PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Issue.270

Your weekly survey of the most important publications and activities related to Palestine and law, from local and international sources

2 – 8 March 2025

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

Prepared by: Razwan Issa, Nour Kharouf, Arwa Abdel Moniam, Kamal Abdulkarim , Murad Abu Murad

 Translation: Asmaa Louzon and Ferdous Abdul Hamid

Editing: Ihsan Adel

This weekly report reviews the legal dynamics of the Palestine question, and everything related to international law and Palestine. The report includes an account of the most important publications, activities and conferences related to Palestine at the local, regional, international levels. The report further covers decisions, decrees, and judicial orders affecting the Palestinian cause, whether made at the official, academic or public levels. The report aims to be a reference for monitoring, documenting and archiving the latest human rights developments related to Palestine, and to present them to individuals, researchers, study centers, and official, academic and legal institutions concerned.

To view this Issue of Palestine’s Legal Scene, please click here (5 minutes read)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Palestinian bodies

• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has warned of the grave risks and catastrophic consequences of the Israeli government’s decision to block humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip. It also strongly rejected the politicization of humanitarian aid. Additionally, the Palestinian National Council condemned this action as a war crime and a crime against humanity. (March 2-3 , 2025)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has warned that Israeli authorities are advancing plans to annex large areas of the occupied West Bank under the so-called “Greater Jerusalem” project. It described discussions by Israel’s so-called Ministerial Committee for Legislation and its plans to present the project for approval in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) as a serious crime aimed at enforcing annexation and forcibly displacing Palestinians. ( March 2, 2025)
• The Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hani al-Hayek, confirmed that the Israeli occupation has deliberately targeted archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip, noting that more than 226 historical and archaeological sites have been severely damaged due to the ongoing aggression. (March 2, 2025)
• The Head of the Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission (CWRC), Mu’ayyad Shaa’ban, reported that Israeli occupation forces and settlers carried out 1,705 attacks in February 2025. These attacks included armed assaults on Palestinian villages, field executions, land bulldozing, uprooting of trees, property seizures, and the erection of closures and barriers restricting movement within Palestinian territories. (March 3, 2025)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israeli crimes and violations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, highlighting the deployment of nearly 900 checkpoints and iron gates that restrict movement, isolate towns and refugee camps, and effectively turn the West Bank into an open-air prison. It stressed that these checkpoints constitute one of the most severe forms of collective punishment and expressed deep concern over the international community’s silence in the face of these crimes. (March 4, 2025)
• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised the Egyptian-Palestinian-Arab plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, emphasizing that the process must take place with Palestinians remaining on their homeland and without displacement. (March 4, 2025)
• The Palestinian National Council held the international community fully responsible for its continued failure to act against the Israeli government’s violations of international law. It condemned the approval of more than 1,000 new settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem, calling it a systematic effort to impose de facto annexation and Judaization with the backing of certain international powers, particularly the United States. The council also denounced an Israeli court’s decision to confiscate and evict the historic Al-Basha family home in Jerusalem’s Bab el-Wad area, calling it a blatant violation of Palestinian rights and part of a broader plan to erase the city’s Arab and Islamic identity. (March 5, 2025)
• The Human Rights and Civil Society Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) released its 2024 annual report, documenting Israeli crimes and violations with a focus on their humanitarian and legal dimensions. The report details the Israeli forces’ use of internationally banned weapons, deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian institutions, and the detention of corpses. Read the report in Arabic, part one and part two, and in English. (March 6, 2025)
• Marking International Women’s Day, the Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs published an analytical report on the worsening conditions faced by Palestinian women. The Palestinian National Council also highlighted the severe impact of occupation crimes on women, including killings, arrests, and settler attacks, stressing that the situation for women in Gaza is the worst it has been in decades. (March 6-7, 2025)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs accused Israeli occupation authorities of placing unprecedented restrictions on access to the Ibrahimi Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan. It condemned Israel’s refusal to hand over the mosque to the Endowments Administration as usual, warning that this move is part of a broader settler effort to turn parts of the site into a Jewish synagogue. The Ministry called on UNESCO, which has designated the mosque as a World Heritage Site, to take immediate action to stop these violations and protect the rights of Muslim worshippers. (March 7, 2025)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Israeli occupation authorities have no legal right to restrict Palestinian worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque under any pretext. It condemned the imposition of age restrictions on worshippers as a blatant violation of international law and the occupation’s legal obligations. The ministry also denounced the Israeli forces’ raids on eight mosques in Nablus, which resulted in severe damage, including the burning of large sections of the historic Al-Nasr Mosque in the Old City. (March 7, 2025)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Israeli bodies

• After the first stage of the ceasefire ended, the Israeli government announced its adoption of the framework proposed by U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire during Ramadan and Passover. The proposal includes the release of half of Israel’s detainees but offers No guarantees for a permanent end to the war. (March 2, 2025)
• The Israeli government has decided to halt the entry of humanitarian aid and supplies into the Gaza Strip and to close all crossings until further notice. It also warned that additional measures could be imposed if Hamas does not accept the Witkoff proposal. In this context, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the decision as an important step in the right direction, while former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the move, stating: “This should be the policy until the last hostage is returned. Now is the time to open the gates of hell, cut off electricity and water, and return to war.” (March 2, 2025)
• Former Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on the government not only to completely halt the entry of humanitarian aid but also to bomb humanitarian supplies inside Gaza that had entered during or before the truce. He further demanded a total cutoff of electricity and water supplies to the Strip. Ben-Gvir also warned that if Hamas threatened to harm Israeli hostages, Israel should respond by executing what he referred to as ‘terrorists.’ (March 3, 2025)
• An Israeli court in Jerusalem has issued a forced eviction order against the Al-Basha family, expelling them from their historic home on Al-Wad Street in the Old City. The ruling paves the way for the property’s annexation to a Jewish synagogue. (March 4, 2025)
• In a first vote, the Israeli Knesset passed a bill proposed by far-right lawmaker Limor Son Har-Melech, which would require tertiary education institutions to ban organized public academic activity that expresses solidarity with groups classified as ‘terrorist organizations’ or incites terrorism against Israel. However, a provision prohibiting incitement to racism and violence was removed from the bill, effectively allowing sanctions to be applied mainly against Arab students. (March 5, 2025)
• Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that Jerusalem’s local planning and construction committee is set to discuss a proposal for the construction of more than 1,000 new settlement units in East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem has proposed expanding the city’s municipal boundaries by annexing 7,300 dunams from the Giv’at Ze’ev settlement council and 1,600 dunams from the Benjamin regional council, aiming to strengthen the Jewish demographic in Jerusalem. He also urged the government to approve settlement expansion projects in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem. (March 5, 2025)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by Arab, European, and international bodies

• The Egyptian Foreign Minister announced that Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan is ready, ensuring that the Palestinian population remains in the Strip. He emphasized that Egypt is working to mobilize broad international support and secure the necessary funding for implementation, highlighting Europe’s pivotal role, particularly in financial support. Commenting on the Israeli government’s decision to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza and close all crossings, he condemned the use of aid as a weapon of collective punishment, affirming Egypt’s commitment to the original agreement and its efforts to implement the second phase of the ceasefire. (March 2, 2025)
• Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab Parliament strongly condemned Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza, stressing that this constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. (March 2, 2025)
• The European Union (EU) called for the swift resumption of negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire, stressing that all parties have a political responsibility to achieve it. Expressing concern over Israel’s decision to block all humanitarian aid to Gaza, the EU warned of severe humanitarian consequences and reiterated its call for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered access to aid at scale for Palestinians in need. (March 2, 2025)
• Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt), stated that Israel’s renewed closure of Gaza while resuming hostilities is not just a violation of the ceasefire but an escalation of its genocidal campaign against Palestinians. She noted that Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire by killing more than 100 Palestinians in Gaza, including children, slowing the entry of aid trucks, restricting the delivery of tents, and denying entry to mobile homes—resulting in children dying from extreme cold. (March 2, 2025)
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that Israel’s warfare tactics have devastated the region, dismantling its social and physical fabric. He underscored the need to maintain the ceasefire as a foundation for lasting peace. Türk emphasized that any resolution must uphold Palestinians’ right to self-determination, calling for the release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained individuals, as well as the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also expressed deep concern over the destruction of refugee camps and the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, urging Israel to halt all unilateral measures. (March 3, 2025)
• UNICEF warned that halting aid to Gaza would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe, particularly for children and families already struggling to survive. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini echoed these concerns, stating that Israel’s decision to block aid threatens civilian lives. He stressed that humanitarian aid and basic services are non-negotiable and must never be used as weapons of war. Meanwhile, a UN spokesperson cautioned that the continued closure of Gaza’s crossings would have devastating consequences for the population, urging countries and influential actors to use all available means to ensure the ceasefire holds. (March 4, 2025)
• Felix Klein, the Germany Government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, praisedS. President Donald Trump’s Gaza reconstruction plan, saying that “”I don’t think it’s wrong to think radically and completely anew,”. Defending the proposal to relocate Palestinians to Arab countries during reconstruction, Klein argued that it was not deportation but a temporary measure, likening it to vacating a house for renovations. He also expressed support for placing Gaza under international administration, calling it a reasonable option given Israel’s failure to achieve a military resolution. In response, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese denounced Klein’s remarks, describing them as a prime example of how the fight against antisemitism has become morally corrupt, deeply racist, and politically weaponized in some circles. (March 4, 2025)
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the urgent need to prevent a resumption of hostilities in Gaza at all costs. He emphasized that ending the current crisis alone is insufficient, calling for a clear political framework to guide Gaza’s recovery, reconstruction, and long-term stability based on international law. (March 4, 2025)
• During an Extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi categorically rejected any proposals to displace Gaza’s residents under the pretext of reconstruction, calling it a crime against humanity. Similarly, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s rejection of any violations of Palestinian rights, including Israeli settlement expansion, annexation, and displacement. He stressed Palestinians’ right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders. (March 4, 2025)
• Arab leaders, meeting in Cairo for an emergency summit, reaffirmed their rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and endorsed Egypt’s reconstruction plan for the Strip. (March 5, 2025)
• The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that its teams continue to provide essential services in Gaza despite severe restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid. The agency emphasised that the scale of needs remains immense and called for the urgent and uninterrupted flow of aid. (March 5, 2025)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, called for a shift in focus towards Israel’s legal obligations rather than instructing Palestinians on what to do. She highlighted that these obligations include ending the apartheid-based occupation of 22% of historic Palestine, ceasing actions that may amount to genocide, and developing a reparations plan for the large-scale destruction in the occupied Palestinian territory. (March 5, 2025)
• The foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement affirming their support for a ceasefire in Gaza and expressing deep concern over the Israeli government’s decision to halt the entry of goods and supplies. They warned that this measure could constitute a violation of international humanitarian law and stressed the need for a sustainable peace that would facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza and advance the two-state solution. (March 5, 2025)
• South Africa strongly condemned Israel’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and its continued closure of border crossings, describing these actions as part of its use of starvation as a weapon of war. It also referenced the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the plausibility of genocide against the Palestinian people. Additionally, South Africa denounced the forced displacement of 40,000 Palestinians from Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nour Shams, warning that such measures threaten the existence of Palestinian refugee camps and the right of return. (March 5, 2025)
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that funding for the humanitarian response in the occupied Palestinian territory remains critically low, with less than 4% of the required $4 billion secured. It also highlighted the worsening food security crisis in Gaza as all border crossings remain closed to goods. (March 5, 2025)
• In a joint statement, five European members of the UN Security Council (Denmark, Greece, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and France), called on Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law by ensuring the safe, unconditional, and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid. They also urged Israel to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in accordance with international humanitarian law. The countries welcomed regional efforts to coordinate a vision for the next phase in Gaza, underscoring that any plan must exclude Hamas, guarantee Israel’s security, prevent the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, and support the unification of the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority’s administration, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2735. (March 5, 2025)
• S. President Donald Trump called for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, along with the return of the bodies of those killed. He warned that failure to comply would lead to Hamas’s annihilation and pledged to provide Israel with all necessary support to “finish the job.” Addressing the people of Gaza, he stated, “A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!” (March 6, 2025)
• UN human rights experts condemned Israel’s renewed use of starvation as a weapon, accusing it of violating the ceasefire agreement by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. They warned that such actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The experts also criticised the suspension of aid entry, which coincided with Israeli calls to “reopen the gates of hell” in the besieged enclave. They noted that despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have continued, with 100 Palestinians killed since 19 January 2025. They also denounced the swift endorsement by certain countries and regional organisations in justifying Israel’s blockade of aid, highlighting that Israel had unilaterally altered the terms of the ceasefire agreement. (March 6, 2025)
• The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, reported that Israeli security forces have begun demolishing more than 16 buildings in Nur Shams Camp in Tulkarm, northern West Bank. He noted that this follows a series of recent demolitions of Palestinian homes. Lazzarini described the operations as systematic and large-scale, warning that Israel’s anti-UNRWA policies have created a dangerous vacuum in international oversight at a critical time. March 6, 2025)
• Switzerland announced that the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions, which was set to discuss the implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, will not take place due to deep divisions among member states. (March 6, 2025)
• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed that Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian territory, warning that any attempt to alter its status by force would lead to further instability. He stressed that if major powers genuinely care about the people of Gaza, they should push for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, increase humanitarian aid, uphold the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine,” and contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction. He added that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict persists because the two-state solution remains incomplete, while Israel has long existed as a state, the State of Palestine remains far from being realised. (March 7, 2025)
• The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom announced their support for the Arab plan developed by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders for the reconstruction of Gaza. The plan includes the establishment of an independent committee to manage Gaza before transitioning control to the Palestinian Authority, ensuring that Palestinians can remain in their land throughout the reconstruction process. (March 8, 2025)
• The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in its 20th extraordinary session, adopted a resolution endorsing Egypt’s Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza without the displacement of Palestinians. The resolution also urged the international community to provide immediate support for the initiative. The ministers condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinians, reaffirmed their rejection of any attempt to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, and called for international measures, including sanctions, to end the occupation. (March 8, 2025)

Publications of human rights NGOs

• The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, called for every effort to ensure that the ceasefire in Gaza holds, stressing its crucial role in protecting lives and alleviating human suffering. She warned that “Any unravelling of the forward momentum created over the last six weeks risks plunging people back into despair.” (March 2, 2025)
• The Palestinian NGO Network strongly condemned Israel’s decision to close border crossings and block the entry of humanitarian aid, describing it as part of ongoing crimes against humanity. The network called on international bodies to fulfil their legal responsibilities by pressuring Israel to reopen the crossings immediately and allow essential humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights also denounced the decision, stating that it constitutes a policy of collective punishment amounting to a death sentence for Gaza’s population and a blatant disregard for Israel’s legal obligations as an occupying power. (March 2, 2025)
• The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the Israeli authorities’ ban on Palestinian newspapers entering occupied Jerusalem, describing it as a flagrant violation of press freedom and the public’s right to access information. (March 2, 2025)
• Oxfam denounced Israel’s decision to block aid to over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as Ramadan begins, calling it a reckless act of collective punishment. The organisation stressed that humanitarian aid is not a bargaining chip but a fundamental right of civilians. Oxfam warned that Gaza is experiencing “apocalyptic scenes” of total destruction and famine-like conditions, where the population lacks all necessities for survival. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) echoed Oxfam’s concerns. (March 2, 2025)
• The Norwegian Refugee Council warned of the catastrophic consequences of Israel’s decision to halt all aid to the Gaza Strip and called on the Israeli government to immediately reverse the measure. It also urged international actors to take every possible step to ensure the prompt and unhindered resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries. In the same context, the New Jewish Narrative organisation condemned the Israeli government’s violation of the ceasefire agreement and its blockade of aid to Gaza, stating that such actions amount to a war crime. (March 3, 2025)
• Australia Palestine Advocacy Network asserted that Israel’s so-called “Hell Plan,” aimed at cutting essential supplies of food, water, and electricity to 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza, constitutes a violation of international law. The network called for urgent Australian action to confront Israel’s escalating measures. (March 4, 2025)
• The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (Hashd) condemned the Israeli authorities’ decision to block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, describing it as a war crime and a crime against humanity that perpetuates genocide against the Palestinian people. Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action) also denounced Israel’s violation of the ceasefire terms, holding the Trump administration responsible for enabling Gaza’s continued suffering. The organisation affirmed that the U.S. cannot claim to support peace while facilitating war crimes.
• The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint with German authorities against Shay Friedman, an Israeli soldier accused of involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The foundation asserted that Friedman’s presence in Germany, particularly in Munich, places him under German legal provisions that allow for the prosecution of international crimes. The complaint urged German authorities to issue a European arrest warrant, launch an urgent investigation into his role in war crimes, and coordinate with Interpol to prevent him from evading justice. (March 5, 2025)
• The Defense for Children Palestine reported that Israeli occupation authorities have issued an administrative detention order against 14-year-old Muin Ghassan Salahat from Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem, making him the youngest administrative detainee in Israeli prisons since the organization began documenting child detentions in 2008. The organization highlighted Israel’s increasing use of arbitrary administrative detention against Palestinian children, holding them without charge or trial. (March 5, 2025)
• The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the targeting of journalist Youssef Shehadeh, a cameraman for Awda TV, by Israeli occupation forces, resulting in his injury while covering clashes in the town of Rafat, northwest of Jerusalem. The syndicate also denounced Israeli soldiers’ pursuit of journalists covering a house demolition in the town, asserting that these attacks are part of a systematic campaign against Palestinian journalists. (March 6, 2025)
• Following the deaths of four prisoners within days, Abdullah Al-Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, called for an independent international investigation into the deaths of dozens of detainees due to torture, starvation, medical neglect, and sexual violence. He demanded that the occupation and its leaders be held accountable for war crimes and face international sanctions. (March 6, 2025)
• A report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) detailed the worsening attacks on healthcare and movement restrictions in the West Bank since Israel’s full-scale war on Gaza began in October 2023. The report documented at least 870 Palestinian deaths and over 7,100 injuries, with severe restrictions on movement further limiting access to essential services, particularly healthcare. It recorded 694 attacks on healthcare facilities in the West Bank, including assaults on ambulances and the obstruction of patient access, as well as the besiegement of hospitals and medical centres by military forces. (March 6, 2025)
• A new Gallup survey revealed that American support for Israel has dropped to 46%—the lowest level in 25 years—while sympathy for Palestinians has risen to 33%, an increase of six percentage points from last year and the highest recorded level. The survey found that 55% of Americans still support a two-state solution, with higher backing among Democrats (76%) than Republicans (41%). (March 6, 2025)
• Commenting on Switzerland’s cancellation of the Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, criticized the decision as a setback for international humanitarian law and a betrayal of victims of grave violations. She accused states of prioritizing political interests over legal obligations, particularly as Israel continues to obstruct humanitarian aid to Gaza and forcibly displace Palestinians. Callamard condemned the double standards of European states, which, she noted, uphold international law in Ukraine but fail to do so in Palestine. She called on all states to suspend arms transfers to parties involved in the conflict and to support international investigations to ensure accountability. (March 7, 2025)

Opinion Pieces and features

• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Michael Berg titled, “Prominent St. Louis rabbi’s genocidal, anti-Palestinian statements reflect the broader Jewish community” (March 2, 2025)
• Haaretz published an opinion piece by Tania Hary titled, “If Gazans Are ‘Human Animals,’ What Does That Make Us Israelis?” (March 3, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Mohammad Hesham Huraini titled, “Masafer Yatta is still facing imminent danger of ethnic cleansing” (March 3, 2025)
• de Volkskrant published an op-ed by Tineke Bennema titled: “Time is running out. Europe must quickly express support for the Saudi Peace Plan for Palestinian territories.” ( March 3, 2025)
• Aljazeera published an op-ed by Belén Fernández titled: “For Israel, ceasefire is a continuation of war by other means.” ( March 4, 2025)
• Drop Site published an article by Lila Hassan titled, “Archiving Gaza: The Race to Save Evidence of War Crimes and Mass Destruction” (March 4, 2025)
• Al-Jazeera published a report titled, “‘Public execution’: The Israeli checkpoint terrorising a Palestinian town” (March 5, 2025)
• The CounterPunch published an article by Jamal Kanj titled, “Why the Second Phase of Gaza Negotiations is Failing” (March 5, 2025)
• Al Jazeera published an opinion piece by Ahmed Twaij titled, “Why is America afraid of ‘No Other Land’?” (March 5, 2025)
• Al Jazeera published an article by Farah Najjar titled, “Can Trump legally force US universities to silence protests?” (March 5, 2025)
• Zeteo published an article by Antony Loewenstein titled : “How Palestine Became the Testing Ground for Israeli Military Exports.” ( March 5, 2025)
• The Guardian published an opening article titled: “The Guardian view on Israel’s aid blockade: pushing Palestinians toward catastrophe.” ( March 5, 2025)
• Haaretz published an op-ed by Larry Garber titled : “Starving Gaza Again Doesn’t Serve Israel’s Interest.” ( March 5, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an op-ed by Mitchell Plitnick titled: “Slight rift between Trump and Netanyahu leaves opening for Arab states to avoid ethnic cleansing in Gaza.” (March 7, 2025)
• The Electronic Intifada published an op-ed by Ali Abunimah titled: “Neutral” Switzerland cancels UN conference after Israeli pressure” (March 7, 2025)
• Anadolu Agency published an opinion piece by Raed Mohammed Mahmood Amer titled: “Incarcerated Palestinian women: A never-ending struggle.” (March 8, 2025)
• San Antonio Express-News published an op-ed by Brent E. Sasley titled: “President Trump is wrong; nobody wants Americans to govern Gaza.” ( March 8, 2025)

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• The Third World Network Journal published a briefing paper by researcher Kinda Mohamadieh titled “Following the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Comprehensive Trade Measures Against Israel Are Required from Third States.” The paper highlighted the ICJ’s conclusion that Israel’s occupation is illegal and asserted that, as a result, states worldwide are legally obligated to impose comprehensive trade measures against Israel. These measures, it argued, are necessary to uphold the Palestinian right to self-determination and to avoid supporting an unlawful situation. The paper examined the legal basis for such measures under international law and World Trade Organization rules, emphasizing the need for sanctions to address Israel’s violations.

Human rights conferences and events

• The Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights (BADIL) hosted a webinar titled “States’ Obligations to Protect UNRWA: What is Required and by Whom?” Participants examined the long-standing Israeli-led campaign to dismantle UNRWA as part of a broader strategy to erase the Palestinian refugee issue and deny their right of return. (March 2, 2025)
• Palestinian groups, both within Palestine and in exile, have issued a call to reject external interventions that aim to control Gaza and deepen the division of Palestine under the guise of reconstruction. These groups are urging the reaffirmation of their fundamental demands for recovery, freedom from oppression, and the safeguarding of Palestinian self-determination. (March 2, 2025)

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events

• The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh) announced a joint webinar with Makan titled “Reconnecting Gaza, Empowering the Future” on March 18, 2025. The event will present 7amleh’s report, “Gaza Telecommunication Infrastructure: Assessment of Damage and Humanitarian Impact.” The webinar will highlight the crucial role of communication and digital rights in the Palestinian struggle and examine how Israel systematically uses telecommunications blackouts as a tool to silence and isolate Palestinians in Gaza.