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Palestinian Authority

The latest news and top stories on the Palestinian Authority. A prominent West Bank-based governmental body, the Palestinian Authority (PA) was established in 1994 through the Oslo Accords as an interim self-government. Its primary mission is to exercise partial civil control and internal security over designated Palestinian territories. Headquartered in Ramallah, its main areas of activity include civil administration, public services and building state institutions. The PA, which also seeks international recognition for Palestine, holds non-member observer state status at the United Nations, signifying its role in Palestinian self-governance despite facing significant challenges and limited sovereignty.

Palestinian Authority

Gaza: Israel kills Hamas leader as deaths mount despite ceasefire

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, born 1970, was killed in the attack by Israel. A joint funeral was held on Saturday for Haddad, his wife and their 19-year-old daughter.

‘No nation’: Palestinians in Gaza mark anniversary of 1948 mass expulsion

US court reinstates US$656 million judgment against PLO and Palestinian Authority

Israel suspends military unit that assaulted CNN crew in West Bank

It suspended the Netzah Yehuda, a unit of ultra-Orthodox soldiers that has been linked to abuses of Palestinian civilians in the past.

European countries appeal to Israel to abandon plans to revive death penalty

Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the UK expressed concern about the bill which opponents say would target only Palestinians.

Trump travel ban bars Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees from Oscars

Malhees stars in ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, which has been nominated for best international feature film.

US ambassador says Israel has right to much of Middle East, sparking uproar

Mike Huckabee’s comments were condemned by Arab and Muslim nations as ‘extremist rhetoric’.

Can Trump’s Board of Peace succeed while Hamas still runs Gaza?

Hamas’ continuing influence over key Gaza power structures has fuelled widespread scepticism about the prospects of Trump’s peace plan.

Israel launches new West Bank land policy seen as a ‘mega land grab’

West Bank land registration will force anyone who has a claim to land to prove ownership, a move decried by Palestinians.

World artists back Palestine rapporteur Francesca Albanese despite criticism

Albanese faces calls from France and Germany to step down over remarks in which she criticised ‘most of the world’ for enabling Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

Israel’s ‘de facto sovereignty’ of West Bank condemned as illegal annexation

Ministers admit new land rules aim to block a Palestinian state, a move the UN and Arab nations slam as a grave violation of international law.

Israel ban on Palestinian workers spurs ‘starvation and desperation’ in West Bank

Desperation grows as Israel refuses to reinstate work permits, leaving thousands of Palestinians without income and forcing families into deep debt.

Gaza’s Rafah crossing sees ‘limited’ reopening amid truce, but challenges remain

Restoring the Rafah-Egypt crossing is a vital milestone for the peace process, concluding the long closure enforced by the Israeli military.

Israel offers ‘limited’ Rafah reopening after nearly 2-year Gaza border shutdown

The reopening is part of phase two of the US ceasefire. Previously, it was Gaza’s main crossing for people and trade with Egypt.

US envoys to Israel blocked ‘apocalyptic’ Gaza warning in 2024: report

Leaked reports reveal US diplomats killed internal memos detailing dead bodies and famine in Gaza to avoid a ‘lack of balance’ in policy.

Israel to empty Gaza of Palestinians with ‘more out than in’ policy: sources

As the Rafah crossing reopens next week, sources say Israel aims for a net outflow of Palestinians by blocking returns, raising fears of forced exile.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian children, journalists in Gaza despite ceasefire

Eleven Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on Wednesday, threatening the peace deal as the US tries to push the agreement forward.

3-month-old dies of cold in Gaza tent as Trump talks peace at Davos

While Trump pitches his new Board of Peace in Davos, a 3-month-old becomes the 9th child to die of hypothermia in a Gaza tent this winter.

Israel’s demolition of UN compound in East Jerusalem raises legal concerns

Israel banned UNRWA in October 2024 over alleged Hamas ties. The agency says demolition of sites that stored Gaza aid violates international law.

Hamas says will dissolve its Gaza government when Palestinian body takes over

Militant group agrees to cede power to technocratic committee under Trump-brokered plan, but silence remains over disarmament.

‘Where is the ceasefire?’: Israeli gunfire kills 11-year-old in Gaza ‘safe zone’

Despite the agreement, Israel has killed 424 people since the ceasefire started nearly three months ago.

UN accuses Israel of subjecting Palestinians in West Bank to ‘apartheid’

For first time, UN rights chief labels situation in occupied Palestinian territories ‘apartheid’, a term previously used only by UN experts.

Israel to ban several aid groups from Gaza in 2026 over vetting rules

Israel says suspensions are meant to prevent Hamas from exploiting aid, but humanitarian groups say it will harm civilians.

‘Hell to pay’: Trump warns Hamas and Iran after talks with Netanyahu

Trump presses for Hamas disarmament in Gaza, warns Iran of further US action if it reconstitutes nuclear programme.

Israeli president denies Trump claim Netanyahu pardon is ‘on its way’

Trump renews his call on Israel’s president to grant ally Netanyahu, who is in the midst of a corruption trial, a pardon.

Trump and Netanyahu to discuss next phase of Gaza plan during US visit

Israel’s prime minister is making his fifth visit to see Trump in the United States this year.

Ex-Israeli PM calls for Netanyahu’s resignation over ‘Qatargate’ affair

Naftali Bennett accuses the premier’s office of ‘treason’, alleging aides acted as paid agents for Qatar during wartime.

Trump expands US travel ban and restrictions to include another 20 countries

The clampdown affects people seeking to travel to the US as visitors as well as those hoping to emigrate there.