PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Issue. 294

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

17 – 23 August. 2025

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

Prepared by: : Nour Kharouf, Arwa Abdel Moniam, and Murad Abu Murad

Translation: : Maisaa Abdelqader and Mohammad Janineh

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.

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 stressed that protecting humanitarian workers is both a legal and moral responsibility of the international community. It highlighted UN reports showing that more than 500 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. The ministry also condemned Israel’s approval of thousands of settlement units in the “E1” area of Jerusalem and its surroundings, warning against the international community’s reliance on mere statements of condemnation and urging genuine intervention and binding measures to stop them. (August 21, 2025)
• The State of Palestine has urged all countries to base the level of their relations with Israel on Israel’s adherence to international law and UN resolutions. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Israel’s continued disregard for the international consensus opposing settlement expansion and the annexation of the West Bank demands a serious and united international response to put an end to this defiance and compel the occupying power to respect international law and international resolutions. (August 23, 2025)

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

• Israel has approved plans to build settlements in the “E1” area near Jerusalem, a move that would effectively split the West Bank into two and severely undermine the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed the decision, saying: “The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions.” The plan includes the construction of 3,401 housing units within the municipal boundaries of the Ma’ale Adumim settlement, along with preliminary approval for the legalization of a settlement outpost in the southern Hebron Hills. (August 20, 2025)
• The Israeli army announced the call-up of around 60,000 reservists in preparation for an assault on Gaza City, as part of a broader plan involving the mobilization of 130,000 reservists over the stages of the military operation dubbed “Chariots of Gideon B.” Defense Minister Katz instructed army commanders to use all tools and force at their disposal to strike the “enemy” until it is subdued. (August 20, 2025)
• Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said that the decision to build in the E1 project is a “historic and fair decision” and marks the beginning of “extending sovereignty.” He described the area as “the heart of the Land of Israel” and a strategic nerve center for the security of Jerusalem and for Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). He referred to plans to build thousands of housing units and expand settlements throughout the territory, stressing that “there will be no Palestinian state between the Jordan and the sea.” (August 21, 2025)

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

• The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned Israel’s decision to freeze the bank accounts of the Orthodox Patriarchate in occupied Jerusalem and to impose steep taxes on its properties, calling it part of ongoing assaults on holy sites and freedom of worship. It also denounced the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to the “Ofra” settlement in the occupied West Bank, describing it as a continuation of blatant violations of international law and United Nations resolutions. (August 16–17, 2025)
• Juliette Touma, Director of Communications at UNRWA, warned that “we are very, very close to losing our collective humanity,” stressing that the famine in Gaza is man-made and largely the result of deliberate actions. She added that there must be a return to a unified, UN-led coordination and distribution system grounded in international humanitarian law. (August 17, 2025)
• The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that most children in Gaza examined by its medical teams are suffering from emaciation and weakness and risk dying if they do not urgently receive treatment. The agency added that more than 50,000 children in Gaza have been killed or injured since October 7, 2023, calling for an end to “this war on children.” (August 17, 2025)
• The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over reports that Israel has held consultations with some countries regarding the possible displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to their territories, describing it as part of a rejected Israeli policy aimed at emptying Palestinian land, occupying it, and liquidating the Palestinian cause. The ministry said its communications with those countries confirmed they do not accept such deplorable schemes. Egypt reiterated its absolute rejection of any Israeli plans to displace the Palestinian people from their land. (August 17, 2025)
• The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that aid reaching Gaza still accounts for only 47% of the daily target. The agency noted that as of July 2025, more than 320,000 children under the age of five in Gaza are at risk of acute malnutrition, as families survive on minimal basic food supplies with almost no dietary diversity. (August 17, 2025)
• Australia has canceled the visa of Israeli Knesset member Simcha Rothman of the “Religious Zionism” party, led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The decision followed Rothman’s calls for the annexation of the occupied West Bank and his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Rothman had been scheduled to visit Sydney and Melbourne this month at the invitation of a local Jewish organization. (August 18, 2025)
• Norway announced tighter ethical scrutiny of its sovereign wealth fund’s investments in Israeli companies. As part of this move, six companies linked to Israel’s activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were excluded from the fund’s investment portfolio. (August 18, 2025)
• The United Nations and non-governmental organizations warned of catastrophic consequences from Israel’s intensified assault on Gaza City, stressing that forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to move south could amount to forced transfer. The UN reiterated its call for a permanent ceasefire, the immediate release of hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access. (August 18, 2025)
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Khitan said that video footage showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir berating, attacking, and taunting Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi inside prison constitutes an attack on his dignity, stressing that international law requires all detainees to be treated humanely and with respect for their rights. Al-Khitan also warned that famine threatens Gaza due to the Israeli government’s policy of blocking humanitarian aid from entering the territory. (August 19, 2025)
• Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, said that Israel is killing, torturing, and starving Palestinians, and asserted that there are reasonable grounds to believe the United States is complicit in these crimes, while the European Union is flagrantly violating its international obligations to protect human rights. Albanese warned against the continuation of what she described as the “age of impunity”. (August 19, 2025)
• The United States announced sanctions on a new group of judges and prosecutors from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over their involvement in efforts to investigate, arrest, or prosecute American or Israeli citizens. The U.S. Secretary of State claimed that the ICC poses a threat to American national security and serves as a legal tool against the United States and its ally, Israel. (August 20, 2025)
• The International Criminal Court (ICC) strongly rejected the new U.S. sanctions imposed on two judges and two deputy prosecutors, calling them a blatant attack on the independence of an impartial judicial institution operating under the mandate of 125 member states. The Court said the sanctions constitute an affront to its States Parties, the rules-based international order, and millions of victims worldwide. It stressed its commitment to fulfilling its legal mandate regardless of pressure or threats, and called on member states to support the Court. (August 20, 2025)
• The UK Foreign Office rejected the Israeli government’s decision to revoke the visas of Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority, describing the move as an obstacle to the dialogue and diplomacy necessary to achieve a long-term solution for Palestinians and Israelis. It also stressed the need for a ceasefire. (August 20, 2025)
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, warning of the heavy losses and destruction that any military operation in the Strip would cause. He also underscored the necessity of reversing the decision to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank. (August 21, 2025)
• UNRWA reported that for nearly six months, no shelter supplies have been allowed into Gaza, where about 90 percent of the population is displaced and living in overcrowded conditions. The agency noted that existing shelters have deteriorated or been abandoned due to repeated forced displacements, warning that further displacement will overwhelm an already catastrophic shelter situation. It called for immediate access to bring in shelter supplies. (August 21, 2025)
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) affirmed that intensified Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have caused further civilian casualties and displaced more than 796,000 people since March 2025. It warned of devastating humanitarian consequences if Israel proceeds with plans to expand its offensive in Gaza City. OCHA also reported that international organizations have been unable to deliver aid since early March and face the risk of deregistration, while people with disabilities suffer from a severe lack of rehabilitation services amid worsening environmental pollution. (August 21, 2025)
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that the United States’ imposition of additional sanctions on judges and deputy prosecutors of the International Criminal Court constitutes an assault on the rule of law and undermines justice. He called on the international community to take measures to protect these individuals, including urging companies not to implement the sanctions, and to lift all previous sanctions imposed on judges, prosecutors, and the Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. (August 21, 2025)
• France condemned Israel’s approval of the E1 settlement plan, which calls for the construction of more than 3,000 housing units east of Jerusalem, and urged Israel to abandon the project, describing it as a serious violation of international law. France warned that its implementation would split the West Bank in two and jeopardize the two-state solution. The decision was also condemned by Poland, which said it continues to coordinate with the European Union and its partners to reach a joint response. Finland summoned the Israeli ambassador to express its deep concern, while Austria also issued a condemnation. In addition, the foreign ministers of 21 countries, including the United Kingdom, which also summoned the Israeli ambassador, as well as Australia, Spain, Canada, Austria and Japan, voiced opposition, alongside the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League, and the Arab Parliament. (August 21–22, 2025)
• The Famine Review Committee (FRC), based on the UN-supported Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, confirmed that famine (Phase 5) is currently occurring in Gaza Governorate, with projections that it will spread in the coming weeks to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. According to the analysis, more than half a million people are facing catastrophic conditions of hunger and death, while 1.07 million are in Emergency (Phase 4) and 396,000 are in Crisis (Phase 3). (August 22, 2025)
• FAO, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO issued a joint statement confirming that more than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, classified as Phase 5 according to a new IPC analysis. The statement noted widespread hunger and deaths from starvation, with famine expected to spreadfrom the Gaza Strip to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. They warned: This marks the first time a famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East region. (August 22, 2025)
• The UN Secretary-General said that the famine in Gaza represents a “man-made disaster” and the deliberate collapse of systems needed for human survival, warning that those with the duty to act are failing. The Commissioner-General of UNRWA also confirmed that famine is now certain in Gaza City after months of warnings that went unheeded, stressing that what is happening is “deliberate starvation.” The Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory saidthat the confirmation of famine is not just another wake-up call, but a blaring siren after months of warnings, signaling what may soon engulf other parts of the Strip. (August 22, 2025)
• The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the official declaration of famine in the Gaza Strip, reaffirming its condemnation of the genocidal crimes committed by the Israeli occupation army against unarmed civilians. The British Foreign Secretary said the famine in Gaza City and surrounding neighborhoods is “utterly horrifying and wholly preventable.” European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib stressed the need for Israel to immediately allow aid to pass through all safe and effective channels to reach all residents of Gaza. (August 22, 2025)
• The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned statements by the Israeli Minister of Communications praising the decision to build settlements in the “E1” area of the occupied West Bank, and claiming that both banks of the Jordan River are part of the so-called “Land of Israel.” It also condemned Israel’s continued restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, which have pushed the situation to dangerous levels of famine. (August 22, 2025)
• Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp submitted his resignation, followed by fellow ministers from the Nieuw Sociaal Contract party, in protest over the Dutch coalition’s failure to take further action against Israel after its invasion of Gaza City and announcement of new settlement plans in the West Bank. (August 22, 2025)

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• Peace Now reported that settlers established a new settlement by placing two caravans in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Hebron, on land designated as H1 under the 1997 Hebron Agreement and under full Palestinian control. This constitutes a violation of both signed international agreements and Israeli military law. The caravans were placed between a mosque and a Palestinian girls’ high school, blocking the school’s entrance and one of the mosque’s doors. (August 17, 2025)
• Amnesty International said that Israel is carrying out a deliberate campaign of starvation against Palestinians in Gaza, through policies that have created the deadly combination of hunger and disease, amounting to ongoing genocide. New testimonies from displaced civilians underscore that the situation is not an accidental consequence of military operations, but the intended outcome of plans to destroy the health and social fabric of Palestinian life. (August 18, 2025)
• The Gaza Tribunal calls for immediate international armed intervention to halt Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. It demands that the UN General Assembly invoke emergency powers, including the Uniting for Peace resolution and Responsibility to Protect, and calls for broad global action -diplomatic, legal, and economic- to end the atrocities. (August 18, 2025)
• The President of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society stressed the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the immense challenges facing PRCS teams working under constant fire. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide strongly acknowledged this testimony, expressing support and reaffirming the urgent need to ensure humanitarian access and the protection of civilians. (August 18, 2025)
• Ten European trade union leaders sent a letter to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, urging the European Union to take more decisive action on Gaza, including immediate sanctions such as suspending the EU–Israel Association Agreement and ending all trade and economic relations with Israeli settlements. (August 18, 2025)
• The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) warned of Israel’s new genocidal plan to occupy Gaza City and forcibly displace around one million Palestinians to the already devastated central and southern parts of the Strip. The organization said the plan, approved by the Israeli security cabinet, represents a new stage in Israel’s attempts at ethnic cleansing. (August 18, 2025)
• Peace Now has described the E1 project as one of the most dangerous settlement schemes for the future of both peoples and the entire region, since it aims to undermine the two-state solution, and called for its immediate halt. Meanwhile, the Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem (ARIJ) said that the revival of this project at this particular time is not merely a routine planning decision but a political maneuver to impose new facts on the ground, effectively annexing the West Bank to Israeli sovereignty, a policy it described as settlement decisiveness.(August 18–19, 2025)
• The Italian Coaches Association (AIAC) sent a letter to the President of the Italian Football Federation, urging him to submit a request to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to temporarily suspend Israel’s participation in international competitions, describing it as a necessary measure dictated by moral duty in solidarity with the Palestinian people. (August 19, 2025)
• The organization “Doctors Against Genocide”stated that the United States has decided to suspend all entry visas for children from Gaza, including critical cases requiring urgent medical treatment. The organisation said this decision abandoned the most vulnerable groups, particularly children with disabilities and those with life-threatening illnesses. (August 19, 2025)
• The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council and the Palestinian NGO Network issued a joint statement titled “Palestinian Civil Society Call to Action: Stop the Genocide, End the Era of Impunity.” While welcoming the recognition of the State of Palestine by some member states, the statement warned that recognition alone will not stop the mass killing, starvation, and forced displacement in Gaza, urging instead the adoption of concrete measures. (August 19, 2025)
• ARIJ confirmed that since 1967 to 2025, the Israeli occupation has classified more than 2,400 Palestinian archaeological sites in the West Bank as so-called Israeli antiquities sites. In practice, these sites have been used to seize vast tracts of Palestinian land, which were later converted into colonies, settlement outposts, and military and tourism sites serving only the settlers. (August 21, 2025)
• Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement released an update titled “The claims Israel makes vs. reality,” noting that “baseless claims” such as the absence of hunger in Gaza Strip, the lack of obstruction to humanitarian aid, and the ability of local institutions to meet humanitarian needs are being used by Israel to evade responsibility for the famine. (August 20, 2025)
• Amnesty International Canada condemned the U.S. decision to impose new sanctions on senior officials of the International Criminal Court, stressing that Canada, as a key state party in the Court’s establishment, has an obligation to defend its judges and officials, ensure they can work without threats or obstruction, and take urgent national measures to counter the impact of U.S. sanctions. (August 21, 2025)
• The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) appealed to international human rights and media organizations to urgently intervene to save the life of Palestinian journalist and detainee Ali al-Samoudi, a correspondent for Al-Quds newspaper, who is facing life-threatening conditions under administrative detention. PJS reported that he has been subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse and is experiencing a significant health decline, including rapid weight loss. (August 21, 2025)
• The Media Freedom Coalition issued a statement urging Israel to immediately allow independent foreign media into Gaza and to ensure protection for journalists operating there, stressing that media workers play an essential role in documenting the devastating reality of war. The statement condemned all forms of violence, arrests, and killings targeting journalists. (August 21, 2025)
• Al Mezan Center for Human Rights asserted that the famine in Gaza is man-made, resulting from Israel’s policy of using starvation as a weapon by blocking aid, destroying food and water sources, and militarizing distribution operations. According to the Center, these measures have led to the deaths of 273 people, including 112 children, and have created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis affecting nearly half of Gaza’s population. It called on the international community to act immediately to stop the genocide and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access.(August 22, 2025)
• Amnesty International has condemned Slovenia for allowing a military shipment to Israel via its port just days after announcing a ban on arms exports and transit to Israel. The organization warns that such transfers risk contributing to genocide and war crimes in Gaza. (August 22, 2025)

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• Journal of International Law magazine published a research paper by Muhammad Haris Aulawi and others titled: “The Principle of Responsibility to Protect: Its Significance and Implementation In Israel-Palestine Conflict”. (2025)
• Juris Gentium Law Review published a research paper by Muhammad Erza Aimar Rizky and Muhammad Habibie titled: “From Condemnation to Complacency: A Critical Review of the UN’s Evolving Response to Israeli Settlements in the West Bank (2005–2024)”. (2025)
• Amity University, Lucknow published a research paper by Swaraj Pandey titled: “Genocide and International Justice: Legal Accountability in Gaza, Myanmar, and Beyond”.(2025)
• The Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research published a research paper by Asep Setiawan titled: “Assessing the United Nations’ Capacity to Address Genocide Allegations in Gaza: A Critical Analysis of Institutional Constraints and Diplomatic Failures”. (2025)
• Mohamed Fouad Mohamed Abdel Majeed Othman published a research paper titled:“Violation of the Ceasefire in the State of Palestine: A Legal Study in Light of International Humanitarian Law”. (August 20, 2025)

Opinion Pieces and features:

• Mondoweiss published an opinion article by Bilal Irfan and Alyssa Seliga titled: “The Trump administration’s halt on medical evacuations from Gaza is a death sentence for Palestinian children”. (August 18, 2025)
• The Arab Center Washington DC published an article by Yara M. Asi titled: “The Growing Consensus over Israel’s Genocide in Gaza”. (August 19, 2025)
• Opinio Juris published an article by Jinan Bastaki titled: “To Recognize or Not to Recognize – Is That Really the Question? On State Recognition Amid Genocide”. (August 19, 2025)
• Opinio Juris published an article by Ole Aldag titled: “On Second Chances: Discursive Maintenance of International Law Amidst Ukraine and Gaza”. (August 20, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Jonathan Ofir titled: “In leaked audio, ex-Israeli military intel chief justifies killing tens of thousands in Gaza -‘they need a Nakba once in a while’”. (August 20, 2025)
• Anadolu Agency published an article by Blerim Mustafa titled: “Recognizing the state of Palestine: A legal and political imperative for peace”. (August 20, 2025)
• EJIL:TALK! published an article by Eitan Diamond titled: ““Humanitarian” Killing Zones”. (August 22, 2025)