Israeli forces detain three Palestinians as settlers seize tractor near Ramallah Israeli forces detained three Palestinians during a raid on the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, while Israeli settlers seized a tractor owned by the village council, the Wafa news agency reported, citing Palestinian security sources. The settlers seized the tractor, which was used for waste collection, under the protection of the Israeli army.
Video: How settler attacks and water diversion erased a Palestinian community Haitham Rashaidh was among the last to leave his home near Ein al-Auja, a natural spring and waterfall north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank. His family packed up their tents and heaped all their belongings onto a tractor, and then began the two-hour journey across difficult terrain towards al-Balqa, a sparsely populated area of the Jordan Valley, where they set up camp alongside their displaced neighbours. Leaving Ein al-Auja felt like losing a part of themselves, Rashaidh explained mournfully.
German court ruling on Israel-Nazi comparison is a step in the right direction Submitted by Marla Karnabach on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 20:53 Decision underscores the fact that political commitments - however deeply rooted - must not override fundamental rights A demonstrator holds a placard reading “From the Panke [River] to the Sea - never again war industry”, as others hold Palestinian flags, in Berlin, Germany, on 11 July 2026 (Tobias Schwarz/AFP) Off A German court this month decided that comparing Israel to Nazi Germany is protected legal speech, highlighting a growing conflict between constitutional protections and Berlin’s political commitment to Tel Aviv. The regional court acquitted a woman convicted in a lower court over social media posts comparing Israel ’s conduct in Gaza with the methods of the Nazi regime. In recent years, Germany’s support for Israel has increasingly shaped policing, administrative decisions and criminal prosecutions.
Ein al-Auja: How settler attacks and water diversion erased a Palestinian community Submitted by Majd Jawad on Fri, 06/12/2026 - 18:36 The spring that once sustained life here has run dry, as Bedouin families flee Israeli violence and resource theft " class="video-embed-field-lazy container-element"> Off Haitham Rashaidh was among the last to leave his home near Ein al-Auja, a natural spring and waterfall north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank. His family packed up their tents and heaped all their belongings onto a tractor, and then began the two-hour journey across difficult terrain towards al-Balqa, a sparsely populated area of the Jordan Valley, where they set up camp alongside their displaced neighbours. Leaving Ein al-Auja felt like losing a part of themselves, Rashaidh explained mournfully.
In Christian village of Taybeh, Israeli military order fails to stop settler violence Submitted by Fayha Shalash on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 10:08 Palestinian residents and rights activists describe near-daily raids on homes and olive groves, with some saying they've been blocked from their own land for years Priest Abouna Jack-Nobel Abed at Saint George Greek Melkite Catholic Church in the mostly Christian town of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, 22 December 2025 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off The residents of Taybeh, a village east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank , continue to face settler attacks despite an Israeli military order declaring the surrounding area a closed military zone. Local residents documented fresh settler attacks on several families east of Taybeh on Tuesday 11 August, including the Naif al-Kaabneh family, who have been subjected to violent assaults in recent days, despite the decision to close off the area under the pretext of protecting Palestinians . Taybeh is a predominantly Christian Palestinian village in the West Bank, and its residents rely on agriculture, olive groves and olive oil production, among other sources of income.
Exclusive: UK Charity Commission criticises synagogue for hosting Great Israeli Real Estate Event Submitted by Imran Mulla on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 10:47 The event in June held at the Edgware United Synagogue promoted properties in illegal Israeli settlements The Israeli settlement of Pisgat Zeev (foreground) in East Jerusalem and Israel's separation wall in the Palestinian town of Hzma (background) in the occupied West Bank on 7 August (AFP) Off The UK 's Charity Commission has criticised trustees of the Edgware United Synagogue in London for hosting a real estate event that promoted properties in illegal Israeli settlements in June, Middle East Eye can reveal. The charity regulator has also decided to review a recent decision to close a compliance case on the charity. The commission told MEE that "should any further concerns about the charity arise we will consider escalating our regulatory engagement".
Families of Egyptian political prisoners launch UK advocacy group Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 11:13 The Families of Egyptian Detainees Association will liaise with international bodies to fight for the release of prisoners of conscience, press release says A picture taken on 16 January 2022 shows the Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre in Badr city, 65 kms east of the Egyptian capital Cairo (AFP/Khaled Desouki) Off A new organisation was launched in London on Thursday to represent the families of political detainees held in Egypt , according to a press relese shared with Middle East Eye. The Families of Egyptian Detainees Association (Feda) said it will liaise with institutions and authorities both inside and outside Egypt, in the hope of helping secure the release of political detainees. It said it would “work with anyone who can contribute to closing this painful chapter and securing the release of political detainees from prison”.
Israel deploys troops to remove Israeli settlers trapping Palestinian families The Israeli army says it has dismantled "two illegal outposts" on the outskirts of the Qusra and Jalud areas in the occupied West Bank, which Israeli settlers were using to trap two Palestinian families inside their homes. It added that one Israeli was arrested, and that equipment had been confiscated.
Why the position of Palestinian health workers in Israel has grown increasingly precarious Submitted by Ghada Majadli on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 15:41 Controversy over the treatment of soldiers at Rambam Hospital has cast a spotlight on the increasing stigmatisation of Arab staff Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel, is pictured on 18 April 2024 (Jack Guez/AFP) On A recent controversy involving Palestinian medical staff at Haifa’s Rambam Hospital reveals several important things about the position of Palestinian citizens of Israel , particularly within the healthcare system. The staff members were publicly lambasted following allegations that they mistreated and neglected Israeli soldiers in their care, including by speaking only Arabic at the hospital. The subsequent public debate has gone beyond the specific details of this case, raising broader questions about linguistic rights.
Iran's Araghchi slams France for 'hypocrisy' over human rights Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi criticised France and other countries for what he described as "hypocrisy" when it comes to human rights and international law amid continued support for Israel. "Countries like France should stop lecturing the world about 'human rights' and international law. The hypocrisy is blatant and embarrassing," he said in a post on X.
Israel has 'policy of ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians in West Bank, advocate says Aseel Baidoun, the deputy director of advocacy and campaigns for Medical Aid for Palestinians, says that the Israeli government has a "systematic policy and a campaign of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians” in the occupied West Bank Aseel Baidoun, the deputy director of advocacy and campaigns for Medical Aid for Palestinians, says that the Israeli government has a "systematic policy and a campaign of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians” in the occupied West Bank. pic. twitter.
Palestinian students and staff sue Columbia University over discrimination A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff have sued Columbia University, accusing the Ivy League school of discriminating against Palestinians and targeting pro-Palestinian activism on campus. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court this week, alleges that Columbia subjected Palestinian students, faculty and staff to unequal treatment following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 and the ensuing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza perpetrated by Israel. According to the complaint , Columbia "actively participated in and amplified" what the plaintiffs describe as racially, ethnically and politically motivated targeting of Palestinians.
New oral history project eulogises slain Palestinian journalists via friends' voice notes Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 16:56 The website's launch comes on the first anniversary of Israel's killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif A protester holds a photo of slain Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, as part of the 'March for Humanity' for Gaza in New York City, on 16 August 2025 (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images via AFP) Off When Anas al-Sharif was killed in Gaza by an Israeli air strike one year ago, the Reuters news agency ran the headline, "Israel kills Al Jazeera journalist it says was Hamas leader". In 2024, at the height of Israel's genocide in Gaza, Anas had helped Reuters win a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography. But the outlet chose to remember the 28-year-old within the scope of Israel's unproven narrative about him - as many other news organisations have done to more than 200 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since 2023.
Palestinian students and staff sue Columbia University over discrimination Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 17:30 Lawsuit accuses the university of surveillance, biased disciplinary proceedings and failing to protect Palestinians A pro-Israel supporter (right) confronts people at a vigil and protest for Palestine outside of Columbia University in New York City, on 7 October 2025 (Adam Gray/Getty Images/AFP) Off A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff have sued Columbia University, accusing the Ivy League school of discriminating against Palestinians and targeting pro-Palestinian activism on campus. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court this week, alleges that Columbia subjected Palestinian students, faculty and staff to unequal treatment following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 and the ensuing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza perpetrated by Israel. According to the complaint , Columbia "actively participated in and amplified" what the plaintiffs describe as racially, ethnically and politically motivated targeting of Palestinians.
EU, 26 countries condemn Iran's executions of protesters The EU and 26 countries condemned Iran's executions of protesters in a joint statement, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday. The countries called on Iran to listen to its people, take meaningful steps towards ensuring respect for human rights, immediately end the use of the death penalty and release those detained.
Twenty-six countries condemn in 'strongest terms' Iran executions Twenty-six nations, including France, the UK and Canada, have condemned the use of capital punishment by Iranian authorities, saying in a joint statement the Islamic republic was executing protesters to "silence dissent". The countries, joined by the European Union's top diplomat, "condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and use of the death penalty" by Iran. "The use of capital punishment to silence dissent, intimidate communities, and punish individuals exercising their human rights can never be justified".
'This isn't the Britain I grew up in': The elderly activists raided by police over Palestine Action videos Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 13:00 Activists say police searched their entire homes, confiscating personal devices and items bearing the Palestinian flag, even rifling through personal diaries Police remove protesters from outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on 15 June 2026, as the High Court ruled on a legal standoff between the government and activist group Palestine Action (AFP) Off Marji Mansfield, a 70-year-old grandmother of seven, has been waiting for British counterterrorism police to show up at her door. The anxiety sharpens between five and seven in the morning, when police usually conduct dawn raids, particularly if she has her grandchildren stay overnight. “It’s been really, really quite scary not knowing when there's going to be the knock at the door,” Mansfield told Middle East Eye.
US rights groups sue Trump administration over ICC sanctions Four US-based rights groups sued the Trump administration on Tuesday for its sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a statement, the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute called the sanctions "blatantly illegal". They said they are being forced "to curtail a wide range of human rights and legal work in violation of...
US rights groups sue Trump administration over ICC sanctions Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 20:40 The president's targeting of the court has created legal risk for US-based human rights advocates A man takes a photograph of the exterior of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands on 28 March 2026 (John Thys/AFP) Off Four US-based rights groups sued the Trump administration on Tuesday for its sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a statement, the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Open Society Institute called the sanctions "blatantly illegal". They said they are being forced "to curtail a wide range of human rights and legal work in violation of...
Exclusive: ICC issued two secret arrest warrants for Taliban members for gender persecution Submitted by Sondos Asem on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 16:01 International Criminal Court issued warrants last year after secret applications prepared under Karim Khan Afghan women along with a girl walk along a street in Loy Viala village in Afghanistan's Kandahar on 21 June 2026 (Sanaullah Seiam/AFP) Off Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued two secret arrest warrants last year for senior members of the Taliban for the crime against humanity of persecution on gender and political grounds, Middle East Eye can reveal. According to sealed documents and sources briefed on the matter, the warrants were issued confidentially by a panel of three judges in September 2025. This was two months after the same panel publicly issued arrest warrants for the Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, Afghanistan’s chief justice, for the same crime.
