PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Issue. 288

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

6 – 12 July 2025

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

Prepared by: Nour Kharouf, Murad Abu Murad, Ahmad Al-Rjoub, and Arwa Abdel moniam

Translation: Asmaa Louzon and Ferdous Abdul Hamid

Editing: Widad Hussein

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.

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

• The Jerusalem Governorate has condemned the “Brown Line” light rail project in occupied Jerusalem, describing it as a dangerous settlement scheme designed to reinforce annexation and Judaization. According to the governorate, the plan blatantly violates international law and UN resolutions. Rather than improving infrastructure, the project is seen as a colonial tool aimed at imposing unilateral facts on the ground. It is set to link the “industrial area” in the Atarot settlement in the north with the village of Sur Baher in the south, passing through Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. (July 10, 2025)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the United Nations, particularly UNESCO, to take responsibility for safeguarding Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The ministry urged immediate action to protect the city from the occupation’s plans and unilateral measures, and called for effective steps to deter Israel and hold it accountable for its violations. (July 6, 2025)
• The Palestinian National Council has stated that the Israeli occupation’s massacres of families in the Gaza Strip constitute some of the most horrific forms of genocide. The Council emphasized that these massacres reflect the bloody foundations of the occupying state, established through the destruction of innocent lives and the uprooting and slaughter of Palestinian villages since the 1948 Nakba. (July 9, 2025)

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

• Israel’s defence minister has laid out plans to force all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp on the ruins of Rafah, in a scheme that legal experts and academics described as a blueprint for crimes against humanity. Israel Katz announced that he has instructed the military to prepare for the construction of what he termed a “humanitarian city” on the site of the destroyed city of Rafah. Palestinians would undergo “security screening” before entering the camp, and once inside, they would not be permitted to leave. The area would be controlled by Israeli forces. The initial objective is to relocate 600,000 Palestinians, with the long-term goal of transferring the entire population of the Gaza Strip as part of a broader “migration plan.” (July 7, 2025)
• Israeli occupation authorities, along with Civil Administration crews, have issued eight stop-work orders for homes in the Wadi Sa’ab community, also known as the Twisted Valley, located east of Al-Eizariya in occupied Jerusalem. (July 9, 2025)

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

• The final statement of the 17th BRICS Summit reaffirmed the member states’ commitment to a two-state solution and voiced support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations. The statement called for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and other occupied areas. BRICS nations also expressed deep concern over the use of starvation as a weapon and firmly rejected any form of temporary or permanent forced displacement of Palestinians. The statement emphasized the need to unify the West Bank and Gaza Strip under a single Palestinian authority and asserted that the reconstruction of Gaza must be accompanied by a comprehensive and lasting political solution that ends the occupation. (July 6, 2025)
• UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna stated that the current situation in Gaza is not a catastrophe, but rather the aftermath of one. He stressed that regardless of whether a ceasefire is achieved, a return to the full United Nations system, including UNRWA, is essential. ( July 6, 2025)
• The World Food Programme (WFP) announced its readiness to scale up life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable families in Gaza. It issued an urgent appeal for the entry of at least 100 aid trucks per day, the opening of additional access routes to safely reach northern, central, and southern Gaza, and firm guarantees that no armed presence will be allowed near convoy routes or aid distribution points. The WFP emphasized that these conditions are vital to saving live (July 6, 2025)
• UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that thousands of children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition due to persistent obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid. She explained that many mothers have either been killed or are experiencing acute malnutrition, making them unable to breastfeed their infants, putting those babies at risk of death or irreversible health damage. Russell stressed that every passing minute could mean the difference between life and death for these children. (July 7, 2025)
• UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that more Palestinians were reportedly killed over the weekend while attempting to get to food. UN partners reported that several hospitals are overwhelmed, as they saw a surge in patients injured while seeking aid. Meanwhile, Carl Skau, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, described the situation in Gaza as the worst he has ever witnessed, highlighting that people are dying simply for trying to access food. He emphasized that there are resources available to assist all residents of Gaza, but the organization “needs all routes and entry points to be opened.” (July 7-10, 2025)
• UNRWA stated that children, who make up half of Gaza’s population, are enduring extremely harsh conditions marked by war, destruction, repeated displacement, denial of education, and limited access to food. The agency called for an immediate ceasefire. (July 8, 2025)
• UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the British government will go further to take further measures against Israel if a ceasefire in Gaza is not reached soon. Speaking before the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, Lammy described the current situation as “intolerable.” He also confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the UK’s recognition of Palestine, though he declined to provide a timeline for when that might occur. (July 8, 2025)
• UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that the war on Gaza has exposed a deep erosion of the international rules-based order. He cautioned that fundamental principles of human rights and international law now face an existential threat. Lazzarini also pointed to the worsening situation in the West Bank, where annexation, settler violence, and the forced displacement of Palestinians are escalating. He expressed alarm over the collapse of the Geneva Conventions and the declining trust in international law, especially in the Global South. Lazzarini called for an end to silence and inaction. (July 8, 2025)
• Spain’s National Court has launched a preliminary criminal investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, and several senior military officials over war crimes and crimes against humanity. The investigation follows an attack by the Israeli elite unit “Shayetet 13” on the humanitarian aid ship Madeleine in international waters while it was en route to Gaza. (July 8, 2025)
• French President Emmanuel Macron urged the United Kingdom to recognize the State of Palestine during a speech to the British Parliament, stating that recognition and coordinated action to generate political momentum is “the only path to peace.” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK is continuing discussion with France and Saudi Arabia on the issue but declined to provide a timeline, citing the worsening situation on the ground as an obstacle to progress. (July 8, 2025)
• The U.S. State Department announced sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, under an Executive Order issued by President Trump targeting the International Criminal Court. The sanctions were imposed due to her direct cooperation with the Court in efforts to investigate, arrest, or prosecute American or Israeli nationals. (July 9, 2025)
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned of the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Field reports indicate that tents, schools, homes, and medical facilities are being bombed. OCHA added that hospitals are running out of supplies, ambulances are out of service, and water networks are on the brink of collapse. (July 9, 2025)
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the importance of preserving the demographic and historical character of Jerusalem and upholding the status quo at holy sites. He reaffirmed that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal under international law, as confirmed by the International Court of Justice, and urged Israel to end its occupation as soon as possible. Guterres reiterated that a two-state solution, based on pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, is the only realistic, just, and lasting path forward, rooted in international law and backed by the global community. (July 9, 2025)
• UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, voiced concern over Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s population to Rafah. Falconer emphasized that Palestinian territories must not be reduced and that civilians must be allowed to return to their communities. He also called for concrete steps toward a ceasefire and a path to lasting peace. (July 9, 2025)
• President of the UN Human Rights Council, Jörg Laufer, expressed regret over the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. He urged all UN member states to fully cooperate with special rapporteurs and refrain from any acts of intimidation or retaliation against them. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also called for an immediate reversal of the sanctions. (July 10, 2025)
• The Australian Federal Court ruled that criticism of Israel does not inherently constitute antisemitism, stating that discrimination arises only when the distinction between Jews as an ethnic or religious group and Zionists as a political or ideological entity is blurred. The court emphasized the need to clearly differentiate between political criticism of Israel or Zionism and harmful rhetoric targeting Jews, warning that conflating the two distorts political discourse and fuels hate speech. (July 10, 2025)
• UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that the ongoing ban on international media access to Gaza, now lasting more than 640 days, amounts to “a ban on truth and independent reporting.” He warned that the restriction aims to deepen polarized narratives and obscure atrocities committed against civilians, including one million children. (July 10, 2025)
• UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed shock over the reported killing of 15 Palestinians, nine children and four women among them, who were waiting in line for nutritional supplies in Deir al-Balah. The airstrike reportedly targeted a food aid distribution point managed by Project Hope, a UNICEF partner. Russell described the attack as “unconscionable” and urged Israel to urgently review its rules of engagement to ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law. (July 10, 2025)
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and sharply criticized Europe for not doing enough to stop it. He declared that “any party that tramples on the founding principles of the European Union or uses hunger and war to annihilate a legitimate state cannot be a partner of the EU,” and called on the European Union to suspend its partnership agreement with Israel. (July 10, 2025)
• The UK House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, chaired by Liam Byrne, has requested clarification from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) CEO Christoph Schweizer regarding the company’s reported activities in Gaza. The inquiry is part of the committee’s broader investigation into the UK’s commercial, political, and humanitarian ties to the Israel–Hamas conflict. (July 10, 2025)
• The International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA) strongly condemned the U.S. sanctions imposed on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, over her cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICCBA described the sanctions as a violation of judicial independence and the rule of law, warning that they threaten victims’ rights and the integrity of international justice. The Association called on states to protect those working with the Court and to reject the politicization of international justice. It also expressed full solidarity with Albanese. (July 10, 2025)
• EUobserver reported that the European Commission’s Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism, German baroness Katharina von Schnurbein, lobbied against imposing trade sanctions on Israel. According to the report, she used arguments described as misleading, including a warning that reviewing the EU-Israel Association Agreement could be based on “rumors about Jews rather than facts.” (July 10, 2025)
• EU High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, announced that the European Union has reached an agreement with Israel to implement several measures aimed at improving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza strip. These include a substantial increase in daily aid trucks, the opening of several other crossing points, support for food distribution through bakeries and public kitchens, and repairs to key infrastructure,such as restoring power to the water desalination facility. (July 10, 2025)
• UK Development Minister Jenny Chapman described reports of women and children being killed while waiting for nutritional supplies as horrific, and called for an immediate and independent investigation into the incident. (July 11, 2025)
• The United Nations, in a joint statement issued by multiple UN agencies, warned that fuel shortages in Gaza have reached critical levels, threatening the lives of 2.1 million people. The agencies called for the urgent and sustained delivery of sufficient fuel to support life-saving operations. (July 12, 2025)

Publications of human rights NGOs

• B’Tselem reported that home demolitions in the West Bank have “spiraled out of control,” asserting that the policy is designed to restrict Palestinian life and ultimately force coerced displacement. The organization documented hundreds of demolitions since the beginning of 2025, resulting in the displacement of numerous Palestinian families. (July 6, 2025)
• In an open letter, a group of leading global economists voiced strong support for UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, praising her recent report titled “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide.” The economists described the report as a pivotal analysis of the economic foundations of Israeli apartheid, highlighting the profitability of occupation and genocide for major corporate conglomerates, the use of the occupied Palestinian territories as testing grounds for surveillance and weapons technologies, and the financial entanglement of prestigious Western universities in the occupation economy. (July 7, 2025)
• Christoph Schweizer, CEO of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), admitted that the firm’s involvement in Gaza had caused serious reputational damage. The controversy stems from BCG’s reported role in modeling the costs of relocating a quarter of Gaza’s population, prompting Save the Children to suspend its two-decade partnership with the firm. Schweizer attributed the incident to deliberate misconduct and a disregard for internal guidance, pledging a company-wide remediation effort. Save the Children stated it was “appalled and deeply disturbed,” and has suspended all collaboration with BCG pending the outcome of an external investigation. (July 8, 2025)
• BADIL Center published a position paper titled “Rights-Based Reconstruction: Decolonization and Reparations,” exploring the essential distinction between “reconstruction” and “reparations” in addressing the genocide in Gaza and the 77 years of ongoing Nakba. The paper also identified significant gaps and flaws in currently proposed reconstruction plans. (July 8, 2025)
• Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard condemned the U.S. sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, calling them “a shameless and transparent attack on the fundamental principles of international justice.” Callamard asserted that the sanctions represent “a continuation of the Trump administration’s assault on international law and its efforts to shield the Israeli government from accountability at all costs.” (July 9, 2025)
• B’Tselem published a report titled “Israel Denying Treatment to Thousands of Gazans Who Lost Limbs in Israeli Attacks, Almost 1,000 of Them Children.” The report accused Israel of launching a direct and systematic assault on Gaza’s healthcare system, stating that the vast majority of injured individuals are being denied permission to leave for medical treatment in the West Bank or abroad. (July 9, 2025)
• Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement issued a response to Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz’s announcement of a plan to forcibly transfer hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to a so-called “humanitarian city” under Israeli military control. Gisha argued that the plan is not rooted in military, security, or humanitarian considerations, but rather in illegitimate political and demographic objectives. The organization described the proposal as illegal, immoral, and inconceivable, an attempt at mass forced displacement of the Palestinian population. (July 9, 2025)
• The Norwegian Refugee Council warned that escalating settler violence, enabled and backed by the Israeli state, is driving widespread displacement of Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. The organization reported that the recent forced uprooting of families from Muarrajat East may soon be replicated in Ras Ein al-Auja, where relentless settler attacks and increasing restrictions on water and grazing access are making life unsustainable for remaining residents. (July 9, 2025)
• The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the killing of journalist Ahmad Abu Aisha, calling it a new crime in the Israeli occupation’s record of violations against truth freedom. Abu Aisha was reportedly targeted by an Israeli drone strike while standing outside his home near the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The syndicate stated that, in June alone, Israel committed over 100 violations against journalists, including the killing of seven journalists, the injury of 16 others, the destruction of press offices and homes, arrests and prosecutions, obstruction of coverage, and the confiscation of equipment. (July 10, 2025)
• An investigation by +972 Magazine and the Local Call network revealed that the Israeli military is using Chinese-made commercial drones—specifically Autel EVO models—equipped with a device known as the “iron ball” to drop hand grenades on Palestinians in Gaza, particularly in areas the army is attempting to evacuate. (July 10, 2025
• Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) published a report describing the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a campaign of genocide carried out by the Israeli military against Palestinians. The report also pointed to the British government’s complicity in these crimes. MSF called on Israeli authorities and complicit governments supporting the blockade to lift all restrictions immediately to prevent the erasure of Palestinians from the territory. (July 10, 2025)
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) strongly condemned an attack that took place on the evening of July 10 during a joint rescue mission with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Gaza. The incident resulted in injuries to an ICRC staff member and a PRCS volunteer, both struck by gunfire. The ICRC confirmed that the evacuation mission was pre-coordinated and fully notified, with staff traveling in illuminated, clearly marked vehicles bearing the red cross and red crescent emblems. The organization noted that this is the second such incident in less than a week, and emphasized that medical and humanitarian assistance is vital for civilians facing daily threats. (July 11, 2025)

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• The Journal of Academic and Humanitarian Studies, Research, and Innovation published a research paper by Cintya Nabilla Asrori and others titled: “The Right to Education Amid the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Human Rights Perspective.” (2025)
• The Easta Journal Law and Human Rights published a research paper by Agung Suhabi Putra titled: “War of Opinions: Humanitarianism and Racism (Case Study of The Palestine-Israel Conflict).”(2025)

Opinion Pieces and features

• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Dina Elmuti titled: “Every child is precious unless that child is Palestinian.” (July 6, 2025)
• The Guardian published an article by Moustafa Bayoumi titled: “The destruction of Palestine is breaking the world.” (July 6, 2025)
• Palestine Chronicle published an opinion piece by Yves Engler titled: “Enforce the Law: Why Canada Must Hold IOF Fighters Accountable for War Crimes.” (July 6, 2025)
• Counterpunch published an article by Binoy Kampmark titled: “An Economy of Genocide: Israel and the Albanese Report.” (July 7, 2025)
• Truthout published an op-ed by Sharon Zhang titled: “Israeli Minister Says Israel Plans to Confine Palestinians in Gaza to a Camp.” ( July 8, 2025)
• The Guardian published an article by Gustavo Petro titled: “Governments like mine have a duty to stand up to Israel. Far too many have failed.” ( July 8, 2025)
• The Guardian published an analytical article by Emma Graham-Harrison titled: “Israeli defence minister’s Gaza proposal marks escalation from incitement of war crimes to official planning for mass forced displacement.” (July 8,2025)
• Haaretz published an editorial titled: “Israel’s Isn’t Creating a ‘Humanitarian City’ in Gaza. It’s Creating Transfer Camps.” ( July 9, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion article by Craig Mokhiber titled: “Trump sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese are illegal and represent further U.S. complicity in genocide.” (July 10, 2025)
• Zeteo published an article by James Jackson titled: “In Germany Today, It’s (Zionism Above Everything).” (July 11, 2025)
• The Guardian published an article by Omar Barghouti titled: “The BDS movement turns 20. It’s an essential pillar of Palestinian freedom.” (July 11, 2025)

Legal Achievements/Impacts for Palestine

• Members of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers’ union in the United States, voted to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and to stop using or promoting ADL materials on antisemitism and Holocaust education, as well as to withdraw from its programs. The decision was driven by accusations that the ADL has abused the term “antisemitism” to silence critics of Israel, relied on inflated statistics about anti-Jewish hate, and labeled advocacy for Palestinian rights as “hate speech.” (July 7, 2025)
• Unite the Union, the UK’s largest private-sector trade union, voted overwhelmingly in favor of an arms embargo on Israel and pledged to “support members to refuse to build, handle, or transport weapons destined for Israel.” The union also committed to worker-led boycotts of Israeli goods and to divestment from companies identified in the Watermelon Index, which documents over 400 corporations complicit in Israel’s genocide. (July 11, 2025)

Human rights conferences and events

• JURDI – Jurists for the Respect of International Law has submitted an urgent request to the administrative court in Montreuil, seeking to suspend a military shipment manufactured by a Swedish company en route to Elbit Systems in Israel via Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport. The organization argued that allowing such military equipment to transit French territory without stringent oversight could place France in violation of its legal obligations to prevent and avoid complicity in genocide. (July 6, 2025)
• The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to the U.S. State Department’s approval of a $30 million funding package granted to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). CCR stated that GHF is linked to a plan for the forced displacement of Palestinians from northern to southern Gaza. The request also seeks clarification on the role of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which previously managed GHF operations, and on any U.S. relationships with private military firms currently active in Gaza. (July 8, 2025)
• DiEM25 and the Progressive International have launched a global campaign titled “Block Baerbock,” aimed at preventing former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock from assuming the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this September. The campaign accuses Baerbock of enabling Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and calls on individuals, civil society organizations, and political movements worldwide to oppose her appointment. (July 9, 2025)
• Member of the European Parliament Matjaž Nemec has launched a campaign within the European Parliament to build support for nominating UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Nemec praised Albanese as a global voice against Israeli genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. (July 9, 2025)
• British barrister Baroness Helena Kennedy, who served on the International Criminal Court’s panel of experts on the Palestine situation, described Israel’s campaign in Gaza as genocide. She warned that forcing Palestinians into a confined zone constitutes the creation of a vast detention camp and signaled concerns over escalating genocidal behavior. (July 9, 2025)

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events

• The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced the launch of the civilian boat Handala from the Italian city of Siracusa on July 13, 2025, in a mission to break the illegal and deadly blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza. The vessel is carrying life-saving humanitarian aid and a global message of solidarity in the face of ongoing mass atrocities. (July 6, 2025)