Israel’s border restrictions bar Gazans from performing Hajj Before Israel launched its genocidal war in 2023, at least 3,000 Palestinians from Gaza travelled annually to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Although Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt in February under a US-brokered ceasefire, only a few hundred people, mainly patients and limited escorts, have been allowed to leave Gaza each week. “The border crossing is closed.
Israel’s movement restrictions bar Palestinians from performing Hajj Before Israel launched its war on Gaza in 2023, which has been recognised as a genocide by the United Nations, genocide scholars and human rights groups, at least 3,000 Palestinians from Gaza travelled annually to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Although Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt in February under a US-brokered ceasefire, only a few hundred people, mainly patients and limited escorts, have been allowed to leave Gaza each week. “The border crossing is closed.
Netanyahu: Ben Gvir treatment of flotilla activists 'not in line with Israel's values and norms' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that far-right National Security minister Itamar Ben Gvir's treatment of detained flotilla activists is "not in line with Israel's values and norms", but claimed that Israel has "every right" to intercept Gaza-bound flotillas. He added that he had "instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible". A number of international activists who participated in previous Gaza aid flotillas have reported being subjected to abuse in Israeli detention.
France, Italy summon Israeli ambassadors over abuse of flotilla activists France and Italy have summoned their respective Israeli envoys over a video showing the abuse of activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla detained by Israeli authorities. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the footage, which shows activists with hands bound forced to kneel while being subjected to abuse and humiliation by Isreli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, is "unacceptable". "It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity," Meloni wrote on social media.
Hamas condemns Ben Gvir footage of flotilla activists Hamas has condemned footage of detained flotilla activists being abused after abduction by Israeli authorities. The video, which was published by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir alongside a post saying "Welcome to Israel," showed members of the Global Sumud Flotilla with their hands bound, being humiliated and abused by Israeli security services. The group said in a statement that the conduct of the Israeli leadership during the detention of the activists is "an expression of the moral depravity and sadism that govern the mentality of the leaders of the criminal enemy entity [Israel]".
ICC could be ordered to reinstate prosecutor if it removes him, judge argues Submitted by Sondos Asem on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 12:28 Former ICJ judge says any disciplinary process against Karim Khan would likely be overturned on appeal, with court also required to pay out substantial compensation Karim Khan told MEE earlier this month he would appeal to an International Labour Organization tribunal if removed from his job (AFP) Off The International Criminal Court (ICC) could be ordered to reinstate its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, and pay up to €1. 5 million ($1. 74m) in compensation should the court's governing body remove or sanction him, a senior international judge has warned.
Itamar Ben-Gvir posts video showing Gaza flotilla activists being humiliated Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has posted a video showing activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla being abused after being abducted by Israeli authorities. Along side a post saying "Welcome to Israel", members of the flotilla can be seen being humiliated and abused by Israeli security services: ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic. twitter.
An Israeli soldier posted an image of a Palestinian 'for sale'. The Palestinian is missing Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:24 Harel Amshika posted the photo of a tied-up man in Gaza City. He is believed to be Mohammed Shorrab Harel Amshika's photograph showing a man believed to be Mohammed Shorrab (Supplied) Off On 18 November last year, an Israeli soldier named Harel Amshika posted a nine-image carousel on his personal Instagram account, accompanied by some reflections on his time spent fighting in Gaza.
Israeli army received 2,500 sexual assault complaints in 202, local media reports The Israeli army received about 2,500 complaints related to sexual assault and harassment within its ranks in 2025, according to data presented to an Israeli parliamentary committee and reported by Israel’s Channel 12 on Tuesday. The report said the military’s Yahalom unit recorded 2,420 complaints during the year. According to the data, more than 700 complaints were resolved through internal “command meetings”, while only 42 indictments were filed against suspects.
'No longer fit for purpose': Politicisation of aid endangers millions, medical researchers warn Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 16:49 A new report in The Lancet suggests millions of people are left to die when aid systems are guided by the whims of politicians A blood-stained gurney is seen at Nasser hospital in the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, after an Israeli air strike on 21 April 2026 killed three Palestinians nearby (Bashar Taleb/AFP) Off A dire warning from researchers at The Lancet medical journal says humanitarian aid, particularly in support of global public health systems, has been so reduced that it has become "rationing by design" and now demands an immediate overhaul. The architecture of the humanitarian system has become so selective and difficult to access that it is merely "survival triage", more than three dozen researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health and The Lancet Commission on health, conflict, and forced displacement argued in a report published on Wednesday. The politicisation of aid - when it is linked to national security and foreign policy priorities - is a key factor in the breakdown of the system, particularly after US President Donald Trump returned to power in January 2025 and gutted the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Muslim-American groups blame mainstreaming of hate speech for mosque shooting Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 17:15 Three people were killed by teenage gunmen at the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, on Monday Parents and children leave the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, after a shooting, on 18 May 2026 (Mike Blake/Reuters) Off Muslim-American groups have blamed what they describe as the mainstreaming of anti-Muslim hate speech for a shooting that killed three people outside a California mosque on Monday, pointing the finger at lawmakers and other right-wing influential figures. "We are deeply disturbed, but not at all surprised," the Council on American Islamic Relations (Cair) said in a statement. "Hate against American Muslims is completely out of control.
Thousands of Palestinian patients remain stranded in Gaza awaiting treatment abroad The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said only 29 patients requiring treatment abroad were able to leave through the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Friday. The ministry added that just 20 patients had been transferred to hospitals in Jordan the previous day. “The small number of departing patients does not meet the urgent need for travel for those on the lists who are suffering from difficult health and humanitarian conditions, especially given the worsening health crisis in the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.
Canada faces pressure over killing of citizen in Israeli strike on Lebanon The Canadian government is facing growing calls to pursue accountability after a Canadian citizen was killed in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon last month. Hassan Haidar, a 38-year-old father of five from Windsor, Ontario, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the village of Qana near Tyre on 10 April. Al Jazeera questioned Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand over Ottawa’s decision to ask Israel to investigate the killing.
Unite the Kingdom: Hateful theatre of niqab ‘unveiling’ feeds far-right fantasies Submitted by Amina Shareef on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 15:20 The crowd cheered as white women took the stage to tear off their niqabs, symbolising the triumph of the West over Islam - and of men over women Three women laugh as they remove their niqabs on stage, during the Unite the Kingdom rally in London on 16 May 2026 (Social media screengrab) On Three women take the stage. They are dressed in niqabs, draped head to toe in voluminous black fabric, their faces covered. Motioning with their hands, the women egg on the crowd.
San Diego mosque shooting: Social media decries 'dehumanising' coverage and anti-Muslim rhetoric Submitted by Imene Guiza on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:46 Users criticised media framing and widespread Islamophobic speech in the wake of the deadly attack that killed three people Women hug as they wait for the children to walk out of the Islamic Center in San Diego, California, which was attacked by two gunmen on 18 May 2026 (Mike Blake/Reuters) Off A deadly attack on the biggest mosque in San Diego, California, sparked widespread reactions online, with many activists, commentators and social media users condemning the attack, and scrutinising the American political and media environment they say normalises Islamophobic rhetoric and dehumanises Muslim victims. Two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three people, including a security guard. Children attending classes at the adjacent Al Rashid School were evacuated from the premises as police cleared the building.
'Rats are eating our food': Palestinians describe harrowing conditions in Gaza camp Palestinians living in the al-Mawasi refugee camp in southern Gaza have described harrowing scenes of rat-infested tents, poor sanitation and the spread of diseases. They made the comments while waiting to be supported at a Medical Aid for Palestinians' supported primary healthcare centre in Khan Younis. You can read some of the testimonies below: “Rats are eating our food.
Israeli police establish special department to monitor foreign journalists Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:30 Foreign journalists in Israel have faced increased monitoring and restrictions in the occupied West Bank Israeli mounted police intervene during a protest by left-wing activists against the ongoing war with Iran at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on 4 April 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off The Israeli police is operating a special department in the occupied West Bank to monitor foreign journalists who wish to enter Israel or the occupied Palestinian territory. According to a report by Haaretz on Tuesday, the special police department works closely with Israel's Population and Immigration Authority, which is stationed at international crossings as well as the Allenby Bridge Crossing in the West Bank. Haaretz obtained a police document detailing articles and social media activity by Alessandro Stefanelli, an Italian freelance journalist, who entered Israel and the West Bank several times in the past.
British student leader among those detained by Israel from Gaza flotilla A British student leader from London-based university King's College London (KCL) has been detained by Israeli authorities as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to break the siege on Gaza. Hasnain Jafer, who is the vice president of KCL's student union, joined the flotilla in a personal capacity. "We now believe that Hasnain has been detained in international waters," the KCL students union said in a statement.
Israeli army reports rise in sexual harassment complaints Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:53 Lawmakers warn figures are ‘very troubling’ as military records 2,420 complaints in 2025 A female Israeli soldier walks towards army tanks gathered in the upper Galilee near the Israel-Lebanon boundary on 14 March 2026 (Jalaa Marey/AFP) Off Israeli army data has revealed a rise in sexual harassment complaints within the military in 2025, Israeli media reported on Tuesday. According to figures released by the Gender Affairs Advisor to the Chief of Staff unit, 2,420 sexual violence complaints were filed last year - around 350 more than the previous year. The unit responsible for the welfare of female soldiers said indictments were filed in only 42 cases, while 21 incidents resulted in internal disciplinary action.
Israeli settler filmed throwing concrete block at cats days after dog beating Submitted by Mera Aladam on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 07:29 Latest incident highlights growing settler violence against animals in the occupied West Bank An Israeli settler stands outside the Palestinian village of Battir in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on 12 February, 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off An Israeli settler was filmed attacking cats in the occupied West Bank on Monday, days after another settler was filmed brutally beating a dog in the same area. In footage shared online, the settler is seen picking up a concrete block and hurling it at two cats during an Israeli army raid on the town of Atara, north of Ramallah. Days earlier, a dog belonging to a Palestinian family in the town was also attacked by a settler.
