Türkiye has pledged its ongoing support for the Palestinian cause until an independent, sovereign, and territorially contiguous Palestinian state is established along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Palestinians express growing anger and despair over an increase in Israeli demolitions of homes in East Jerusalem, stating that these actions are destroying their future.
France has condemned recent attacks targeting Christians in Jerusalem and Israel, pledging to support their continued presence and advocating for a lasting peace in the region.
Israeli occupiers reportedly stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under police protection, with Palestinians claiming intensified efforts to Judaize East Jerusalem.
Israel intends to establish defense offices or a military compound on the site of the former UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem, which had been previously demolished. This plan has drawn criticism, including from Hamas.
Israel announced its intention to sue The New York Times for defamation over allegations of Palestinian prisoner rape, while also facing criticism and defense regarding public figures like Lamine Yamal displaying Palestinian flags. These events unfold as Israel marked its 59th Jerusalem Day with a flag march.
The article describes a situation where a rabbi is reportedly demolishing cities in Gaza, guided by the Torah rather than state laws. It also mentions a "silent but terrifying revolution" unfolding in East Jerusalem.
Israeli settlers are intensifying efforts to evict Palestinians in East Jerusalem, often using archaeological claims, and increasing attacks across the West Bank. These actions are occurring while global attention is diverted by the Iran war.
An Israeli man has been arrested in Jerusalem in connection with the assault of a French nun. The incident occurred in East Jerusalem, leading to the apprehension of the 36-year-old suspect.
Residents of East Jerusalem are expressing anguish and protest as their homes are being demolished to make way for the construction of a biblical park.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under heavy police protection, drawing condemnation from Palestinian officials.
Israeli police announced that a Palestinian was killed during a nighttime operation in East Jerusalem targeting 'suspects involved in terrorist activities'.
• Pakistan asks international community to reject provocative decision allowing takeover of occupied land as state property
• EU calls annexation illegal, Arab nations denounce ‘threat to peace efforts’
• Israel imposes restrictions, deploys police around Al-Aqsa
JERUSALEM / ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan denounced the latest Israeli move to convert areas of the West Bank into “state property”, the UN chief called upon Tel Aviv to reverse its new, “unlawful” policy allowing registration of the occupied land in the occupied territory as state property.
Israel’s foreign ministry claimed the measure, approved late on Sunday, would enable “transparent and thorough clarification of rights to resolve legal disputes” but the move drew strong condemnations from across the globe for its violation of international law.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this new measure was destabilising and unlawful, according to a statement by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Pakistan also denounced the step as a clear violation of international law as well as relevant United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. Islamabad urged the international community to reject the decision, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson. It added that the occupying power continued to disregard international law and its provocative actions undermined the prospects for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region.
“Pakistan calls on the international community to take concrete measures to end Israeli impunity, and ensure respect for international law,” the spokesperson added.
‘Undermine peace efforts’
Arab nations Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan also criticised the move as illegal. The measure is “aimed at imposing a new legal and administrative reality in the occupied West Bank” that would undermine peace efforts in the region, Saudi Arabia’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II said the actions “undermine efforts to restore calm and threaten to exacerbate the conflict,” according to a statement released by the royal court.
The European Union called on Israel to reverse the move. “This constitutes a new escalation after recent measures already aimed at extending Israeli control,” EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said. “We reiterate that annexation is illegal under international law.”
The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority called for international intervention to prevent the “de facto beginning of the annexation process and the undermining of the foundations of the Palestinian state”.
Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now called the measure a “mega land grab”. Jonathan Mizrachi, the NGO’s co-director, told AFP that the move would attribute new resources for land registration.
“There was a lot of ambiguity regarding the land, and Israel decided now to deal with it,” Mizrachi said, adding that the grey area over Area C land ownership was likely to be used against Palestinians.
“A lot of land that Palestinians consider theirs, they will find out it’s not theirs under this new registration process,” he said, believing the move would further the Israeli right’s annexation agenda.
Changing demography
Palestinians see the West Bank as foundational to any future Palestinian state, but many on Israel’s religious right want to take over the land.
The latest Israeli initiatives come in the wider context of increasing attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, according to rights groups.
“We are witnessing rapid steps to change permanently the demography of the occupied Palestinian territory, stripping its people of their lands and forcing them to leave,” UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a recent statement.
US President Donald Trump has opposed Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, saying stability in the territory helps keep Israel secure.
However, he has held off from directly criticising the new Israeli measures, despite the international outrage.
Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law.
Around three million Palestinians live in the territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
Al-Aqsa restrictions
Israeli police said Monday that they would deploy in force around the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramazan, as Palestinian officials accused Israel of imposing restrictions at the compound.
Over the course of the month of fasting and prayer, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians traditionally attend prayers at Islam’s third-holiest site. Arad Braverman, a senior Jerusalem police officer, said forces would be deployed “day and night” across the compound, adding that thousands of police would also be on duty for Friday prayers.
Braverman said police had recommended issuing 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, who require special permission to enter Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said it had been informed that permits would again be restricted to men over 55.
Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026
The Orthodox Church has complained about the seizure of church land in East Jerusalem and warned of a 'dangerous precedent' for church rights in the Holy Land, as Christians in the West Bank increasingly face violence.
Following Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, the 'status quo' arrangement was established for the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The article discusses the ongoing focus on building the Third Temple over the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israel and Iran have temporarily ceased counterstrikes following a plea from Donald Trump, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed Israel's right to self-defense and warned of continued conflict with Iran and Hezbollah. Netanyahu also confirmed a ceasefire but threatened a strong response to any new attacks, indicating that the war with Iran and Hezbollah is not over.
Five PFLP-linked residents of East Jerusalem were arrested in late 2025, suspected of being recruited by senior PFLP terrorist Salah Hamouri, according to Israeli authorities.
Human rights groups and UN experts claim that Israeli authorities have accelerated the issuance of demolition orders to Palestinians in East Jerusalem since the war with Iran began, in what activists describe as an attempt to expel an entire neighborhood.
Thousands of Israelis participated in a parade through Jerusalem's Old City, marking the capture of East Jerusalem, where they were heard chanting 'Death to Arabs.' The event also saw figures like Ben-Gvir raising a flag near Al-Aqsa.
Israelis participated in an annual parade through Jerusalem's Old City to mark the capture of East Jerusalem, with some participants reportedly engaging in racist chants.
A video circulating on social media shows a brutal attack on a nun in East Jerusalem, highlighting a growing trend of attacks against Christians in Israel, including spitting and vandalism, which has sparked public outrage.
Religious groups have reported an increase in harassment and violence against Christians in parts of Israel, particularly in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, home to several holy sites.
The IDF and Border Police conducted a counterterrorism operation in east Jerusalem, arresting six terror suspects and confiscating over 2,000 rounds of ammunition, weapons, and explosives.
Dozens of Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of police, as tensions continue to escalate and restrictions are tightened in East Jerusalem.
A rights group reports that Israel is forcibly displacing more Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, describing the actions as 'expanding ethnic cleansing' and 'throwing Palestinian families into the streets'.
US says its firepower will ‘surge dramatically’ and IDF warns of ‘surprises ahead’, as Iran launches retaliatory strikes
Middle East crisis – live updates
Israel and the US have bombarded Iran and…
JERUSALEM: Israel on Wednesday imposed restrictions on Palestinian worshippers from the occupied West Bank attending weekly Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem and capped the worshippers number at 10,000 during the holy month of Ramazan which began on Wednesday.
The Israeli authorities also imposed age restrictions on West Bank Palestinians, permitting entry only to men aged 55 and older, women aged 50 and older, and children up to age 12 to attend the Friday prayers.
“Ten thousand Palestinian worshippers will be permitted to enter the Temple Mount for Friday prayers throughout the month of Ramadan, subject to obtaining a dedicated daily permit in advance,” COGAT, the Israeli agency in charge of civilian matters in the Palestinian territories, said in a statement.
“Entry for men will be permitted from age 55, for women from age 50, and for children up to age 12 when accompanied by a first-degree relative.” COGAT said, adding that restrictions apply only to Palestinians travelling from the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Imam of Al Aqsa arrested by Israeli police; Hamas condemns arrest, restrictions on worshippers’ access to holy mosque
“It is emphasised that all permits are conditional upon prior security approval by the relevant security authorities,” COGAT said.
“In addition, residents travelling to prayers at the Temple Mount will be required to undergo digital documentation at the crossings upon their return to the areas of Judea and Samaria at the conclusion of the prayer day,” it said, using the Biblical term for the West Bank.
During Ramazan, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians traditionally attend prayers at Al Aqsa, Islam’s third holiest site, located in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967 and later annexed in a move that is not internationally recognised.
Since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, the attendance of worshippers has declined due to tough Israeli restrictions.
Israel arrests Al Aqsa Mosque Imam
Israeli police on Monday arrested the Imam of Al Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Mohammed al-Abbasi, from inside the mosque’s courtyards in occupied Jerusalem.
The Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing local sources, reported that Israeli forces detained Sheikh al-Abbasi inside the courtyards of Al Aqsa Mosque without giving any reason.
It said the arrest “comes amid escalating Israeli measures against the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque, including restrictions on imams, preachers and worshippers stationed there, limitations on the entry of worshippers, and intensifying incursions carried out by settlers under heavy protection from Israeli police”.
On Tuesday, Hamas condemned the arrest of al-Abbasi in a statement, saying he had been “served with an order banning him from the mosque”.
The movement said the measure “constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of Al Aqsa and an unacceptable assault on its imams”.
Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2026
An Israeli real estate event in north London reportedly advertised the sale of land in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This occurred despite previous denials from the event organizers.
A historical account marks the beginning of the Six-Day War in 1967, during which the IDF conquered significant territories including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and east Jerusalem.
Palestinians marked the Nakba, or 'catastrophe,' commemorating the 1948 displacement during Israel's creation, while Israelis simultaneously celebrated the 'reunification' of Jerusalem, highlighting the ongoing historical divide.
Qatar's representative at the UN, Sheikha Alya, stated that recognizing the Nakba is essential for resolving the Palestinian issue and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Tens of thousands of Israelis participated in the annual Jerusalem Day Flag March, a controversial event where some marchers were reported to have chanted anti-Arab slogans. The parade celebrated Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in 1967.
UNICEF reports that conditions for children in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are rapidly worsening, with at least one child killed weekly and schools and homes in ruins due to escalating military operations and settler attacks.
Christians in Israel and Jerusalem are experiencing increasing intolerance, with a recent assault on a French nun in East Jerusalem being cited as an example of this growing trend.
A French nun was violently attacked by an Israeli settler in the Old City of East Jerusalem on April 27, highlighting increasing violence by Jewish extremists in the area.
Israeli authorities have prohibited two prominent Palestinian imams from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for a period of seven days.
Israeli settlers reportedly entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, where they raised an Israeli flag and performed rituals in front of the Dome of the Rock, violating the established s
Israel has announced the reopening of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied East Jerusalem starting Thursday. The sites had been closed for weeks, coinciding with Eid.
Israeli settlers, accompanied by police, have taken over 13 Palestinian apartments in East Jerusalem, continuing a policy of displacement supported by court decisions.
The United Nations said in a report covering 12 months to October 31, 2025, that Israel had accelerated the annexation of large parts of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem
Drone video shows the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem empty on the third Friday of Ramadan, following Israeli restrictions on access to holy sites.
More than a dozen international humanitarian organisations have petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court to block an imminent order that would force 37 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to cease operations in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, warning of catastrophic consequences for civilians.
Organisations including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE were notified on December 30, 2025 that their Israeli registrations had expired and that they had ...
Israeli NGOs have raised the alarm over a settlement plan signed by the government which they say would mark the first expansion of Jerusalem’s borders into the occupied West Bank since 1967.
Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognised by the international community.
Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
The proposal was published in early this month as international outrage mounts over creeping measures aimed at...