PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Issue. 299

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

21 – 27 September 2025

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

Prepared by: Nour Kharouf, Murad Abu Murad, Arwa Abdel Moniam, and Ahmad Al-Rjoub
Translation: Mays Abu Atwan 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.

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:

• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcements from Andorra, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco, France, Portugal, Canada, Australia, Malta, and the United Kingdom recognizing the independent and sovereign State of Palestine. He affirmed that this represents an important and necessary step towards achieving a just peace,paving the way for the implementation of the two-state solution, where the State of Palestine can coexist alongside the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighborliness. (September 21-23, 2025)
• In his address to the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President Abbas declared that peace cannot be achieved without justice, and there will be no justice without Palestine’s liberation. He stressed that Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. He reaffirmed Palestine’s readiness to fully assume responsibility for governance and security in Gaza, with no role for Hamas, which must surrender its weapons. (September 25, 2025)

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

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “There will be no Palestinian state. The response to the latest attempt to impose a terrorist state in the heart of our land will be issued after my return from the United States.” He stressed that there will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called the recognition of a Palestinian state by foreign countries a reward for murderers, insisting that it requires immediate countermeasures, including imposing Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (the occupied West Bank) and the complete crushing of the Palestinian Authority. He said he intends to present a proposal to apply sovereignty at the upcoming government meeting, a stance echoed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. (September 21, 2025)
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, vowed that Israel is determined to “finish the job” in Gaza by uprooting the “remnants of Hamas,” warning that military operations will continue until all hostages are released. He stressed that ending the war depends on Hamas surrendering its weapons and fully capitulating. Netanyahu rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide or deliberately starving the population, dismissing them as “fabrications,” and claimed civilians were warned ahead of operations to minimize casualties. He also attacked Western leaders who recognized the State of Palestine, saying such recognition amounts to rewarding terrorism. (September 26, 2025)

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

• The President of the Arab Parliament, marking the International Day of Peace, stressed that peace in the Arab region will not be possible without ending the Israeli occupation of all occupied Arab territories. The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council likewise affirmed that a just peace requires the establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state. (September 21–22, 2025)
• The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have formally recognized the State of Palestine. Portugal also announced its official recognition. (September 21, 2025)
• The German Foreign Minister affirmed that what the Middle East needs now is an immediate ceasefire and a substantial increase in humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza, describing the attack on Gaza City as the wrong path of action and warned that any steps toward the illegal annexation of occupied territories undermine the chances of resolving the conflict in a sustainable way. The ministeremphasized that Germany views the recognition of the Palestinian state as a step to be taken at the end of the political process. (September 22, 2025)
• The German Foreign Minister stated that what the Middle East needs most now is an immediate ceasefire and a substantial increase in humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. She described the assault on Gaza City as the wrong course of action and warned that any move toward the illegal annexation of occupied territories undermines prospects for a sustainable resolution to the conflict. The minister emphasized that Germany views recognition of a Palestinian state as a step to be taken at the conclusion of the process. (September 22, 2025)
• A Kremlin spokesperson affirmed that Russia remains committed to the core resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and to the international consensus supporting a two-state solution, calling this the only path to ending the conflict. (September 22, 2025)
• Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Saudi Arabia warned Israel that any annexation of the West Bank would constitute a “red line” for the international community and carry “serious consequences.” The report noted that such a move could jeopardize undisclosed security and trade relations as well as threaten the Abraham Accords. (September 22, 2025)
• The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its position that Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory, stressing that ending the conflict and achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace is an urgent priority. The ministry called for a complete ceasefire in Gaza, respect for the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine,” and guarantees of the Palestinian people’s legitimate national rights. (September 22, 2025)
• British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she had warned Israel against annexing parts of the West Bank in retaliation to the UK’s recognition of the Palestinian statehood. “Just as we recognize Israel, we must also recognize the rights of the Palestinians to a state of their own as well”, she stated. (September 22, 2025)
• France, Monaco, Malta, Andorra, Belgium, and Luxembourg officially announced their recognition of the State of Palestine during the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York. (September 22, 2025)
• UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, said that As more Western states join the world majority in recognizing the State of Palestine, it must be clear: recognition increases the obligation to actively respect Palestine’s rights to: non-interference, territorial integrity, self-defence from illegal occupation, end of genocide. (September 22, 2025)
• World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the attack on the primary health care center of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society in Gaza City resulted in its complete destruction and injuries to health workers. The facility had been among the few remaining medical centers still operating in Gaza and was providing essential services. (September 22, 2025)
• French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in New York, said he was working alongside Saudi Arabia and 142 international partners to advance a two-state solution, urging more countries to join. He added that the time has come to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas. (September 22, 2025)
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become “morally, legally & politically intolerable,” emphasizing that “this nightmare must end.” He called on world leaders to do everything possible to ensure the sovereignty of a two-state solution. (September 22, 2025)
• Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced that Singapore will impose sanctions on leaders of Israeli settler groups and will recognize a Palestinian state when conditions are favorable. He criticized Israeli politicians calling for the annexation of parts of the West Bank or Gaza and urged an immediate halt to settlement expansion. (September 22, 2025)
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the Sultanate of Oman, the Arab Parliament, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain welcomed the convening of the Two-State Solution Conference in New York and the recognition of the Palestinian state by several countries, considering these recognitions as a qualitative shift in support of the Palestinian cause. (September 22-23, 2025)
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the establishment of a Palestinian state has become urgent, but stressed that the priority now is to ensure such a state can truly exist. He called for an end to this massacre, emphasizing that progress toward a two-state solution cannot take place in the midst of genocide. The Spanish government approved a comprehensive ban on arms supplies to Israel, aimed at ending the genocide in Gaza. Spain’s Minister of Economy confirmed that the decision prohibits the export and import of all defense equipment, products, and technologies used in this field to and from Israel. (September 23, 2025)
• UN experts urged the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel’s national team from international competitions, describing the measure as a necessary response to the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory. (September 23, 2025)
• The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory issued a report confirming, on the basis of in-depth legal analysis, that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza. It found clear intent to establish permanent control over the Gaza Strip and to secure a Jewish majority in the occupied West Bank and inside Israel. The Commission identified six Israeli ministers as most responsible for these crimes, calling for an immediate end to the genocide, full compliance with International Court of Justice measures, the dismantling of settlements, and the abolition of discriminatory policies. (September 23, 2025)
• Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said during a Security Council session that “the old approach”—waiting for a negotiated outcome—is no longer a feasible option. He noted that international support for recognizing Palestine is growing daily and called on Israel to release the tax revenues owed to the Palestinians. (September 23, 2025)
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged countries around the world to form an international army “to liberate Palestine” and defend against what he described as the “tyranny and totalitarianism” promoted by the United States and NATO, emphasizing the need for a strong coalition of states that reject genocide. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto added that his country is prepared to deploy 20,000 troops or more, if the Security Council and General Assembly decide, to help secure peace in Gaza, or in Ukraine, Sudan, or Libya. (September 23–24, 2025)
• UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said the ongoing war is pushing Gaza’s children “into the abyss of hell,” stressing that returning them to school must be a collective priority to prevent a lost generation. He added that the UN Palestinian relief agency must play a vital role in Gaza’s reconstruction, even though it was not consulted on a nascent US peace plan for the territory. (September 24, 2025)
• According to Politico, U.S. President Donald Trump, during a closed meeting with leaders from Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, pledged that he would not allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the West Bank. Sources indicated that Trump’s team presented a 21-point paper titled “Trump’s Plan for Peace in the Mideast in Gaza”, which included arrangements for governance and security after the war. (September 24, 2025)
• Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the overnight attack on the international “Global Sumud Flotilla,” which was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. He said he had redirected an Italian navy ship to assist the flotilla. The Spanish Prime Minister also announced that Spain would join Italy in dispatching a naval vessel to protect the flotilla after it was attacked by drones off the Greek coast. Later, the Italian Defence Minister confirmed that Italy had sent a second navy ship to support the mission. He cautioned activists against attempting to enter the territorial waters of other states, urging them instead to deliver aid through the local Catholic Church for distribution in Gaza, stressing that the personal safety of Italian citizens could not be guaranteed if Israel’s naval blockade was breached. (September 24–25, 2025)
• Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that Italy intends to recognize the State of Palestine based on the two-state solution, but emphasized that such recognition is conditional on the release of hostages and the exclusion of Hamas from any government. He also announced that the Italian government had approved sanctions proposed by the European Commission against Israel and is considering additional financial sanctions, calling for Israel to halt its attacks and for concerted efforts toward peace and Gaza’s reconstruction. (September 25, 2025)
• Haaretz reported, citing an Israeli diplomatic source, that the United States is advancing a plan under which former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would head a temporary administration in the Gaza Strip, initially excluding the Palestinian Authority. Under the plan, Blair would oversee reconstruction in coordination with an international force tasked with maintaining borders and preventing Hamas from regaining strength, with authority eventually to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority, though no timetable has been specified. (September 25, 2025)
• Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Slovenian government has decided to impose sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after previously barring two extremist ministers from his government from entering its territory. (September 25, 2025)
• The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned extremist incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and the provocative actions carried out under the protection of Israeli occupation police, calling them a blatant violation of international law and humanitarian law, as well as a flagrant breach of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites. (September 25, 2025)
• The U.S. administration adopted a 21-point plan to end the war in Gaza, which includes encouraging Palestinians to remain in the Strip and creating a potential pathway toward the establishment of a future Palestinian state. The plan calls for an immediate halt to Israeli operations and a gradual withdrawal of forces in exchange for the release of all hostages within 48 hours. This would be followed by the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the granting of amnesty to Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence, while allowing those who choose to leave the Strip to do so. The plan also stipulates the formation of a transitional Palestinian government under the supervision of a temporary international body. (September 26, 2025)
• The UN Human Rights Office updated its database of businesses involved in activities in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, listing a total of 158 companies from 11 countries. The update added 68 companies and removed seven that were no longer involved in such activities. (September 26, 2025)

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• The Center for Research and Development for Democracy (CRED) renewed its urgent call for all nations to take effective measures to end the genocide of the Palestinian people, urging the application of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. This includes imposing sanctions on Israel and deploying a multinational military force to ensure humanitarian relief reaches the besieged population of Gaza. (September 21, 2025)
• The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported that Israeli occupation authorities have imposed new restrictions on freedom of movement on residents of Beit Iksa, Nabi Samuel, and the Khalayla neighborhood in northwest occupied East Jerusalem under Military Order No. 1651, requiring permits and magnetic cards to enter and remain in these villages. The center said the measure aims to enforce annexation and Judaization policies and isolate these villages from their Palestinian surroundings. These restrictions coincide with the confiscation of approximately 140 dunams of land from the town of Anata for the “E1” settlement project. (September 21, 2025)
• Amnesty International said that recognizing the State of Palestine is an important step, but it will remain mere empty words unless the United Kingdom takes action to end the genocide perpetrated by Israel, as well as the illegal occupation and apartheid system against the Palestinian people. The organization emphasized that the British government must immediately halt arms exports to Israel, withdraw investments from arms companies supplying it, impose sanctions on Israeli officials involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity, and stop any form of trade with illegal Israeli settlements. It stressed that any measures short of this, while Palestinians continue to face ongoing massacres as part of a systematic genocide, amount to nothing more than empty rhetoric. (September 22, 2025)
• The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a criminal complaint with the municipal public prosecutor’s office in Prague against Israeli soldier Roei Haimatan, accusing him of committing genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The complaint is based on the principle of universal jurisdiction. (September 22, 2025)
• The organization “Jewish Voice” issued a statement declaring its refusal to recognize Israel as a state, affirming its recognition only of the State of Palestine in the Holy Land with Jerusalem as its capital. The organization noted that the Palestinian territories have been “occupied for 77 years”. (September 22, 2025)
• The forty members of the Global Progressive Alliance Council, representing various geopolitical regions, unanimously passed a resolution calling for an end to the genocide in the Gaza Strip, the cessation of occupation, the provision of relief and reconstruction for Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital. (September 22, 2025)
• The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that the oxygen station at Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City had stopped operating after being struck by gunfire from Israeli occupation forces. The hospital was forced to rely on pre-filled oxygen cylinders, which would last only three days. (September 23, 2025)
• The Global Network on the Question of Palestine (GNQP) and the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) announced the release of a new book entitled “A Moon Will Rise from the Darkness.” The book compiles reports prepared by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, since October 2023. (September 23, 2025)
• Amnesty International reported that activists aboard the Gaza-bound Sumud flotilla carrying aid experienced explosions and multiple drone attacks while sailing in international waters off Greece. The organization stressed that states have a duty to ensure the flotilla’s safe passage, noting repeated failures to compel Israel to meet its basic obligations to provide Palestinians in Gaza with adequate access to food, water, and medicine. Amnesty called for increased pressure on Israel to guarantee safe passage for the flotilla and to lift the blockade permanently. (September 24, 2025)
• The organization DAWN stated that the U.S. Department of State should prohibit the Israeli army’s reconnaissance battalion 631, “Sayeret Golani,” from receiving any American military aid under the provisions of the Leahy Law on foreign assistance. This call follows the battalion’s alleged involvement in extrajudicial executions, torture, and enforced disappearances — including the killing of 15 Palestinian Red Crescent personnel in Tel al-Sultan camp in Gaza in March 2025, the torture of one staff member, and the enforced disappearance of another. DAWN described continued U.S. military support to the unit as complicity in war crimes. (September 24, 2025)
• The Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (PNGO) stated in its statement that the Israeli occupation continues to target humanitarian infrastructure in Gaza, including the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, and the “Sumud Flutella.” The network welcomed Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s initiative to present a Uniting for Peace resolution to the United Nations General Assembly, urging the international community to support the resolution and take urgent steps to implement a ceasefire. (September 25, 2025)
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) announced that it was forced to suspend its life-saving medical activities in Gaza City due to the intensity of the Israeli attacks, which exposed staff and patients to an unacceptable level of risk. Israeli tanks had advanced to less than one kilometer from its medical facilities amid ongoing airstrikes. Jacob Granger, the emergency coordinator in Gaza, said that the clinics are surrounded by Israeli forces and that the needs of the population are immense, especially for newborns, critically injured patients, and those unable to leave. (September 26, 2025)

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• Cambridge University Press published a research paper by Arie M. Dubnov and Laura Robson titled: “The Three Rs of Post-war Internationalism: Refugee, Return, Repatriation”. (2025)
• International Journal of Law, Ethics, and Technology Journal published a research paper by Channa Weiss titled: “The Gaza Conflict Within International Law”. (2025)
• The KIU Interdisciplinary Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences published a research paper by researcher Godswill Owoche Antai entitled: “The politics in enforcement of international law: Israel-Gaza in perspective”. (2025)
• The Wasit Journal for Human Sciences published a research paper by researcher Mohammed Tuama Joudeh entitled: “Contemporary Practice of Genocide (A Study of the Palestinian Case in the Gaza Strip)”. (2025)
• The African Journal of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences published a research paper by researcher Atiya Ahmed Atiya Al-Suwaih titled: “Israel’s International Responsibility for the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza War 2023-2025”. (2025)
• Journal of Genocide Research published a research paper by Martin Shaw titled: “The Genocide that Changed the World”, and another research paper by Sara Roy titled: “If it’s Not About Gaza, Then it’s About Nothing”. (2025)

Opinion Pieces and features:

• Le Monde published an editorial titled: “The imperative of recognizing the State of Palestine”. (September 20,2025)
• TRT World published an article by Avi Shlaim titled: “Britain’s recognition of Palestine is pathetically little and a century late”. (September 21,2025)
• The Guardian published an op-ed by Nesrine Malik titled: “Starmer finally said it: ‘We recognise Palestine.’ But Gaza desperately needs action – where is that?”. (September 21, 2025)
• The New Arab published an opinion article by Daoud Kuttab titled: “On the Only Crossing Between Palestine and the World”. (September 22, 2025)
• Responsible Statecraft published an article by Trita Parsi titled: “How to turn recognition of Palestine into more than just symbolism”. (September 22, 2025)
• Al Jazeera published an opinion article by Jasim Al-Azzawi titled: “US public opinion on Israel is changing, US policy will have to as well”. (September 22, 2025)
• Arab News published an opinion article by Daoud Kuttab titled: “Why Recognizing Palestine is Important?”. (September 22, 2025)
• The New Republic published an article by Daoud Kuttab titled: “Here Are the Reasons Why Recognition of Palestine Is Such a Big Deal”. (September 21, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion article by Jamila Levasseur titled: “Why I Can’t Join My Family in Honoring Our Ancestors Killed in the Holocaust While Israel Commits Genocide in Gaza”. (September 22, 2025)
• COUNTERPUNCH published an article by Jamal Kanj titled: “Gaza Is Burning”: How Zionist Hate Fuels Genocide?”. (September 22, 2025)
• Reuters published an article titled: “How Israel’s West Bank strategy aims to bury Palestinian statehood”. (September 22, 2025)
• Opinio Juris published an article by Mohsen al Attar titled: “Statehood and Resistance: Scholars Reflect on the West’s Recognition of Palestine(’s Existence)”. (September 23, 2025)
• London Review of Books published an article by Leila Sansour titled: “Recognition:A First Step.” (September 23, 2025)
• The Guardian featured an opinion piece by Raji Sourani titled: “The consensus is clear: it’s genocide. Now will international law die in Gaza too?”. (September 23, 2025)
• Opinio Juris published an article by Ardi Imseis titled: “Too Little, Too Late? On the Meaning and Consequences of the Recognition of the State of Palestine”. (September 24, 2025
• Arab Reform Initiative published an article by Dr. Alaa Tartir, titled: “Recognizing Palestine, Unrecognizing Palestinians”. (September 24, 2025)
• Eurativ published an opinion piece by Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff titled: “Europe’s Gaza paralysis: Time for Berlin, Rome and Brussels to stand up to Trump”. (September 24, 2025)
• The New Arab published an opinion piece by Aya Talahmeh, titled: “Recognition of Palestine: Like an arsonist returning to the crime scene”. (September 25, 2025)
• Opinio Juris published an article by Alyssa Yamamoto and Fionnuala Ní Aolaín entitled: “A Rash Move: U.S. Sanctions Undermine the Privileges and Immunities of UN Special Rapporteurs”. (September 25, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Hamza Hamouchene titled: “Ecocide, Imperialism and Palestine Liberation”. (September 26, 2025)
• CounterPunch published an article by Lama Khouri titled: “The Necropolitics of Hunger: Man-made Famine and Futurity of the Palestinian Nation”. (September 26, 2025)
• Middle East Eye published an article by Jonathan Cook titled: “Recognition of Palestine is a repeat of the West’s Oslo ‘peace’ fraud”. (September 26, 2025)
• Security Context published an article by Sonia Boulos titled: “Smokescreen Recognition: How ‘Statehood’ Can Mask Complicity and Contain Decolonization”. (September 26, 2025)

Legal Achievements/Impacts for Palestine:

• The Amsterdam City Council approved a motion submitted by Denk Party leader Sheher Khan, stipulating that Maccabi Tel Aviv and any sports clubs operating in illegal settlements or occupied areas, or failing to address “extremist and racist expressions” among their fans, be considered unwelcome in the city. The Amsterdam municipality will send an urgent letter to Dutch sports federations urging them to exclude such clubs from sports events in the Netherlands. (September 22, 2025)
• The Danish pension fund “AkademikerPension” announced that it will exclude assets of the Israeli state, including government-controlled companies, from its investment portfolio. (September 24, 2025)
• The English newspaper The Times reported that the European Union is preparing to officially ban Israel from participating in competitions, following approval by a majority of the UEFA Executive Board and the EU. (September 25, 2025)
• Microsoft announced that it has ceased and disabled a set of cloud computing and artificial intelligence services used by a unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), after an internal review revealed preliminary evidence supporting media reports of a surveillance system targeting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. (September 25, 2025)
• Ca’ Foscari University in Venice condemned the serious crimes committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinian population in Gaza and the West Bank, pledging not to enter into any agreements or collaborations with entities, institutions, or universities in Israel that are directly or indirectly involved in the ongoing military campaign. (September 26, 2025)
• The University of Messina announced its academic council’s decision to suspend its agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and to halt any future agreements with academic institutions supporting Israeli aggression. The university also decided to implement measures in support of Palestinian students and faculty. (September 26, 2025)

Human rights conferences and events:

• Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in dozens of Italian cities in a general strike and demonstrations, described as the largest in Europe against the Israeli war on Gaza. Schools were closed, train services disrupted, and port workers shut down the ports of Genoa and Livorno to protest Italy being used as a hub for transferring weapons to Israel. (September 22, 2025)

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events:

• The Asser Institute and the Council of Arab Ambassadors in The Hague announced a panel discussion titled “Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestine and the impact of States’ (non)compliance with UNGA Resolution ES-10/24,” scheduled for 8 October 2025 at the Institute’s headquarters in the Netherlands. They also announced a roundtable titled “Implications of the 2024 ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israel’s occupation of Palestine: The Dutch context,” scheduled for 14 November 2025 at the same venue. (2025)