PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Issue. 327

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

5 – 11 April 2026

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

Translation: Firdous Abdelhameed and Mai Shaheen

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 condemned the attacks carried out by “colonist militias” in the occupied West Bank, including the towns of Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya and Qusra, south of Nablus. Furthermore, the Palestinian Presidency condemned the Israeli occupation authorities’ approval of the establishment of 34 new settlements in the West Bank. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the escalation of settler incursions into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, accompanied by the performance of songs and Talmudic prayers under heavy protection from occupation forces. This included assaults on Palestinian worshippers following the reopening of the mosque after a 40-day arbitrary and unilateral military closure. These actions constitute a flagrant violation of the existing historical and legal status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque and an infringement on freedom of worship for Muslims.(April 9, 2026)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces in the Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip, calling it a new crime within the framework of ongoing aggression, organized state terrorism, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people. The Ministry also condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ assault on worshippers and scout groups during Holy Saturday celebrations in occupied Jerusalem. (April 11, 2026)

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

• The former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel is committing killings, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity in the West Bank. He addressed a message to the Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the Israeli Police Commissioner Danny Levi, saying: “Save the country from that disaster. You will go to The Hague”.(April 5, 2026)
• The Israeli cabinet approved the construction of 34 new settlements in the West Bank, an unprecedented number approved at once and during ongoing military operations. Among the approved locations are areas within Palestinian enclaves in northern Samaria, as well as remote points that even the military rarely reaches. (April 9, 2026)

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

• The spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Olga Cherevko, warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East have diverted the international community’s focus from the Gaza Strip, stressing that the humanitarian situation there remains “extremely critical” despite the ceasefire agreement. (April 5, 2026)
• UNRWA’s Director of Communications, Jonathan Fowler, said that political and economic pressures have led to a 20% reduction in services provided to Palestinian refugees, amid a deepening financial crisis that threatens the agency’s ability to continue its operations. Fowler added: In the past, when international law was violated, there was at least some embarrassment or an attempt to show that the violation had not occurred. Today, however, we are faced with a reality where some openly say: they are not bound by it. (April 5, 2026)
• The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep sorrow over the killing of a contractor working with the Organization in Gaza during a security incident, noting that two WHO staff members were present at the site but were not injured. He confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway. Following the incident, the Organization decided to suspend medical evacuation operations for patients from Gaza via the Rafah crossing to Egypt until further notice. (April 6, 2026)
• The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, and Turkey, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir under the protection of occupation forces, as a grave violation of international law and international humanitarian law. The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the measures and violations targeting holy sites in the city of Jerusalem and called for action to halt these violations. (April 6–8, 2026)
• UNRWA warned of deteriorating living conditions in the Gaza Strip, with increasing difficulty in accessing fuel and cooking supplies and rising prices of essential goods. It called for urgent solutions to end this escalating humanitarian crisis. (April 7, 2026)
• The foreign ministries of Jordan and Turkey, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemned the Israeli government’s approval of the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, describing it as a blatant violation of international law. The Israeli government’s decision was also rejected by the European Union, which affirmed that it is illegal and severely undermines prospects for peace and a two-state solution. (April 9-10, 2026)
• The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that six months after the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, Palestinians across the territory remain unsafe, as Israeli attacks continue on a routine basis, adding that the ongoing pattern of killings reflects a continued disregard for Palestinian lives, enabled by widespread impunity. (April 10, 2026)
• The spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, stated that the escalation of regional tensions should not overshadow the Palestinian issue, expressing concern over the stagnation of de-escalation efforts and continued violations of the ceasefire, alongside the severe shortage of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, the worsening situation of the Palestinian Authority, and the ongoing expansion of settlements in the West Bank. She added that these developments risk further destabilizing the situation if left unaddressed. (April 10, 2026)

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• B’Tselem reported that the Israeli law on issuing death sentences against Palestinians institutionalizes practices that are already in place. The organization noted that more than 80 Palestinians have been killed inside detention centers since October 2023, amid documented violations, while thousands of others are being held in conditions amounting to torture facilities. (April 6, 2026)
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) warned of a rising number of severe burn cases in Gaza, particularly among children, who make up 85% of patients at its clinic in Gaza City. The organization stressed the urgent need for specialized therapeutic masks to prevent permanent disfigurement. It also stated that it is the sole provider of these masks but is facing a critical shortage of supplies after Israeli authorities revoked its operating permit in December 2025, along with those of other organizations. (April 6, 2026)
• The Palestine Red Crescent Society warned that the continued closure of crossings with the Gaza Strip is not a temporary measure, but rather constitutes a complete suffocation of life, amid the prevention of humanitarian aid and essential supplies from entering. The organization stressed the urgent need to open all crossings and resume the unrestricted flow of humanitarian assistance to ensure the continuation of life-saving services. (April 7, 2026)
• Defense for Children International – Palestine announced the suspension of its operations after 35 years of work, stating that it is no longer able to overcome the operational challenges resulting from Israeli targeting and criminalization of Palestinian human rights organizations. The organization called on others to continue working to defend the future of Palestinian children. (April 7, 2026)
• Urgence Palestine, in cooperation with People’s Embargo for Palestine, published a report revealing contradiction in the French position on banning the export of weapons to Israel, stating that France exported 525 shipments of military equipment to Israeli weapons manufacturing companies over the past two and a half years, despite official statements denying this. (April 7, 2026)
• The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the assassination of journalist Mohammed Samir Washah, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, who was killed after a civilian vehicle was targeted in Gaza City, describing it as an extrajudicial execution of journalism and truth. It stated that the Israeli occupation forces committed 53 violations against journalists during March. (April 8, 2026)
• The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Oxfam, Refugees International, and Save the Children have published a report titled “Humanitarian Scorecard.” The report asserts that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, six months after its implementation, has failed to achieve its core objectives. It highlights that provisions regarding the protection of civilians, ensuring aid delivery, restoring essential services, and freedom of movement have only been partially implemented or not implemented at all. (April 10, 2026)

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• The Wiley Online Library published a research paper by researcher Oqab Jabali and Saqer Jabali, titled: “‘I Thought I Would Die’: Testimony from Palestinian Women Jailed by Israel”.(2026)
• The Journal of Genocide Research published a research paper by Martin Shaw titled: “The Genocide That Changed the World”. (2026)

Opinion Pieces and features:

• Avigail Abarbanel published an article titled: “Zionism Was Always Genocidal: On What Even Anti-Zionists Miss”. (April 9, 2026)

Legal Achievements/Impacts for Palestine:

• Belgian authorities announced that they had intercepted a military shipment at Liège Airport at the end of March that was bound for Israel, following an alert from a non-governmental organization specializing in monitoring the flow of military equipment to conflict zones. The inspection revealed 33 boxes containing sensitive military equipment, including laser devices, binoculars, fire-control systems, and spare parts for fighter aircraft – materials that require special licenses for transit. (April 10, 2026)

Human rights conferences and events:

• A number of former British ambassadors and high commissioners called, in a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for the United Kingdom to lead international efforts to halt the annexation of the West Bank. They noted that European criticism has not deterred Israel. (April 7, 2026)

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events:

• The Institute for the Understanding of Anti-Palestinian Racism (IUAPR) announced the opening of applications for a new research fellowship aimed at researchers and academics interested in conducting innovative research on anti-Palestinian racism. The application period will remain open until April 30, 2026. Applications are to be submitted by sending a CV and a personal statement via email to research@iuapr.org.