

Displaced Palestinians gather for a fast-breaking Iftar meal amid the rubble of destroyed buildings at the Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, Feb. 23, 2026.

Analysis

Hamas sits out Iran war as Gaza, Gulf interests take priority

Hamas has so far stayed out of the escalating Iran war, despite its longstanding alliance with Tehran, reflecting a cautious strategic calculation.

Abeer Ayyoub

By Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a United Nations Summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters during the United Nations General Assembly, New York, Sept. 22, 2025.

Spain recalls Israel ambassador, calls Iran war 'flagrant illegality': What to know

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the US-Israel war in Iran a "flagrant illegality.”

People walk through a heavily damaged street in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 12, 2025.

'No meaningful protection': Israel’s new Gaza aid rules raise data, security risks

The guidelines expand Israeli authority to deny NGO registration in the Palestinian territories and visas for foreign aid workers as Gaza continues to reel from two years of war.

Latest News

Analysis

Why Turkey’s exclusion from Gaza force may be a strategic blessing

ANKARA, TURKEY - JANUARY 21: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on January 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among world leaders that have been invited by United States President Donald Trump, to join the Gaza Board of Peace, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also included as an appointed member. (Photo by Serdar Ozsoy/Getty Images)

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

How did FIFA become part of Trump’s Gaza reconstruction effort?

Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images

Billions pledged, but Hamas' grip clouds Trump’s Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump (C), flanked by US Vice President JD Vance (L) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R), joins leaders for a group photo during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Trump touts pledges of troops, billions for Gaza at Board of Peace summit

US President Donald Trump attends the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, on Feb. 19, 2026.

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

Gaza

The Palestine Briefing: The forgotten Gazans

In our weekly Palestine Briefing newsletter, Daoud Kuttab rounds up the biggest stories from the region.

A stun grenade goes off near Palestinian demonstrators during clashes with Israeli forces during a protest against the establishment of Israeli outposts, in Beit Dajan, east of Nablus, West Bank, Nov. 4, 2022.

Prominent Lion’s Den fighters turn themselves in to Palestinian Authority

More fighters from the Lion’s Den group in Nablus turned themselves in to the Palestinian Authority, as the Israeli army continues its operations to eliminate the group.

Palestinian journalists protest in Gaza City against attacks on journalists in the Palestinian territories, Aug. 28, 2007.

Hamas cracks down on journalists, activists in Gaza

Hamas police forces continue to raid the homes of activists in the Gaza Strip who expose the corruption of Hamas figures and members.

Israeli security forces take cover from Palestinian stone-throwers amid clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron on Nov. 4, 2022.

Palestinians quake as Netanyahu returns to power in Israel

Palestinians are concerned about Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power, as Israel escalates its attacks in the West Bank.

Members of the Hamas security forces show their skills in a drill held during a graduation ceremony, Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Oct. 31, 2022.

Gaza factions brace for Israeli assassinations

Palestinian factions are on high alert in the Gaza Strip amid concerns that Israel will carry out assassination operations against figures it accuses of inciting attacks in the West Bank.

Palestinians gather to demonstrate at the Hawara checkpoint, demanding the reopening of roads around the closed-off city of Nablus, West Bank, Nov. 1, 2022.

Israel lifts siege on Nablus as Lion’s Den group gains more popularity

Israel has partially lifted the siege it had imposed on the West Bank city of Nablus after killing the leader of the Lion’s Den group.

Palestinian authorities confiscate illegal drugs in Gaza.

Palestinians blame Israel for Gaza drug trade

Gaza is experiencing a surge in illegal drug trafficking, addiction and crime.

Tawazon founder Suna Zaobi from Palestine networks with others attending the 4th edition of the International Conference on Entrepreneurship in Palestine (ICEP), held in Dubai for the first time, on November 1, 2022.

‘Stars aligned’ for Palestinian startups, Gulf investors say

Entrepreneurs from the West Bank and Gaza recently visited Dubai to attend a conference on funding for new businesses.

Palestinians rally for gas field access

Hamas quiet as Palestinian Authority plans to develop Gaza marine gas field

The Palestinian government is expected to conclude an agreement with an Egyptian company to develop the Gaza Marine gas field and start extracting gas from it by the end of the year.

Carrefour Mall

Culture

More Gaza companies hire female security guards

More public and private institutions in the socially conservative Gaza Strip are being served by women security guards.

The son of Palestinian farmer Salman al-Nabahin uses a sponge to uncover Byzantine mosaics.

Culture

Gaza's archaeological discoveries left vulnerable

Archaeological discoveries in the Gaza Strip continue to be neglected amid the government’s failure to protect them, while the citizens who often make these discoveries aren't compensated.

Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinians killed in an overnight Israeli raid, in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Oct. 25, 2022.

Israel expands military operations in West Bank ahead of elections

Israeli forces kill five Palestinians in attack on Lion's Den complex in Nablus.