PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Issue. 291

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

27 July – 2 August 2025

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

Translation: Asma Louzon and Mays Abu Atwan

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 National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh condemned the Israeli naval raid on the “Handala” ship and the arrest of international activists on board, describing it as an act of piracy and a continuation of the collective punishment policy against Gaza residents. (July 27, 2025)
• The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs reported testimonies from inside Israeli prisons confirming ongoing systematic abuses against detainees, including beatings, mistreatment, deliberate starvation, and medical neglect. (July 27, 2025)
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the settlers’ attack on the town of Al-Taybeh, east of Ramallah, calling it a blatant disregard for international responses to previous assaults on the town, its cemeteries, and its church. The ministry urged the international community to take concrete action to compel the Israeli government to halt such attacks and to prosecute those responsible. (July 28, 2025)
• Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh stated that the Israeli occupation authorities’ approval of three plans to expand the Ma’ale Adumim settlement, built on land belonging to citizens east of occupied Jerusalem, constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and UN resolutions. He said the move falls within the framework of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. The PLO’s Jerusalem Affairs Department also warned of the serious consequences of this dangerous Israeli decision. (July 28, 2025)
• The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemned the settlers’ renewed attack on the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, which resulted in significant damage to property. They called on churches worldwide and state representatives to pressure their governments to take immediate action to stop these crimes and to ensure the protection of holy sites and local residents. (July 28, 2025)
• Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa stated that the high-level international conference aimed at resolving the Palestinian issue through peaceful means and advancing the two-state solution represents a commitment to ending the historical injustice endured by the Palestinian people. He emphasized that Palestinians are not destined for perpetual occupation and exile. In his address at the conference, he reaffirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, return, and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders. (July 29, 2025)
• The government operations room in the southern governorates confirmed that the Gaza Strip continues to suffer from a real famine, despite the entry of a number of trucks carrying humanitarian aid. (July 28, 2025)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates warned of the dangers posed by the Israeli Cabinet’s plans to gradually annex the Gaza Strip, describing them as part of a wider scheme of forced displacement and a threat to the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state. (July 29, 2025)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the inciteful rhetoric and settlement-related measures taken by the Israeli occupation in preparation for large-scale incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the pretext of the so-called “destruction of the Temple.” The Ministry described these actions as part of an official Israeli escalation targeting Al-Aqsa, aimed at enforcing its temporal division as a prelude to spatial division or complete demolition. (August 2, 2025)

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

• The Israeli army announced a daily localized pause for humanitarian purposes, effective from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in areas where the Israel Defense Forces are not conducting operations. These include Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Permanent safe corridors will be designated from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. to ensure the secure movement of UN convoys and humanitarian organizations delivering food and medicine across the Gaza Strip. (July 27, 2025)
• Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Israeli government is considering several scenarios for the Gaza Strip, including a full military occupation, tightening the siege on urban centers where Hamas operates, and exploring the option of cutting electricity to the enclave. (July 28, 2025)
• The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the European Union’s College of Commissioners’ recommendation to reduce Israel’s participation in a component of the Horizon program as “mistaken, regrettable, and unjustified.” The ministry warned that such a decision would strengthen Hamas and undermine efforts to reach a ceasefire and establish a framework for the release of hostages. (July 28, 2025)
• Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar summoned the Dutch ambassador to Israel, Marriët Schuurman, for a formal reprimand in protest of recent Dutch actions against Israel, including threats to impose sanctions on Israeli government officials and suspend Israel’s participation in research programs. Sa’ar stated that the Dutch measures reflect a disconnect from realities on the ground and serve narrow political interests, warning that Israel would respond to these provocations. (July 29, 2025)

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

• The United Nations welcomed Israel’s announcement of humanitarian pauses in the Gaza Strip, noting that UN teams are working to seize this opportunity to deliver urgently needed relief, as the entire population suffers from severe food insecurity. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory and urged all parties to take concrete steps toward a two-state solution. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher described the crisis in Gaza as “devastating,” stating that one in three people have gone without food for days and are being shot at while searching for it. He emphasized that Israel’s mitigating steps are “not enough,” adding: “We don’t just need a pause, we need a permanent ceasefire.” (July 27, 2025)
• United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, urging the international community to take meaningful action to pressure Israel to end the carnage. He warned that countries failing to use their influence may be complicit in international crimes. Türk noted that more than 1,000 people have been killed since the end of May while trying to access food, and that children are starving and dying in full view of the world. He also condemned the continued annexation of the West Bank and the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, calling for accountability. (July 27, 2025)
• The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) welcomed humanitarian pauses and the easing of restrictions on aid entry into Gaza. The agency expressed hope that it will finally be permitted to bring in thousands of aid trucks loaded with food, medicine, and hygiene supplies, currently stalled in Jordan and Egypt awaiting approval. UNRWA emphasized that fully opening all crossings and flooding Gaza with assistance is the only way to prevent worsening starvation, noting that the Strip requires at least 500 to 600 aid trucks per day. According to the agency, one in every five children in Gaza is malnourished, and the number of children who have died from hunger has now surpassed 100. UNRWA also reiterated its call for a long-term ceasefire. (July 27, 2025)
• Thirty-four former ambassadors issued an open letter to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, urging her to immediately recognize the State of Palestine and suspend all military and defense cooperation with Israel. The diplomats called on the Italian government to take concrete steps, including supporting targeted sanctions on Israeli ministers and aligning with the broader European consensus to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. (July 27, 2025)
• Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told the UN General Assembly that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “horrific,” warning that 100,000 children and 40,000 infants are at risk of dying from hunger. He stressed the urgent need for Israel to allow sustained and uninterrupted humanitarian access. Albares reaffirmed Spain’s continued support for the State of Palestine and its people, along with its commitment to a final peace based on the two-state solution. (July 27–28, 2025)
• UNICEF has warned that the entire population of the Gaza Strip is facing food insecurity, with over 320,000 children under the age of five at risk of acute malnutrition. The organization explained that humanitarian aid has been severely limited since May 19, following a total blockade on humanitarian and commercial supplies imposed on March 2, which has led to critical food shortages. UNICEF noted that its stocks for malnutrition prevention have run out, and supplies for therapeutic treatment are critically low. (July 28, 2025)
• The European Commission has proposed a partial suspension of Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe programme, specifically targeting Israeli entities involved in the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. The Accelerator supports start-ups and small businesses working on disruptive innovations and dual-use technologies such as cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence. The Commission clarified that the suspension is targeted and reversible, and does not affect Israeli universities or researchers participating in collaborative Horizon Europe projects. The proposal is tied to Israel’s obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and must be approved by a qualified majority in the EU Council to take effect. (July 28, 2025)
• Norway announced a financial contribution to Palestine, and during the United Nations Conference on the Two-State Solution in New York, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide criticized Israel’s withholding of revenues that rightfully belong to the Palestinian people. He emphasized that Norway “does not support a Palestinian state on paper, but supports a functioning state for the Palestinian people.” (July 28, 2025)
• During his meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, U.S. President Donald Trump described the situation in the Gaza Strip as “real starvation,” contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s denial of its existence. Trump affirmed that the United States will work with European allies to establish “food centers” in Gaza, emphasizing that the children shown on screens are truly suffering from hunger. He added that he had told Netanyahu a “change in approach” is needed. (July 28, 2025)
• Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon reaffirmed during her speech at the United Nations conference in New York that “the two-state solution is the only way to achieve peace in the Middle East.” She noted that Slovenia has recognized the State of Palestine, adding that 146 out of 193 UN member states have done the same. She also expressed hope that other countries, such as France, will follow suit. (July 28, 2025)
• Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, stressing the suffering of the population under the Israeli blockade. He emphasized that Israel is obligated under international law to provide for the population’s basic needs, and that its announcement of a temporary ceasefire and safe routes must translate into concrete and sustainable action. The Netherlands also announced its initiative to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement and voiced support for suspending Israel’s participation in the European Innovation Council, with readiness to adopt further trade measures. The Israeli ambassador will be summoned, and Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir have been declared persona non grata for their support of violence and settlement expansion. (July 28, 2025)
• United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the opening session of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, stated that statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward. He warned that the alternative is a one-state reality based on perpetual occupation and discrimination. “Let us reject the false choice between Palestinian statehood and Israeli security,” he said. “There is no security in occupation.” (July 28, 2025)
• The French Foreign Minister called on countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so immediately, emphasizing that any delay only strengthens Hamas’s influence. He also urged Arab and Muslim nations to reject the denial of Israel and resume normalization efforts to promote regional security. He also addressed the Israeli government, calling for a ceasefire, lifting the blockade on Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, and abandoning annexation plans.
• The UK Foreign Secretary recalled that the Balfour Declaration, signed 108 years ago, included a formal promise that nothing would be done to prejudice the civil and religious rights of the Palestinian people, a promise, he said, that has not been upheld. He described this as an ongoing historical injustice and announced that the United Kingdom intends to recognize the State of Palestine this coming September unless Israel ends the appalling situation in Gaza, halts its military campaign, and commits to a sustainable peace plan. (July 28–29, 2025)
• Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stated that he convened a meeting with the Deputy Prime Ministers and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza, affirming that the government’s goal is to ensure immediate, safe, and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid. He added that the Netherlands would support, in Brussels, the plan to suspend Israel’s participation in the EU’s Horizon research programme if the EU determines that Israel is not complying with its obligations. Schoof noted that he conveyed this message to Israeli President Isaac Herzog. In response, Herzog said the Dutch Prime Minister’s remarks did not reflect the spirit or details of their phone call, nor his clear position that such EU measures would be a serious mistake. (July 28, 2025)
• France condemned the killing of Odeh Hathalin, a representative of the village of Umm al-Khair in Masafer Yatta and colleague of Yuval Abraham, winner of the Anna Politkovskaya, Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism. It also strongly denounced the violence perpetrated by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, including recent attacks in Kafr Malik and the Christian village of Taybeh, labeling such acts as terrorism. France reiterated its unequivocal condemnation of settlement activity, which it considers a violation of international law, and noted that it has already adopted three rounds of sanctions against violent settlers. It also called on the European Union to implement additional measures. Commenting on Hathalin’s killing, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese stated that no life is safe under a system of apartheid and institutionalized impunity. (July 29, 2025)
• The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued an urgent alert on food insecurity and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, warning that the worst-case scenario, famine, is already unfolding. The report cited ongoing conflict, mass displacement, the total collapse of essential services including healthcare, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access as factors driving the situation to a deadly tipping point. Recent data indicates that famine-level food consumption thresholds have already been crossed in most parts of Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the report confirms what many feared: “Gaza is on the brink of famine. This is not a warning, it is a reality unfolding before our eyes.” He called for an immediate end to the catastrophe. (July 29, 2025
• The office of the British Prime Minister called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to stop the slaughter and enable the United Nations to deliver uninterrupted humanitarian aid to prevent starvation. In a statement, the office said the UK would take urgent steps to alleviate the suffering, including airdropping supplies, evacuating injured children to British hospitals, and advancing a long-term political initiative aimed at establishing a two-state solution. (July 29, 2025)
• S. Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he would push for immediate votes in the Senate on two resolutions (S.J.Res.34 and S.J.Res.41) to block offensive arms sales to Israel, citing daily civilian massacres and the unfolding famine caused by the Netanyahu government’s policies. However, both proposals were rejected by the U.S. Congress. (July 29, 2025)
• The foreign ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain issued a joint statement declaring that their countries either recognize the State of Palestine or are seriously considering doing so, viewing recognition as a key step toward a two-state solution. They also called on other countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to join this initiative, and reaffirmed their commitment to the unification of Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. (July 29, 2025)
• UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, accused Western leaders of a complete failure to uphold international law when it comes to Israel. She emphasized that inaction, distraction, and the sanctioning of individual ministers do not constitute enforcement of laws created after the Holocaust to prevent another atrocity. Albanese called for five urgent measures: sanctioning Israel, imposing a total arms embargo, breaking the siege by deploying naval forces instead of airdropping aid, suspending all trade agreements with Israel, and investigating and prosecuting individuals and organizations involved in crimes in the Palestinian territories. (July 29, 2025)
• 58 former European Union ambassadors published an open letter to EU leaders and institutions, denouncing Europe’s silence on the crimes committed in Gaza and warning that such silence amounts to complicity. They urged immediate actions, including halting arms exports to Israel, imposing sanctions on Israeli officials and settlers, banning trade with illegal settlements, revoking Israel’s trade and research privileges, supporting Palestinian victims, and formally recognizing the State of Palestine. (July 29, 2025)
• French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed France’s commitment to a two-State solution, emphasizing the vision of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. He stated that France’s steps toward recognizing the State of Palestine are part of a broader political momentum aimed at achieving peace. Barrot also underscored the necessity of disarming Hamas and excluding it from the Palestinian government. (July 30, 2025)
• The High Court in London ruled that the group “Palestine Action” may challenge its designation as a proscribed organization by the British Home Secretary. The court found that the ban could infringe upon the group’s and its members’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly. (July 30, 2025)
• The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had referred the case files of two Israeli soldiers from the Givati Brigade -detained at the Tomorrowland festival in connection with war crimes committed in Gaza- to the International Criminal Court, following a complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation. The referral was made under Article 14/10 of the Preliminary Title of the Belgian Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure proper judicial process. The Hind Rajab Foundation welcomed the move but criticized Belgium’s narrow jurisdictional stance, calling for the suspects’ arrest and either domestic prosecution or extradition to The Hague. (July 30, 2025)
• The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, responded to the British Foreign Secretary’s speech at the UN conference on the two-state solution by stressing that recognition of the State of Palestine should not be conditional. He stated it is both a moral and legal duty of states. (July 30, 2025)
• S. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene described the crisis in Gaza as a “genocide,” calling it a humanitarian crisi targeting civilians. She was joined by Democratic Representative Hank Johnson, who also affirmed that “what is happening in Gaza is genocide” and stated that U.S. military support for the genocide must end immediately. (July 30, 2025)
• Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that Malta has decided to officially recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. (July 30, 2025)
• S. Senator Brian Schatz condemned the situation in Gaza as a moral tragedy and strategic abomination, pointing to the collapse of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which left one-third of the population hungry and caused the deaths of 63 people, including children, in July. He called on the international community and U.S. Congress to separate criticism of Israeli government policies from antisemitism and to prioritize civilian protection, especially for children. (July 30, 2025)
• The high-level international UN conference in New York, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, concluded with the issuance of the New York Declaration, which calls for “concrete, time-bound, and irreversible steps” to establish an independent and viable State of Palestine alongside Israel based on the 1967 borders. The declaration urges the immediate end of the war in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and full cessation of hostilities, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to the Palestinian Authority under the principle of “one state, one government, one law, one weapon.” It further calls for humanitarian access, in coordination with the UN and Red Cross, the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank without occupation, siege, or displacement, and protection of the two-state solution from illegal actions and settlements, aiming to achieve regional peace through the implementation of UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. (July 30, 2025)
• United Nations agencies warned that famine is imminent in Gaza, with the latest food security assessment revealing that 96% of households lack access to safe water, a 3% increase from the previous month. The UN Office for Human Rights reported that 1,373 Palestinians have been killed since May 27 while seeking food, 859 near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites and 514 along aid convoy routes, holding Israeli forces responsible for most of these fatal incidents. (July 31, 2025)
• Arab Parliament President Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi stated that Britain bears a historical responsibility toward the Palestinian people, emphasizing that official recognition of the State of Palestine is the minimum required, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to undermine the Palestinian cause. (July 31, 2025)
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine, reaffirming the country’s commitment to a two-state solution. However, he noted that recognition is conditional on key reforms by the Palestinian Authority, including holding general elections in 2026 from which Hamas must be excluded, and the demilitarization of the Palestinian state. Carney also called for the immediate release of all hostages taken during the October 7 attacks and rejected any future governing role for Hamas. (July 31, 2025)
• UNRWA reported that over 660 days of atrocities have been committed against civilians in Gaza, adding that international media remain banned from entering the area to independently report. The agency emphasized that this ban fuels disinformation and deepens the dehumanization of the Palestinian people, and called for the immediate lifting of the restriction. (July 31, 2025)
• Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the situation in Gaza as extremely appalling, stating that Israel is failing to uphold its most basic obligations, especially regarding commitments to emergency aid. He called for the freezing of the trade component of the EU–Israel Association Agreement as an economic pressure tool, and urged the Israeli government to permit unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza. (July 31, 2025)
• The United States announced sanctions on members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, including visa bans. The sanctions were imposed due to the PLO and PA’s support for international legal measures at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as well as alleged continued support for terrorism, including incitement, glorification of violence, and financial support to Palestinian perpetrators and their families. (July 31, 2025)
• The Slovenian government summoned the Israeli ambassador to deliver a formal protest note over the unbearable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, denouncing Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid and demanding an immediate end to the killing and starvation of civilians. Slovenia also announced a ban on all military equipment trade with Israel, citing the EU’s failure to act, and pledged to consider further measures against the current Israeli government in light of grave violations. (July 31, 2025)
• Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated he is willing to approve recognition of the State of Palestine if the Finnish government presents a formal proposal. He highlighted the longstanding suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians and described conditions in Gaza as inhumane, with children dying of hunger. Stubb added that moves by France, the UK, and Canada strengthen the broader effort to recognize Palestine and revive the peace process based on a two-state solution. (July 31, 2025
• UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized that airdrops are at least 100 times more expensive than ground transport and that trucks carry twice as much aid as planes. He argued that if political will exists for airdrops, there should be equal will to open road crossings, underlining the need for more practical and efficient humanitarian access. (August 1, 2025)

Publications of human rights NGOs

• The New York Times published a detailed report exposing the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza’s hospitals, attributing the collapse to Israeli restrictions on aid entry. The report described scenes of nurses fainting from hunger, hospitals unable to feed patients or staff, and medical teams resorting to giving infants water instead of milk due to critical shortages. (July 27, 2025)
• DAWN (Democracy for the Arab World Now) criticized S. President Donald Trump’s revocation of Executive Order 14115, originally imposed by the Biden administration to sanction those responsible for settler violence and unlawful dispossession in the West Bank. DAWN stated that this decision represents a continued American failure to hold Israel accountable and protect Palestinian rights. (July 27, 2025)
• The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said that the measures announced by Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza are nothing more than “a deception” of global public opinion, noting that the situation on the ground shows no real improvement. The Monitor explained that Israel allowed only 73 aid trucks to enter today, in addition to three airdrops equivalent in total to the load of two trucks. It emphasized that all this aid had to stop in areas classified as red zones, which the Israeli army had previously ordered to evacuate. (July 28, 2025)
• Physicians for Human Rights – Israel issued a report stating that what is happening in the Gaza Strip constitutes “genocide,” carried out through the deliberate and cumulative dismantling of the healthcare system. This began on October 13, 2023, when the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of 22 hospitals in Gaza City and northern Gaza. The organization emphasized that the intensive targeting of the health sector was not collateral damage or an incidental result of the war, but rather a systematic destruction of the essential conditions for life. It called on the international community to take immediate action to stop the genocide. (July 28, 2025)
• The Israeli organization B’Tselem published a report titled “Our Genocide Is Happening Now,” asserting that Israel has been committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. According to the report, this is being carried out through a comprehensive military campaign involving mass killings, large-scale destruction of infrastructure, starvation, forced displacement, the dismantling of the social fabric, and the targeting of educational and cultural institutions, alongside efforts to erase Palestinian identity. The report states that this campaign is part of coordinated policies aimed at destroying Palestinian society in Gaza and extends to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and within Israel through various forms of violence and oppression. B’Tselem stressed that these actions must be understood in the context of over 70 years of occupation, apartheid, and demographic engineering policies. It emphasized that such crimes cannot be justified under any circumstances, including claims of self-defense. (July 28, 2025)
• Amnesty International stated that two leading Israeli human rights organizations, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, have confirmed in two separate reports that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The organization’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, added that the reports are based on thorough documentation and research, and represent a significant milestone on the path toward international accountability. She urged the international community to take urgent action to stop the genocide. (July 28, 2025)
• Jean Guy Vataux, Emergency Coordinator in Gaza for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), stated that airdropping aid is a futile and cynical gesture. He emphasized that everything needed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza is in place just a few kilometers away, and all that is required is for the Israeli authorities to facilitate access and allow goods to enter on a large scale. (July 28, 2025)
• The Rehabilitation Sector of the Palestinian NGO Network issued a fact sheet titled The Reality of People with Cerebral Palsy in the Gaza Strip Amid Genocidal War and Famine – Urgent Needs and Severe Challenges. The paper confirmed that the blockade imposed since March 2025 has deprived individuals with cerebral palsy of therapeutic food, medication, and tube feeding, leading to serious health complications and fatalities. (July 28, 2025)
• The organization DAWN submitted a memorandum of recommendations to the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. In the document, DAWN called for the unconditional end of Israel’s crimes, including genocide, apartheid, and unlawful occupation, prior to any discussions on final status governance. The organization also urged the deployment of international peacekeeping forces under the “Uniting for Peace” mechanism and the imposition of comprehensive sanctions, including the termination of diplomatic and economic relations and a complete arms embargo. (July 28, 2025)
• The Global Network on the Question of Palestine condemned the U.S. sanctions imposed on July 9, 2025, against Francesca Albanese, calling them politically motivated, a violation of international law, and a direct threat to the integrity and independence of UN human rights mechanisms. The Network emphasized that such measures breach the functional immunity protections provided under the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. It urged the UN and member states to condemn the sanctions, demand their immediate revocation, cooperate with the Special Rapporteur, and take urgent action to halt the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, including through the imposition of an arms embargo on Israel. (July 28, 2025)
• Le Monde published a report revealing that the Israeli army had almost completely destroyed the city of Khan Younis, along with neighboring towns such as Bani Suheila, Abasan al-Kabira, and Khuza’a. Based on satellite imagery and investigations also reported by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the report stated that the demolitions were carried out using hundreds of bulldozers and heavy machinery as part of a systematic campaign to render Gaza uninhabitable. (July 28, 2025)
• The Palestinian Youth Movement published a report titled Exposing Canadian Military Exports to Israel, revealing that the Canadian government continued exporting weapons to Israel from October 2023 through July 2025, despite official claims of restrictions. The report documented 391 military shipments, including ammunition, aircraft components, and communication equipment, highlighting a significant gap between public statements and actual export practices. (July 29, 2025)
• The organization Ir Amim reported that after a four-year freeze, the Israeli government has resumed advancement of the controversial E1 settlement project, which involves constructing over 3,400 housing units between the illegal settlement of Ma’ale Adumim and East Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank. The organization stated that Israel is working to fragment the West Bank into disconnected enclaves while maintaining Israeli dominance in the area. (July 29, 2025)
• Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned of the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, confirming that its medical teams have treated hundreds of injured individuals due to attacks and the chaos surrounding aid distribution. The organization emphasized that the ongoing blockade, coupled with the haphazard distribution of aid, is fueling despair and internal violence, and accelerating the total collapse of the health system in the Strip. (July 30, 2025)
• Human Rights Watch released a new report stating that Israeli army forces and U.S.-backed private contractors at aid distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have turned relief operations into “regular bloodbaths.” The report documents repeated shootings of starving Palestinian civilians at four locations between May 27 and July 31, 2025, resulting in the deaths of 859 Palestinians while they were trying to obtain food. According to the organization, these actions amount to war crimes, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, and crimes against humanity. (August 1, 2025)

Opinion Pieces and features

• Haaretz published an analytical article by Amir Tibon titled: “How Trump Facilitated Netanyahu’s Gaza Starvation Policy – and Failed to Bring the Hostages Home.”( July 25, 2025)
• The Palestine Chronicle published an op-ed by Robert Inlakesh titled: “22 Months of Complicity: Why The Media Suddenly Changed Its Mind On Gaza.” (July 27, 2025)
• Haaretz published an article by Hagai Amit titled: “ ‘I Did It for the Money, Then for Revenge’: The Israelis Profiting From Razing Buildings in Gaza”. (July 28, 2025)
• Zeteo published an article by Diana Buttu titled: “Israeli Human Rights Group Says Israel Is Committing Genocide. Why Did It Take 22 Months?”. (July 28, 2025)
• The New York Times published an op-ed by Sari Bashi titled: “What We Talk About When We Talk About The Right of Return”.(July 28, 2025)
• New Jewish Narrative published an article by Dina Kraft titled: “The world is horrified by the hunger in Gaza. Now, more Israelis are speaking out”. (July 28, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Jeff Wright titled: “The global Church has failed its duty to challenge the Gaza genocide.” (July 28, 2025)
• CounterPunch published an article by Ramzy Baroud titled: “Beyond Gaza’s Shadow: The Unseen War for the West Bank’s Future.” (July, 29 2025)
• PassBlue published an article by Subhangana Das titled: “Israel May End a Financial Waiver, Pushing Palestinians Into ‘Economic Warfare’.” (July, 29 2025)
• +972 Magazine published an opinion piece by Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, and Oren Ziv titled: “The most peaceful person: Umm Al-Khair mourns activist slain by Israeli settler.” (July, 29 2025)
• The New York Times published an article by Efrat Livni titled: “Britain and France Have Pledged to recognise a Palestinian State. What Would It Mean?” (July 29, 2025)
• CounterPunch published an article by Lama Khouri titled: “Pull a Baby Out of Your Bag?” The Question That Exposes a Genocide. (July 30, 2025)
• The Guardian published an opinion piece by Owen Jones titled: “Israel has deliberately starved the people of Gaza. It couldn’t have done it without the west’s help.” (July 30, 2025)
• The Guardian published an opinion piece by Hussein Agha and Robert Malley titled: “France and Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state won’t stop Israel’s onslaught.” (July 30, 2025)
• PassBlue published an opinion piece by Mona Ali Khalil titled: “Francesca Albanese Is Immune From US Sanctions, UN Says.” (July 30, 2025)
• Responsible Statecraft published an analytical article by Paul Pillar titled: “This isn’t a ‘war’ — Israel is destroying a population .” (July 30, 2025)
• ABC published an opinion piece by Victor Kattan titled: “Recognition of a Palestinian state is long overdue — now the West is understanding the urgency .” (July 30, 2025)
• Just Security published an opinion piece by Tom Dannenbaum and Alex de Waal titled: “Time Has Run Out: Mass Starvation in Gaza and the Global Imperative .” (July 30, 2025)
• +972 magazine published an op-ed by Shatha Yaish titled: “Our genocide’: Israeli rights groups abandon their restraint on Gaza.”(July 31, 2025)
• Anadolu Agency published an opinion article by Mutaz Qafisheh and Mazen Zaro titled: “Recognition vs. annexation: Turning point for Palestine in international law.” (July 31, 2025)
• The Irish Times published an opinion piece by Morgan McMonagle titled: “An Irish surgeon in Gaza: I have seen tiny bodies ripped apart, children eating grass .” (July 31, 2025)
• The Guardian published an article by Emma Graham-Harrison titled: “The mathematics of starvation: how Israel caused a famine in Gaza .” (July 31, 2025)
• EJIL: Talk! published an article by Marko Milanovic titled: “No, Recognizing Palestine Would Not Be Contrary to International Law .” (July 31, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Philip Weiss titled: “Israel’s international isolation has begun.” (August 1 , 2025)
• The Conversation published an opinion piece titled: “Why UK recognition of a Palestinian state should not be conditional on Israel’s actions”(August 1, 2025)
• Peoples Dispatch published an article by Ubai Al-Aboudi and Vijay Prashad titled: “The global economic benefit from the genocide of Palestinians.” (August 1 , 2025)
• Middle East Monitor published an investigative report by David Hearst, Imran Mulla, and Simon Hooper titled: “How Karim Khan’s Israel war crimes probe was derailed by threats, leaks and sex claims.” (August 1, 2025)
• The Guardian published an opinion piece by Josep Borrell titled: “By failing to sanction Israel, EU leaders are complicit in its crimes. They must act now.” (August 1, 2025)

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• Political Anthropological Research on International Social Sciences (PARISS) published a research paper by  Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche, which included a discussion with three law professors, Julia Grignon, Olivier Corten and Anne Lagerwall, on aspects of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of July 19, 2024. (2025)
• University of Groningen Published a research paper by Hernández Gleider and others titled: “Expert Legal Opinion on the Implications for the European Union of the July 2024 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion regarding the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” (2025)
• The Military Law and the Law of War Review published a research paper by Djanaralieva Kheda titled: “Prolonged occupation and de facto annexation, two sides of the same coin? How the time factor influences the legality of the occupation in submissions made to the International Court of Justice in the context of the Policies and Practices of Israel advisory opinion .” (2025)
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Law Journal published a research paper by Ezema Patrick Ogechukwu titled: “Humanitarian Law and Protection of Victims of Armed Conflicts: Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine Wars in Perspective.” (2025)
• The International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation published a research paper by Ibrahim M. Alsemeiri and others titled “Law, Power, and Language: A Comparative Study of Western Responses to the ICC’s Netanyahu-Gallant Warrants.” (2025)
• SAGE Journals published a research paper by Omer Bartov titled “Israel’s War on Gaza and the Question of Genocide.” (2025)
• The Lancet Magazine published a research paper by James Smith and others tilted: “On the quantification of military violence in Gaza.” ( 2025)
• Algerian scientific Journal platform published a research paper by Benyza Youcef titled “The Global Reactions To The New Israeli War On Gaza: A Critical Analytical Perspective.” (2025)

Human rights conferences and events

• Members of academic bodies and university staff in the United Kingdom have addressed an open letter to the British government, calling for the facilitation of biometric data registration deferrals. This would allow for a safe pathway to evacuate over 40 Palestinian students from Gaza who have been awarded full scholarships at prestigious British universities, in time for the start of the upcoming academic year in September. (July 28, 2025)
• The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a formal criminal complaint with the UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit regarding the Israeli military assault on the British-flagged humanitarian vessel Handala in international waters on the night of July 26–27, calling for an immediate investigation into grave breaches of international law and war crimes. (July 28, 2025)
• Thirty-one Israeli journalists, filmmakers, and novelists signed a letter expressing shame, rage, and agony over the “starving the people of Gaza to death” and the contemplation of the “forced removal of millions of Palestinians from the Strip.” They called on the international community to impose severe sanctions on Israel until it halts its “brutal” military campaign and declares a permanent ceasefire. (July 29, 2025)
• The human rights group Uplift, in collaboration with The Ditch media organization and Irish-born Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ahmed El Mokhallalati, has lodged papers seeking permission to apply for judicial review. The case challenges the Irish government’s allowance of national airspace to be used for transporting weapons destined for Israel without exception or investigation. It also contests the issuance of dual-use export licenses, arguing that they violate export laws and contribute to the production of military equipment. (July 29, 2025)

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events

• The College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at the University of Exeter has announced the opening of applications for the Virtual Scholar Scheme, an initiative implemented by the university’s Palestine Higher Education Working Group. The program aims to provide researchers currently or formerly residing in Gaza with a virtual academic affiliation to one of the college’s departments, along with access to the university’s electronic resources and opportunities to participate in online academic events. (July 31, 2025