PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Issue. 315

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

11 – 17 January. 2026

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

Translation: Maisaa Abdelqader and Sundus Frarajah

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:

• In its annual report, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs stated that the occupation has carried out 280 attacks on and incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of 2025. (January 11, 2026)
• The Jerusalem Governorate warned that the occupying authorities have begun implementing the colonial ‘Route 45’ project, following an announcement by the head of the so-called ‘Binyamin Regional Council’ that construction will commence in the coming weeks. The project, the Governorate said, strengthens comprehensive colonial control and fragments the area into isolated Palestinian enclaves as part of a policy of ‘demographic and geographic Judaization’. (January 16, 2026)

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

• The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved the draft law titled ‘Criminal Information and Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill’ (Amendment No. 8) (Criminal Record of Terrorist Offenses) for 2025 in preparation for its second and third readings. The bill would allow employers to request information from the police on whether a job applicant has been convicted of serious terrorism-relatetd offenses, incitement to terrorism, or expressing sympathy for a terrorist organization. (January 13, 2026)
• The Knesset’s National Security Committee continued its discussion of a proposed amendment to Penal Bill No. 159 concerning the imposition of the death penalty on “terrorists,” ahead of its second and third readings. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir emphasized that there would be no compromises on what he describes as essential matter, asserting that the death penalty could be applied to terrorists involved in the event of October 7 as well as to those who may follow. (January 14, 2026)

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

• The Director-General of the World Health Organization(WHO) reported that, last week, the organization supported the medical evacuation of 18 patients and 36 companions from the Gaza Strip to Jordan to receive the necessary medical care. He called on more countries to open their doors to patients from Gaza and to resume medical evacuation operations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. (January 12, 2026)
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains critical. OCHA confirmed that the recent storm left thousands of displaced people without shelter, noting that tents are only a temporary solution and that there is an urgent need for more supplies, including tools, cement, and heavy machinery for debris removal, as well as adequate funding to move from emergency response to early recovery efforts. (January 12, 2026)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, stated that ending Israeli Apartheid will be a rehumanising act and a path to liberation for both Palestinians and Israelis. (January 13, 2026)
• The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir under the protection of occupation police, considering it a blatant violation of the existing legal and historical status quo. The Ministry stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and its holy sites . The League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the incursion, with the Arab League further denouncing the raid on the UNRWA-affiliated Jerusalem Health Center and the issuance of orders to close it. (January 13–14–15, 2026)
• A UNICEF spokesperson James Elder stated that more than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began in early October last year, at an average rate of one child per day, as a result of airstrikes, drone attacks, shelling, tank fire, and live ammunition. Headded that six other children have recently died due to extreme cold, warning that survival in Gaza remains conditional. (January 13, 2026)
• UNRWA warned that its decades-long presence in East Jerusalem is nearing an end due to amendments introduced in December 2025 to Knesset laws targeting the agency. The head of UNRWA in the West Bank stated that members of the Israeli security forces forcibly raided UNRWA’s Jerusalem Health Center and demanded the removal of United Nations signage, as part of an ongoing campaign to obstruct the agency from carrying out its mandate granted by the UN General Assembly in occupied East Jerusalem, which does not fall under Israeli sovereignty. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the move as another step in a pattern of deliberate disregard for international law and the United Nations, while the UN Secretary-General condemned the measure and considered it illegal. (January 13, 2026)
• S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, on behalf of President Donald Trump, announced the launch of the second phase of the President’s 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza. The phase includes the transition from the ceasefire to demilitarization and reconstruction, the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic transitional administration called the “National Committee for the Administration of Gaza,” and calls on Hamas to fully comply with its commitments. (January 14, 2026)
• The Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, stated that the announcement of the launch of the second phase of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza constitutes an important step, recalling that UN Security Council Resolution 2803 affirms that “all efforts must be aligned by relevant United Nations resolutions and international law”.(January 15, 2026)
• During a field visit to the Gaza Strip, a senior UN official called for improved humanitarian access and the opening of all crossings and corridors into the strip, stressing the urgent need to increase the flow of essential supplies and ease restrictions. The official highlights the importance of allowing the entry of ‘dual-use materials’necessary for repairing basic services, including such as water, primary health care, and education, to support both the humanitarian response and early recovery efforts. (January 15, 2026)
• UN experts warned that Israel’s suspension of the operations of 37 international organizations in Gaza and the West Bank constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. They stated that the measure increases the potential criminal responsibility for its leaders, exacerbates the suffering of the population, and represents a policy that makes life unbearable for a population, threatens their survival as a group, and violates the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. (January 15, 2026)
• The Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) stated that very little remains standing in the Gaza Strip, noting that more than 60 million tons of rubble cover the area, and that its removal will take more than seven years. He explained that the severity of the situation lies not only in the sheer volume of the rubble but also in its composition, which includes unexploded ordnance, hazardous waste, and tragically, human remains. (January 16, 2026)
• The European Union called on Israel to immediately halt the settlement project in the E1 area, reverse the expansion of illegal settlements across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and protect the Palestinian population in the occupied territories. (January 16, 2026)
• The White House announced the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) as a vital step in implementing the second phase of President Trump’s comprehensive 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza. The announcement included the establishment of a Peace Council to provide strategic oversight, mobilize resources, and ensure accountability, as well as the formation of a founding Executive Council comprising international officials to cover the areas of governance, reconstruction, and financing. The White House also announced the appointment of Nikolay Mladenov as High Representative for Gaza, and Major General Jasper Jeffers as commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), tasked with securing the transitional period, supporting disarmament, and ensuring humanitarian aid delivery. (January 16, 2026)

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• Amnesty International warned that the UK government’s indication that it may lift the ban on arms sales to Israel is deeply alarming, stressing that talk of a ‘ceasefire’ or ‘peace’ does not reflect the reality on the ground. The organization pointed to the ongoing unlawful killings, blockade, and system of apartheid in Gaza, noting that London has not imposed a full embargo and has continued exporting spare parts for F-35 aircraft used in Israeli military operations. It also recalled that in July 2024 the International Court of Justice instructed states not to provide any assistance that would contribute to maintaining the situation resulting from Israel’s unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. (January 12, 2026)
• The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a criminal complaint in Austria against Israeli soldier Yonatan Akriv, accusing him of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts contributing to genocide, following confirmation of his presence on Austrian territory, which triggers Austria’s legal obligations under international law. (January 12, 2026)
• Physicians for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Global Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, published a report entitled: “Destroying Hope for the Future: Reproductive Violence in Gaza”.(January 14, 2026)
• The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention condemned persistent efforts by several high-profile German civil society organizations to deny the ongoing genocide in Gaza and to spread disinformation and denialist narratives among German political decision-makers. (January 14, 2026)
• Doctors Without Borders confirmed that residents of Gaza are facing extreme difficulty accessing clean water because rubble-covered roads prevent water tankers from reaching many neighborhoods. The organization warned that Israeli restrictions are threatening vital humanitarian work. (January 15, 2026)
• Hind Rajab Foundation, in cooperation with ‘Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR),’ announced that it has alerted Canadian authorities of serious concerns regarding the admissibility of former Israeli soldier and content creator Guy Hochman into Canada, where he is scheduled to give a presentation in Toronto on 19 January 2026. The organization confirmed that it will file a criminal complaint against him in the coming days, citing his activities and public statements, as well as his documented involvement in military propaganda and incitement related to the Israeli war on Gaza. (January 16, 2026)

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• The journal DergiParkpublished a research paper by the researcher Mohammad Yousef titled: “The Denial of the displaced Palestinians’ Right of Return: Between ICC & Zionist Ideology”. (2026)
• Significant Research Publishing has published a research paper by researcher Hasibur Rahaman and others titled: “The Selective Application of Justice Comparing ICC Investigations in Ukraine and Palestine”.(2026)

Opinion Pieces and features:

• Al Jazeera published an article by Hassan Ben Imran entitled “The UK is taking political prisoners to evade accountability for genocide”. (January 15, 2026)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Jennifer Bing entitled: “Israel is attempting to block both aid and solidarity through its new ban on international organizations”. (January 16, 2026)

Human rights conferences and events:

• Pro-Palestinian activists held a protest in the Queens neighborhood of New York City against the “Israel Real Estate & Investment Conference,” a promotional event focused on real estate and investments in the occupied territory, covering land and properties in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (January 11, 2026)