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Israeli forces throw Palestinian out of vehicle after detention, beating
Middle East Eye·28 minutes agoHuman Rights
Israeli forces throw Palestinian out of vehicle after detention, beating Israeli forces threw a Palestinian man out of a military vehicle outside the West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir, after he was detained and beaten by soldiers, according to the Israeli rights group Looking the Occupation in the Eye. The organisation posted footage of a man lying on the ground covering his face, as soldiers close the back door of a military vehicle before driving away. “After being detained, interrogated and beaten – a Palestinian man was thrown off a military vehicle and the soldiers continued on their way,” Looking the Occupation in the Eye wrote on X.
‘Governments continue to fail’: Freedom Flotilla sails again, vowing to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade
Middle East Eye·13 hours agoHuman Rights
‘Governments continue to fail’: Freedom Flotilla sails again, vowing to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has announced a new international effort to break Israel 's blockade of Gaza, with ships sailing between European ports before a planned attempt to reach the besieged Palestinian territory in October. The FFC said its latest mission would go ahead despite the violence and torture meted out to flotilla volunteers on previous attempts, including severe beatings, repeated tasering and sexual assault. The coalition also accused Israel of blocking the entry of food, medicine and fuel into Gaza, saying the humanitarian situation required renewed international action.
‘Governments continue to fail’: Freedom Flotilla sails again, vowing to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade
Middle East Eye·14 hours agoHuman Rights
‘Governments continue to fail’: Freedom Flotilla sails again, vowing to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 09/05/2026 - 10:43 Freedom Flotilla Coalition says previous arrests, beatings and alleged mistreatment of activists have not deterred its campaign to reach Gaza by sea Demonstrators with Palestinian flags gather beside the Freedom Flotilla ship Handala before its departure for Gaza from Sicily, Italy, 13 July 2025 (Giovanni Isolino/AFP) Off The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has announced a new international effort to break Israel 's blockade of Gaza, with ships sailing between European ports before a planned attempt to reach the besieged Palestinian territory in October. The FFC said its latest mission would go ahead despite the violence and torture meted out to flotilla volunteers on previous attempts, including severe beatings, repeated tasering and sexual assault. The coalition also accused Israel of blocking the entry of food, medicine and fuel into Gaza, saying the humanitarian situation required renewed international action.
Israeli forces detain Palestinian farmers in the West Bank
Middle East Eye·14 hours agoHuman Rights
Israeli forces detain Palestinian farmers in the West Bank Israeli forces detained several Palestinian farmers in the Yarza community, east of Tubas, in the northeastern occupied West Bank, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Yarza Village Council Chairman Mukhlis Masaeed said Israeli forces and settlers continue to impose restrictions on residents of the community in an effort to pressure them into leaving their homes and land.
UN says Israeli settler violence in West Bank displaced 2,500 Palestinians in 2026
Middle East Eye·18 hours agoHuman Rights
UN says Israeli settler violence in West Bank displaced 2,500 Palestinians in 2026 Israeli settler violence has resulted in the displacement of more than 2,500 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA said in a statement that since 2023, more than 6,400 Palestinians in 130 communities across the West Bank have been displaced due to the settler violence and related access restrictions. Half of the 2,500 forced out this year alone are children, OCHA said.
'What do you call this but ethnic cleansing?' NYT columnist on West Bank demolition
Middle East Eye·20 hours agoHuman Rights
'What do you call this but ethnic cleansing? ' NYT columnist on West Bank demolition Pulitzer-winning New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof said Israeli settlers had blocked him during his visit this spring to a few Palestinian villages, one of which has been cleansed of its residents since. Kristof wrote on X: “I visited these Palestinian villages in the spring.
Tunisia police arrest journalist Mohamed Yousfi, critic of Kais Saied
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
Tunisia police arrest journalist Mohamed Yousfi, critic of Kais Saied Tunisian police have arrested prominent journalist Mohamed Yousfi, an outspoken critic of President Kais Saied, the head of the journalists' syndicate told Reuters. Police arrested Yousfi as he was preparing to enter Express FM Radio to take part in a radio programme, said Zied Dabbar, the president of the SNJT union. Walid Ben Rhouma, a presenter at Express FM radio who had invited Yousfi to appear on his programme, said police told him that Yousfi would be taken in for questioning, without giving any reason.
Palestinian rights group condemns Israeli minister’s Gaza forced displacement remarks
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
Palestinian rights group condemns Israeli minister’s Gaza forced displacement remarks The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has condemned comments by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz about a plan to forcefully relocate large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza. Katz said on Wednesday that a plan to move Palestinians “by sea, land and air” was ready and waiting for a green light from the United States. He said “there is no real solution for Gaza without this migration”.
He was born into Israeli ‘privilege’. Now his life's work is to abolish it | Eyal Weizman
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
He was born into Israeli ‘privilege’. Now his life's work is to abolish it | Eyal Weizman Submitted by Mohamed Hashem on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 15:46 "It's my burden. I was born into it.
UK police raid 84-year-old retired priest's home over activism
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
UK police raid 84-year-old retired priest's home over activism An 84-year-old retired priest known for her climate change and pro-Palestine activism had her home raided by British police on Friday, according to the campaign group Defend Our Juries (DOJ). Sue Parfitt has in the past shown support for the proscribed direct action group Palestine Action, and attended a peaceful protest on Wednesday with the environmental activist group Just Stop Oil. DOJ said police had raided Parfitt's home on Friday.
Hussam Abu Safiya: Abducted Palestinian doctor still subject to torture by Israel
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
Hussam Abu Safiya: Abducted Palestinian doctor still subject to torture by Israel Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 13:46 The Israel-based Physicians for Human Rights group said the medic taken captive in Gaza has been beaten and is subject to sleep deprivation Abu Safiya has been in Israeli captivity since December 2024 (Supplied) Off Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya has told his lawyer that he is still being beaten in detention by his Israeli guards. According to Physicians for Human Rights, Abu Safiya told his lawyer this week that guards beat him and threatened him, telling the doctor he cannot talk about the conditions he is being held in. "The guards beat him in various parts of his body, including sensitive areas, using hands, feet and batons," the organisation and Abu Safiya's lawyer said.
Hussam Abu Safiya says Israeli prison guards still beating him
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
Hussam Abu Safiya says Israeli prison guards still beating him Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya has told his lawyer that he is still being beaten in detention by his Israeli guards. According to the Physicians for Human Rights group, Abu Safiya told his lawyer this week that guards beat him and threaten him, telling the doctor he cannot talk about the conditions he is being held in. "The guards beat him in various parts of his body, including sensitive areas, using hands, feet and batons," the organisation and Abu Safiya's lawyer said.
Can Palestinian elections still matter after the Gaza genocide?
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
Can Palestinian elections still matter after the Gaza genocide? Submitted by Amena ElAshkar on Wed, 09/02/2026 - 05:19 The vote scheduled for 28 November is part of a larger struggle over whether Palestinians or outside powers decide who represents them Palestinian electoral employees begin counting votes after polls closed in municipal elections in al-Bireh, occupied West Bank, on 25 April 2026 (Zain Jaafar/AFP) Off After the devastation of Gaza, can elections really matter? Or does speaking about electoral lists, coalitions and parliamentary seats while Palestinians are still living through the consequences of genocide reveal how disconnected Palestinian politics has become from Palestinian reality?
UAE pardons Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
UAE pardons Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi The president of thre United Arab Emirates has pardoned Egyptian poet and high-profile activist Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who was facing a ten-year prison sentence, Emirati media reported. According to the reports, Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan issued the pardon on Friday after Qaradawi was convicted by the Cybercrime Circuit of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal on 27 August, who handed him a 10-year custodial sentence and a fine of Dh200,000. The dual Egyptian-Tukrish national was first detained in Lebanon in January, and extradited to the UAE over a video he posted to social media while visiting Syria, in which he expressed critical views of the Egyptian, Emirati and Saudi authorities.
UAE President pardons Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Middle East Eye·1 day agoHuman Rights
UAE President pardons Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 11:34 The Egyptian-Turkish national was 'forcibly disappeared' following his extradition to the United Arab Emirates and facing a 10-year prison sentence Off The President of the United Arab Emirates has pardoned Egyptian poet and high-profile activist Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who was facing a ten-year prison sentence, Emirati media reported. According to the reports, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued the pardon on Friday after Qaradawi was convicted by the Cybercrime Circuit of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal on 27 August, who handed him a 10-year custodial sentence and a fine of Dh200,000. The dual Egyptian-Tukrish national was first detained in Lebanon in January, and extradited to the UAE over a video he posted to social media while visiting Syria, in which he expressed critical views of the Egyptian, Emirati and Saudi authorities.
Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries
Middle East Eye·2 days agoHuman Rights
Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries On Thursday, 56 civil rights and advocacy groups urged Congress to scrap a defence bill provision that would strengthen US-Israeli military technology ties, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Section 219 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) intends to institute frameworks for joint ventures, licensing agreements and US-based co-production partnerships. It passed in the House of Representatives in July and is pending Senate approval.
UN says Israel must withdraw from occupied West Bank
Middle East Eye·2 days agoHuman Rights
UN says Israel must withdraw from occupied West Bank The United Nations Human Rights Office for Palestine said Israel must “end its unlawful presence and evacuate all settlers from the occupied West Bank” following the killing of two Palestinian teenagers on Wednesday in the village of al-Mughayyir. In a post on X, the agency said the settler and state violence against the people in al-Mughayyir have led to the “complete displacement of Palestinians” in the area, calling Israel to “fulfill its obligation under international law”. Surrounded by settler outposts, al-Mughayyir has been a target for incessant settler and state efforts to force Palestinian residents to leave.
Christian village of Taybeh plans US lawsuit over Israeli settler attacks
Middle East Eye·2 days agoHuman Rights
Christian village of Taybeh plans US lawsuit over Israeli settler attacks The municipality of Taybeh, a Christian village in the occupied West Bank, has called on residents who hold US passports or green cards to document attacks and property damage by Israeli settlers ahead of a planned civil lawsuit in the United States. The municipality said the case would target the settlers and “the American institutions that support these assaults”, adding that the Palestinian-American Olive Branch Funding Group, represented by lawyer Jonathan Kuttab, was prepared to cover the full cost of the case.
IRGC says it arrests seven suspected Kurdish separatists in Ilam province
Middle East Eye·2 days agoHuman Rights
IRGC says it arrests seven suspected Kurdish separatists in Ilam province Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it has arrested seven people in the northwestern province of Ilam, accusing them to be affiliated with Kurdish separatist groups. The IRGC said it believed they were “seeking to carry out armed operations” and carrying ammunition.
Palestine Action activists to appeal terror sentencing
Middle East Eye·2 days agoHuman Rights
Palestine Action activists to appeal terror sentencing Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Thu, 09/03/2026 - 15:29 The four activists, the first direct action protesters to be sentenced as terrorists, argue that their sentences are 'manifestly excessive' Sukaina Rajwani, defendant Fatema Rajwani's mother, stands with Emma Kamio, Leona 'Ellie' Kamio's mother, 3 September 2026 (Katherine Hearst/MEE) Off Four Palestine Action activists will appeal their sentencing by a UK court as terrorists for their role in a raid on an Israeli -owned arms factory. In May, Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Head, Fatema Rajwani, Leona ‘Ellie’ Kamio and Samuel Corner were convicted by jurors of criminal damage charges for smashing up Israeli weapons - including quadcopter drones - in an Elbit Systems factory near Bristol in August 2024. In an unprecedented ruling in June, the presiding judge, Justice Johnson, determined that their offences carried a "terrorist connection", handing them sentences ranging from four to eight years.

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