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Netherlands to ban Israeli settler products from Sept. 22

Bethlehem / PNN/The Netherlands government announced Tuesday that it would ban imports from Palestinian territories occupied by Israeli settlers from September 22.The Netherlands will join Ireland, Belgium and Spain among European Union countries that have imposed restrictions on trade with territories occupied by Israeli settlers.There have been growing calls for the 27-nation bloc to impose EU-wide restrictions over Israel’s military action in Gaza and increased violence in the occupied territories, but some EU members are reluctant.Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is considered illegal under international law. And the Dutch foreign ministry said: “With the proposed measures, the Netherlands is reinforcing its commitment to fulfilling its international legal obligation not to contribute to this unlawful situation.”The ban will apply to “the import, purchase, and sale of goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements located in the Palestinian territories,” the ministry said.Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 settlers now live in the territories alongside some three million Palestinians. Violence in the West Bank has increased since the eruption of the Gaza war after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.The Global Echo non-government group, which pursues legal cases for Palestinians against the occupation, said in a report released in June that the Netherlands accounted for a third of agricultural exports from Israel’s settlements and nearly half of the total sent to the European Union.

9 hours ago

Israeli Raids, Settler Attacks Escalate Across Occupied West Bank

BETHLEHEM, Occupied West Bank /PNN / Israeli forces carried out a sweeping wave of military raids across the occupied West Bank overnight and into Tuesday morning, storming cities, towns and refugee camps, detaining Palestinians, searching homes and clashing with residents, while attacks by Israeli settlers intensified in several areas, according to local sources.The military operations, which lasted for hours, included house raids, arrests, field interrogations, alleged assaults on residents, and the firing of live ammunition, tear gas and stun grenades, leaving a number of Palestinians injured during confrontations.Bethlehem Governorate witnessed some of the largest military operations, with Israeli forces conducting successive incursions from the early hours of the morning across multiple locations, including Solomon's Pools, Artas, Al-Khader, Dheisheh and Aida refugee camps, the town of Doha, Hindaza, Khalayel al-Louz, Tuqu', and Za'atara east of Bethlehem.Israeli soldiers also deployed foot patrols in several neighborhoods of Bethlehem while raiding homes in Hindaza and the Aida and Dheisheh refugee camps. According to local sources, several young Palestinians were arrested, while others were detained, assaulted and subjected to field interrogations. Homes were also searched and household belongings damaged during the raids.Videos circulated by local residents showed Israeli troops moving repeatedly through several Bethlehem neighborhoods during the night and throughout the previous day, reflecting what local observers described as an intensification of Israeli military activity in the occupied West Bank ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections.The military raids coincided with a series of attacks by Israeli settlers around Bethlehem. Residents in the Rashayda area reported that settlers repeatedly entered the community over the past 24 hours, followed by incursions by Israeli forces, who carried out field interrogations and allegedly assaulted residents.Local sources told PNN that Israeli forces arrested Saed Eid from Dheisheh refugee camp, detained and questioned Alaa Shalash from the town of Doha after assaulting him, and raided the home of Ahmad Hajajreh in Aida refugee camp.Israeli troops also raided the town of Doha, searching several homes, including properties belonging to the Abu Aker family, according to local sources.Israeli Occupation Forces Demolish Three-Story Residential Building South of Bethlehem After Overnight Evacuation OrderAlso on Wednesday morning Israeli forces demolished a three-story residential building in the town of Za'atara, south of Bethlehem, just hours after delivering an evacuation order to its owners, who said they were given no meaningful time to challenge the decision or complete legal proceedings.The building, measuring approximately 110 square meters per floor, housed seven family members and included two residential apartments and storage units.Raed Abu Riya, the homeowner, told PNN that Israeli forces arrived Tuesday evening and handed the family an evacuation notice ordering them to leave the property immediately.They returned at around 6 a.m. with bulldozers and began demolishing the building, Abu Riya said, adding that the demolition was completed by approximately 7 a.m.Abu Riya said part of the building had been constructed before the 1990s, while additional sections were completed in 2000.He said the family had already filed a legal objection challenging the demolition order, but Israeli authorities proceeded with the demolition before the legal process had been completed.According to Abu Riya, the family had not received a prior demolition order, and the evacuation notice was delivered only on the night before the demolition, leaving them with little time to respond or seek further legal remedies.Israeli occupation forces raided this morning the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem, on Wednesday morning and began demolishing the home of Palestinian resident Mahmoud Husni Shakarna, according to local sources.The sources said Israeli troops entered the town and deployed in the area known as Sbeiheh before carrying out the demolition.The demolition came after an Israeli court rejected a petition seeking to halt demolition orders against 14 Palestinian homes in Nahalin, clearing the way for the structures to be razed, the sources added.Violence Spreads Across the West BankThe escalation in Bethlehem was mirrored across other parts of the occupied West Bank, where Israeli military operations and settler attacks were reported in the governorates of Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Qalqilya, Salfit, Tulkarm and Jerusalem.In the Ramallah area, local sources said Israeli settlers opened heavy live fire before dawn while attacking homes on the outskirts of Turmus Ayya, north of the city.Videos circulating on social media showed fires engulfing Palestinian property as residents shouted while attempting to confront settlers alongside Israeli forces.Israeli military vehicles also entered the town of Abwein, north of Ramallah, according to local reports.Settler Violence and Military Operations ContinueIn Nablus Governorate, clashes erupted after residents confronted settlers who attacked the village of Jalud, southeast of the city.Local media also reported that Palestinian youths forced a vehicle carrying Israeli settlers to retreat after it attempted to enter the village of Burin, south of Nablus.Mosques in the town of Beita sounded loudspeaker warnings calling residents to confront a settler attack targeting the Qamas area on the outskirts of the town.Israeli forces later entered Beita, while settlers reportedly attacked a Palestinian home near the Murabba checkpoint south of Nablus.On Monday afternoon, Israeli bulldozers also leveled Palestinian-owned land in the northern area of Qasra village, south of Nablus.In Salfit Governorate, settlers set fire to agricultural property belonging to a Palestinian farmer in the town of Al-Zawiya, west of the city, local sources said.In occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian man and his wife after raiding their home in the Aqabat neighborhood of Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem, according to local sources. Israeli troops also entered the town of Bir Nabala, northwest of Jerusalem.In Jenin, Israeli forces fired stun grenades and established a military checkpoint at Cinema Roundabout near the entrance to the city.Meanwhile, in Tulkarm, Israeli forces arrested former prisoner Islam Osama Al-Sa'i during a raid on his home in the suburb of Irtah, south of the city, according to local sources.

12 hours ago

Study: Israeli Settlement Expansion Targets More Than 22,000 Dunums and Nearly 20,000 New Housing Units in 2026

RAMALLAH, Occupied Palestine / PNN / Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank accelerated at an unprecedented pace during the first half of 2026, with Israeli authorities advancing 162 settlement plans targeting more than 22,650 dunums (22.65 square kilometers) of Palestinian land and approving the construction of 19,790 new settlement housing units, according to a new study released by the Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem (ARIJ).The study found that the number of settlement plans proposed or approved by Israeli authorities during the first six months of 2026 exceeded the total recorded throughout all of 2025, underscoring what ARIJ described as a dramatic escalation in Israel's efforts to expand settlements and reshape the geography of the occupied Palestinian territory.According to the report, the plans cover 22,650 dunums of Palestinian land and include nearly 20,000 new housing units, alongside industrial zones, agricultural areas, public facilities, bypass roads and other infrastructure projects designed to strengthen Israeli control over occupied territory.ARIJ said settlement construction has become one of Israel's primary tools for consolidating control over Palestinian land, extending beyond residential expansion to include the confiscation of land under various legal and administrative classifications, including state land, expanded municipal boundaries, nature reserves, security purposes and archaeological sites.The institute noted that these measures fragment Palestinian communities, isolate towns and villages from one another, and integrate settlements and unauthorized outposts into an expanding network of roads and infrastructure, fundamentally altering the demographic and geographic landscape of the occupied West Bank.The report highlighted that much of the expansion is concentrated in strategically important areas, particularly occupied East Jerusalem and its surroundings, as well as the major settlement blocs of Ma'ale Adumim, Givat Ze'ev and Gush Etzion, in addition to Area C under the Oslo II Interim Agreement. ARIJ warned that this expansion further limits Palestinian urban growth, undermines sustainable development and diminishes prospects for a geographically contiguous and viable Palestinian state.The study emphasized that Israel's settlement policy violates international law, including Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring parts of its civilian population into occupied territory. It also cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016), which reaffirmed that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.Jerusalem Leads Settlement ExpansionAccording to the study, Jerusalem Governorate recorded the largest number of settlement plans during the reporting period, with 60 plans, followed by Bethlehem with 25, Salfit with 23, Ramallah with 14, Qalqilya with 12, and Nablus with 11.ARIJ said the concentration of settlement activity in these governorates reflects Israel's strategic focus on expanding major settlement blocs and strengthening territorial continuity between settlements.More Than 22,000 Dunums TargetedThe report found that Qalqilya Governorate experienced the largest amount of land targeted by settlement plans, with 3,903 dunums, primarily around the settlements of Kedumim and Karnei Shomron.It was followed by Salfit with 3,830 dunums, largely surrounding Ariel and Kfar Tapuah, while Jericho ranked third with 3,475 dunums, mainly in the settlements of Mevo'ot Yericho, Massu'a, and Argaman.Settlement plans also targeted 2,563 dunums in Jerusalem Governorate, 1,793 dunums in Hebron, 1,657 dunums in Tubas, 1,634 dunums in Ramallah, and 1,301 dunums in Bethlehem.ARIJ said the distribution demonstrates Israel's continued emphasis on areas containing strategic land reserves, natural resources and major settlement blocs, further consolidating Israeli control while weakening territorial connectivity between Palestinian communities.Nearly 20,000 New Settlement Housing UnitsThe study also documented the geographic distribution of the planned housing units.Jerusalem topped the list with 4,449 new settlement units, followed closely by Bethlehem with 4,386 units. Salfit ranked third with 2,248 units, followed by Qalqilya (1,811), Ramallah (1,669), Nablus (1,606), and Hebron (1,589).ARIJ said the figures illustrate the unprecedented scale of settlement construction currently underway across the occupied West Bank.Restrictions on Palestinian Development ContinueThe institute noted that while Israel continues approving thousands of new settlement housing units and investing heavily in settlement infrastructure—including roads, industrial zones, electricity and water networks—it simultaneously imposes strict restrictions on Palestinian construction, particularly in Area C.According to the report, Israeli authorities continue to deny most Palestinian building permits while carrying out demolitions of homes and structures built without permits, severely limiting Palestinian urban expansion and deepening the fragmentation of Palestinian territory.A Growing Challenge to a Two-State SolutionARIJ concluded that the accelerated pace of settlement expansion is fundamentally reshaping the geography of the occupied West Bank in favor of Israeli settlements and outposts while further reducing the land available for Palestinian development.The institute warned that the ongoing expansion undermines the prospects for a contiguous, sovereign Palestinian state and poses an increasingly significant obstacle to a negotiated two-state solution in accordance with international law.

1 day ago

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Khouri Warns Churches That Israeli Settlement Expansion Threatens the Survival of Indigenous Palestinian Christians

RAMALLAH, Occupied Palestine / PNN /Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, warned Monday that Israel's accelerating settlement expansion across the occupied Palestinian territory poses a direct threat to the survival of the indigenous Palestinian Christian presence, calling on churches worldwide to take urgent action to defend international law and protect Christian communities in the Holy Land.In a message addressed to heads of churches around the world, Khouri said settlement expansion and land confiscation have moved beyond seizing Palestinian territory to undermining Palestinians' ability to remain in their homeland, warning that the policies are forcing increasing numbers of Palestinian families, including Christians, to emigrate as land is confiscated and opportunities for future generations diminish.The continuation of these policies is a direct threat to an indigenous Palestinian Christian presence that has sustained its witness in this land for two thousand years, Khouri said. It is also a loss to the global Christian heritage, in the very land where our Lord Jesus Christ was born.Khouri highlighted a recently declassified decision by Israel's Security Cabinet approving the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, including six in Bethlehem governorate, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. He said the plan allocates more than 2.3 billion shekels (approximately 790 million) to accelerate settlement construction, relocate settlers and expand infrastructure.According to Khouri, the decision represents more than the construction of additional settlements. He described it as part of a comprehensive strategy to alter the geography and demographics of the occupied Palestinian territory by expanding settlement blocs, constructing segregated roads, extending water and electricity networks and integrating settlements into Israel's infrastructure, thereby reinforcing what he described as the de facto annexation of occupied Palestinian land.He said Bethlehem governorate is among the areas most heavily targeted by the expansion plans, warning that the proposed enlargement of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc would further isolate Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour from surrounding Palestinian communities while restricting their natural urban growth and leading to the confiscation of additional agricultural land, including property owned by Palestinian Christian families.Khouri argued that settlement expansion has evolved into a broader project aimed at reshaping the occupied territory through interconnected transportation, utility and public service networks linking settlements with one another and with Israel, in violation of international law.Referring to the International Court of Justice's 2024 advisory opinion, Khouri noted that the court concluded Israel's continued occupation and settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, are unlawful. He said the opinion reaffirmed that an occupying power may not alter the demographic or geographic character of occupied territory or transfer its civilian population into occupied land, as prohibited under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.Khouri urged churches worldwide to maintain what he described as their historic role in defending justice and peace by taking a clear stand against settlement expansion, annexation and attempts to impose irreversible realities on the ground. He also called on church leaders to encourage governments and the international community to fulfill their legal and moral obligations by taking effective measures to halt settlement activity and support the resilience of Palestinian communities.He said protecting the Christian presence in the Holy Land cannot be separated from protecting the rights of the Palestinian people as a whole, describing Palestinian Christians as an indigenous community that forms an inseparable part of Palestine's history, identity and social fabric.Khouri concluded by expressing confidence that churches around the world would continue to uphold their spiritual and moral responsibilities by defending international law, promoting justice and contributing to efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace while preserving the Holy Land's unique religious and human heritage.

1 day ago

Palestinian Prisoners Report Growing Use of Rubber Bullets Inside Israeli Prisons as Injuries Mount

RAMALLAH, Occupied Palestine / PNN/ The Israeli Prison Service has increasingly used rubber-coated bullets against Palestinian political prisoners in recent months, marking what the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) described Monday as a dangerous escalation in the treatment of detainees inside Israeli prisons.In a statement, the PPS said the firing of rubber-coated bullets has become a systematic punitive measure carried out during repeated prison raids and assaults. The organization said it has documented dozens of cases in which prisoners were shot, while warning that the true number is likely much higher because Israeli authorities continue to impose severe restrictions on prison visits and isolate detainees, limiting independent documentation of abuses.According to the PPS, many of the wounded prisoners sustained severe bleeding in their limbs and other sensitive parts of the body. Several required surgery, while one prisoner was reportedly told by doctors that the seriousness of his injury could lead to the amputation of a limb. The organization said most of the injured continue to require specialized medical treatment but are being deliberately denied adequate care, describing the policy as part of a broader pattern of slow killing inside Israeli prisons.Palestinian Prisoner’s Society says dozens of detainees have suffered serious wounds amid what it describes as an escalating system of torture and medical neglect.The organization said prison authorities have also expanded the range of force used against detainees, introducing new weapons and methods during raids. It argued that Palestinian prisoners have effectively become a testing ground for increasingly harsh measures, particularly since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, adding that some of these practices have been publicly highlighted by Israeli media as evidence of tougher prison policies.The PPS said violence inside Israeli prisons has reached unprecedented levels, with detention facilities becoming part of what it described as an integrated system of torture. According to the organization, prisoners are subjected to physical and psychological abuse, humiliation, prolonged starvation, medical neglect, solitary confinement and repeated violent assaults designed to break them physically and mentally.Beyond the physical injuries, the organization warned that the repeated use of force has left many prisoners suffering from lasting psychological trauma. It said detainees continue to endure violent raids and intimidation in an environment marked by continuous abuse and the absence of minimum legal and humanitarian safeguards.The PPS renewed its call for urgent international intervention, urging the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international human rights mechanisms to take immediate action to protect Palestinian prisoners and investigate the reported abuses.The organization said those responsible should be held accountable under international humanitarian law, arguing that the reported practices violate the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture and warrant investigation as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

1 day ago

7amleh Examines TikTok's Crime Algorithms

Bethlehem / PNN/The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media has launched a new study titled Algorithms of Violence: Analysis of Behaviors, Representations, and Implications of Organized Crime on TikTok among Palestinian Society in Israel. The study examines the relationship between the prevalence of organized crime and the increasing presence of criminal actors on TikTok, and explores the implications of this phenomenon for young people and Palestinian society in Israel.The study concludes that, beyond serving as a platform for entertainment and content sharing, TikTok has, in many cases, become a space exploited by organized crime networks to reproduce violence, construct criminal identities, display power and influence, and communicate with audiences. These practices contribute to the normalization of criminal behavior and strengthen its presence within the digital space.The research employed a mixed-methodology approach combining interviews with criminologists and digital media specialists, a focus group with professionals working with youth, and an AI-powered model developed by 7amleh to analyze videos, images, and text, and detect violence-related content across digital platforms. The model was applied to a sample of crime-related content published on TikTok.The findings reveal that criminal organizations use TikTok for purposes that extend beyond sharing violent footage. These include promoting criminal identity, showcasing weapons, money, and luxury vehicles, issuing threats and intimidation, promoting illegal activities, and recruiting new members while expanding their influence within society. The study further finds that TikTok's algorithms, which prioritize highly engaging and attention-grabbing content, contribute to amplifying the spread of such content, particularly among young users.The study warns that repeated exposure to this content may normalize violence, reduce sensitivity toward crime, reinforce the image of offenders as symbols of power, and increase the likelihood that some young people will imitate or engage in similar behaviors. At the same time, it emphasizes that this phenomenon cannot be understood in isolation from broader structural factors, including marginalization, exclusion, weakened protection systems, and Israel's discriminatory policies toward Palestinian society in Israel.Commenting on the findings, Ahmad Qadi, Monitoring and Documentation Manager at 7amleh, said: “This study demonstrates that social media platforms are no longer merely spaces for sharing content; they have become part of the digital environment that may contribute to amplifying and reproducing violence when content moderation policies and algorithmic systems fail to limit its spread. Technology companies therefore have a responsibility that extends beyond removing violating content. They must also develop more effective mechanisms to limit the spread of criminal content and better protect users, particularly young people.”The study calls on TikTok to develop more effective mechanisms for detecting and removing criminal content, increase transparency around its moderation policies, and reduce algorithmic recommendations of violent and criminal content. It also recommends a comprehensive response involving educational institutions, civil society organizations, the media, families, and decision-makers to address both the structural roots of the phenomenon and its digital dimensions.7amleh emphasizes that addressing the exploitation of digital platforms by organized crime networks requires cooperation between technology companies and community institutions, alongside investment in digital awareness programmes, media literacy, and safe and positive digital alternatives for young people, contributing to a safer digital space for Palestinian society in Israel.The full study is available here.

1 day ago

Israeli strike on funeral kills 7 and wounds 22 in Gaza

Gaza / PNN /The Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp confirmed the number of casualties, saying people were struck at the funeral for a Palestinian killed in a strike earlier on Friday.Israel and the Hamas resistance group agreed to a ceasefire deal in October aimed at halting a two-year-long genocidal Israeli war on the Palestinian territory.However, Israel has killed at least 1,123 people since the ceasefire took effect.Israel's ongoing attacks, refusal to withdraw from agreed areas, and continued restrictions have undermined progress toward the agreement's second phase, which was intended to transfer control from Hamas to a technocratic government and begin reconstruction of the war-ravaged territory.Israel has also repeatedly violated the ceasefire by expanding its occupation and maintaining its blockade of Gaza.

4 days ago•
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Global Campaign Launched to End Sexual Violence Against Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Prisons

Ramallah, Occupied West Bank / PNN /Palestinian prisoners' organizations announced Tuesday the launch of an international campaign aimed at ending sexual violence against Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli prisons, saying such abuses constitute a systematic policy that requires urgent international accountability to end impunity.The campaign was launched during a news conference at Al-Bireh Municipality Hall in the central occupied West Bank, attended by representatives of Palestinian prisoners' organizations, human rights groups and several former prisoners who said they had been subjected to sexual violence, including rape, while in Israeli detention.The organizations said the campaign comes amid what they described as an unprecedented escalation in abuses against Palestinian prisoners since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, alleging that Israeli prisons have become sites of systematic torture, starvation, humiliation and physical, psychological and sexual abuse. They said the allegations are supported by hundreds of testimonies and affidavits collected by Palestinian institutions.According to the organizers, the campaign seeks to break the silence surrounding sexual violence against prisoners by encouraging survivors to speak publicly, providing them with safe platforms to share their experiences and using those testimonies to support legal and human rights efforts aimed at holding those responsible accountable before international judicial mechanisms.The organizations stressed that sexual violence should not be viewed as isolated incidents committed by individual prison personnel, but rather as part of a broader system of abuse carried out by Israeli authorities against Palestinian detainees. They argued that the continued absence of international accountability has encouraged the persistence and escalation of such violations.The campaign will focus on presenting victims' testimonies before international legal and human rights bodies while supporting efforts to pursue accountability through international courts and institutions. Organizers said they also aim to challenge what they described as the political and judicial protection provided by Israeli authorities to those accused of committing such abuses.During the conference, Helmi Al-Araj, director of the Center for the Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights (Hurriyat Center), said sexual crimes against Palestinian prisoners continue in the absence of accountability and justice, arguing that such abuses cannot be separated from the wider pattern of violations committed against Palestinian detainees.Al-Araj said the current phase requires amplifying the voices of survivors and pursuing legal action against Israeli authorities, alleging that Israel not only commits these crimes but also shields those responsible through political and legal protection. He described the testimonies presented by former prisoners as part of a broader legal effort to document abuses, seek justice for victims and expose conditions inside Israeli prisons.Raed Abu Al-Hummos, head of the Palestinian Commission of Detainees' and Ex-Detainees' Affairs, said the treatment of Palestinian prisoners reflects what he described as the wider assault on the Palestinian people, adding that conditions inside Israeli prisons have deteriorated significantly since the start of the war in Gaza through increased use of torture, starvation and deprivation of basic rights.Abu Al-Hummos said Palestinian institutions have managed to document a substantial body of evidence despite the difficult circumstances, describing the collected testimonies as an important foundation for future legal accountability efforts. He praised former prisoners who chose to publicly recount their experiences despite the psychological and social consequences of doing so.Amin Shoman, head of the Higher National Commission for Follow-up of Prisoners' Affairs, said the campaign was launched in response to what he described as an unprecedented increase in cases of rape and sexual harassment against Palestinian prisoners.He said many victims remain unwilling to speak publicly because of the trauma they experienced and fears of social stigma, adding that one of the campaign's primary goals is to support survivors while bringing their cases before the international community. Shoman said Palestinian organizations intend to continue documenting abuses and raising international awareness in an effort to increase pressure for accountability.Abdullah Al-Zighari, president of the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS), said the organization, together with the Commission of Detainees' Affairs and other human rights institutions, has collected hundreds of testimonies and documents over the past three years concerning alleged abuses inside Israeli prisons.Al-Zighari said torture, physical abuse, starvation, denial of medical care and sexual violence represent systematic practices rather than isolated incidents. He argued that decades of impunity have enabled such violations to continue and called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by taking concrete action to hold those responsible accountable.The conference also featured testimony from former prisoner Sami Al-Sa'i, who said he was speaking not only about his own experience but also on behalf of hundreds of former prisoners who continue to live with the psychological and social consequences of sexual violence.Al-Sa'i said many survivors remain silent because of trauma and social stigma, describing breaking that silence as an essential step toward restoring victims' dignity and pursuing justice.Former prisoner Yousef Amayreh, the campaign's general coordinator, also shared his testimony, saying the suffering experienced by prisoners subjected to sexual violence cannot be fully expressed in words. He said such abuses continue inside Israeli prisons and should not be regarded as isolated incidents but as part of a systematic pattern of abuse.Amayreh questioned what he described as double standards within the international community, asking whether similar crimes would have received a different response had the victims belonged to other nationalities. He called for urgent international intervention to halt the alleged violations and prosecute those responsible.Amayreh's wife also addressed the conference, saying sexual violence affects not only prisoners themselves but also their families, who endure long-term psychological and social consequences. She said spouses and children often bear the burden of the trauma in silence and emphasized the need for greater support for victims' families.Concluding the event, the participating organizations said the launch of the campaign marks the beginning of a long-term international effort to expose alleged sexual violence against Palestinian political prisoners, build a comprehensive legal case based on documented evidence and survivors' testimonies, and pursue accountability through international legal mechanisms.The organizations said the alleged sexual violence constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and called on the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, relevant U.N. mechanisms and states party to the Geneva Conventions to take urgent action to protect Palestinian prisoners, open independent investigations into the allegations and end what they described as the longstanding policy of impunity. They pledged to continue international advocacy efforts until justice and accountability are achieved for victims.

6 days ago

Israel Seizes Palestinian Tax Revenues, Clearance Crisis Hits Households and Deepens Economic Strain

Bethlehem /PNN/A new public opinion poll has found that the Palestinian clearance revenue crisis has expanded beyond public finances to become a widespread cost-of-living emergency, affecting household incomes, purchasing power and debt levels, while raising concerns over deeper economic fallout if the situation persists.According to the survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion between June 24 and July 5, 2026, on a sample of 503 adults across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 70.2 of respondents said their living conditions had been significantly or very significantly affected by delayed salaries linked to the crisis. Overall, about 90.7 reported being affected to varying degrees.The findings show that most households were already financially vulnerable, with 84.9 reporting monthly incomes below 4,000 shekels (about 1,100), limiting their ability to absorb economic shocks. As a result, 79.3 said they faced at least one of three key impacts: reduced income, rising debt, or difficulty meeting basic needs.The poll also found that 64.4 of households had significantly changed their spending patterns, with many cutting consumption and postponing essential expenses. Overall, 83.5 said they had been forced to reprioritize their spending. Meanwhile, 92.6 believed the crisis had weakened purchasing power, and 95.6 said it had contributed to rising poverty and unemployment.The crisis comes amid continued restrictions on the transfer of clearance revenues — Palestinian tax funds collected by Israel under the Paris Economic Protocol — which typically account for 60 to 70 of public revenues. Any delay or deduction directly affects the Palestinian Authority’s ability to pay salaries and maintain services.Nabil Kukali, head of the center, said the findings reflect how the crisis has “shifted from the public treasury to households and the market,” warning that its continuation could lead to a “prolonged economic and social contraction cycle.”The survey suggests the crisis is no longer a temporary liquidity problem but a structural vulnerability in the Palestinian economy, where a key revenue stream depends on external decisions, undermining financial stability and economic activity.The report warned that continued withholding of clearance revenues, combined with pressure on the banking sector and liquidity constraints, could deepen the economic slowdown, with declining consumption, production and employment further reducing public revenues and widening the fiscal deficit.

1 week ago

Palestinian Finance Minister to PNN: International Partners Back Reform Agenda

BRUSSELS / PNN / Palestinian Minister of Finance Dr. Istifan Salameh said the Palestinian government has received broad international support and praise for its reform agenda, adding that growing confidence among international partners is helping mobilize additional political and financial backing. He also said donor countries continue to press Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax revenues while securing additional funding for Gaza's health and humanitarian sectors.Speaking exclusively to a group of Palestinian journalists invited by the European Union, including PNN correspondent Fairoz Odeh, Salameh said both the Palestinian Authority and the government had received clear and exceptional recognition from international partners for the progress made in implementing key reforms.The level of support was evident across the board, Salameh said. It strengthens confidence in the Palestinian government and helps generate greater support for both the government and the Palestinian people.Salameh, who accompanied Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa during meetings with senior European officials and the signing of new financial assistance agreements for the Palestinian government, said the issue of Israel's withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues featured prominently in discussions throughout the Brussels conference.He said several international partners called for increased pressure on Israel to release the frozen funds, while noting that diplomatic efforts remain ongoing alongside initiatives led by international supporters of Palestine.The minister acknowledged that expectations for an immediate breakthrough remain limited under Israel's current government but expressed hope that continued diplomatic efforts would produce results.Any progress on this issue will require genuine political pressure from international partners on the Israeli government, he said.Salameh said education, healthcare and security remain the Palestinian government's top budget priorities, adding that international donors continue to focus primarily on strengthening the health sector.He said recent diplomatic efforts had secured new donor commitments while also ensuring the implementation of previously pledged assistance.Among the latest developments, Salameh announced that a long-awaited Spanish financial contribution had been transferred a day earlier to hospitals in the occupied West Bank. Discussions are continuing over an additional allocation that would also support healthcare services, he added.The minister said new financial commitments had also been secured for the health sector, along with more limited support for the Palestinian government's treasury. He noted that the largest share of recently announced funding had been designated to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.According to Salameh, approximately 1 billion has been committed for Gaza.These are actual financial commitments, not merely promises, he said, expressing hope that the funds would begin reaching beneficiaries in the near future to support humanitarian relief and early recovery efforts.Addressing the management of Gaza's recovery efforts, Salameh rejected suggestions of competing leadership roles, saying the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian government remained at the forefront of the international coordination process.He noted that the Brussels meeting was co-chaired by the Palestinian government and the European Union and included broad international participation, including representatives of the Peace Council.The current phase requires unified efforts and close cooperation to support the Palestinian people in Gaza, Salameh said. The government stands ready to work alongside all partners during the transitional period and is fully prepared to assume its responsibilities once that phase concludes.Turning to the pharmaceutical sector, Salameh described medicines as a central component of the government's healthcare priorities amid severe financial pressures and growing needs across Palestinian medical institutions.He said the government has held a series of meetings with pharmaceutical suppliers, including one on Thursday, alongside direct consultations aimed at ensuring uninterrupted deliveries of medicines and medical supplies to hospitals and healthcare centers.The government has committed to providing suppliers with regular monthly payments based on available financial resources, he said, helping ease financial pressures while maintaining stable supply chains.At the same time, Salameh said the government continues to mobilize international assistance specifically for pharmaceuticals as part of broader efforts to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian healthcare system and ensure uninterrupted medical services.He praised Palestinian pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers for continuing to provide medicines to the Ministry of Health despite the government's financial difficulties.Their commitment reflects the strong partnership between the public and private sectors in safeguarding the healthcare system and ensuring that medicines and treatment remain available to citizens, Salameh said.He added that the Palestinian government would continue working with international partners and the private sector to secure additional financing for healthcare, strengthen the sector's ability to respond to mounting challenges, and ensure the continued delivery of essential medical services across the occupied Palestinian territories.

1 week ago