‘Permanently damaged her’: Israel’s starvation of Gaza leaves children stunted In a small room in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood, six-year-old Amira Rashid lies on a mattress, too weak to move. Her hands are bruised and blue from the intravenous drips she has been receiving. Under normal circumstances, the Palestinian girl would be preparing to start her first year of school later this month.
Israel’s starvation of Gaza leaves children stunted Submitted by Nada Nabil on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 14:45 Palestinian children and babies malnourished during Israel’s famine suffer lasting developmental problems and lack specialist care Ten-year-old Mohammed Ahmed Massoud al-Sousi, who suffers from malnutrition due to Israeli restrictions on aid entering Gaza, sits inside a tent in Gaza City on 6 May 2026 (Bilal Osama/IMAGO/APAimages via Reuters) Off In a small room in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood, six-year-old Amira Rashid lies on a mattress, too weak to move. Her hands are bruised and blue from the intravenous drips she has been receiving. Under normal circumstances, the Palestinian girl would be preparing to start her first year of school later this month.
Israeli minister shows construction of dedicated execution unit for Palestinians Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video on Telegram on Tuesday showing the construction of a dedicated execution facility for Palestinians after the the death penalty law for detainees in the occupied territory was passed. “We promised – we are keeping it. I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prisons – we kept it.
Israeli soldiers number Palestinian detainees on their foreheads Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 11:01 Troops round up Palestinian residents near Qabatiya and mark them with numbers before interrogating them Ahmad al-Hathnawi speaks to local media about being marked with numbers by Israeli soldiers during a military raid in Qabatiya in the occupied West Bank on 17 August 2026 (Screengrab/@qudsn/X) Off Israeli soldiers marked Palestinian detainees with numbers on their foreheads and arms during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday. During the raid on Qabatiya, near Jenin, Israeli forces rounded up dozens of Palestinian residents, several of whom were marked with numbers on their foreheads and arms. Ahmad al-Hathnawi, who was marked with the number 44 on his forehead, said at least 50 people were detained, including women.
Former Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza asks Ben Gvir to let him execute Palestinian prisoners Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 15:19 Rom Braslavski rejected the use of a rope, saying he wanted to kill Palestinian detainees 'with my own hands' Palestinian Yaqub al-Saber is pictured at a hospital in Ramallah following his release from an Israeli prison, 8 July 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off A former Israeli soldier who was held captive in Gaza asked National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to allow him to personally execute Palestinian prisoners during an interview published on Saturday, with the far-right minister responding that he would try to make it happen. Rom Braslavski, who was released from captivity in Gaza in October 2025, made the request while interviewing Ben Gvir in the first episode of his new podcast, October 8, according to footage from the programme and Israeli media reports. “I have a personal request,” Braslavski told Ben Gvir, asking the minister to let him be “the one who hangs them”, referring to Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
US lawmaker calls for action against settler violence in the West Bank Amid escalating Israeli settler violence, US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on the Trump administration to pressure Israel into protecting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. "The ongoing siege of Palestinian homes in the West Bank by violent, lawbreaking settlers is unacceptable. Enough," Jeffries said in a post on X.
Israeli settlers injure two Palestinians, set fire to agricultural lands in occupied West Bank Two young Palestinian men sustained injuries on Monday night after being assaulted by Israeli settlers in the town of Beita, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, Wafa news reported, citing local sources. Both men were subsequently taken to a hospital for medical treatment, the sources added. Meanwhile, Wafa also reported that Israeli settlers, under the protection of the Israeli army, set fire to Palestinian-owned agricultural lands in the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah.
Israeli forces raid Bethlehem rehabilitation hospital Israeli forces conducted a raid on the premises of the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation Hospital on Monday, inciting panic among patients and visitors and physically assaulting individuals within the facility's courtyard, Wafa news reported, citing local sources. In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Health condemned the raid, emphasising that it constitutes a violation of international law and directly compromises the integrity of health services and patients' fundamental right to receive care in a safe environment.
'Political stunt': Cair slams Texas governor for threatening airports that install ablution stations for Muslims Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 18:58 Foot washing stations accommodate, but are not limited to, practising Muslims who perform five obligatory prayers a day Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott gives an interview on The Sunday Briefing programme on Fox News, on 16 August 2026 (Screengrab) Off The largest Muslim civil rights organisation in the US slammed the governor of Texas on Monday for his threats to withhold funding to airports in the state that build spaces to accommodate practising Muslims. "Of all the silly controversies that @GregAbbott_TX has manufactured about Muslims over the past year, the airport washing station outrage might be the most ridiculous. And hypocritical," the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) wrote on X on Monday.
Israel allows Jewish ritual at Al-Aqsa Mosque in unprecedented violation of status quo Israeli authorities have formally allowed Jewish prayer for the first time inside Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, in an unprecedented violation of the site’s decades-old status quo. Israeli police allowed settlers raiding the site on Sunday to bring in siddurim, or Jewish prayer books, and perform group prayers, according to a Palestinian source from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf. While such practices have occurred in the past, they have largely been carried out without official approval.
Israeli settlers paralyse Palestinian nurse in West Bank shooting Submitted by Fayha Shalash on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 12:42 Muhammad Mutoor suffers a spinal cord injury in an attack near Hebron as settler violence escalates across the occupied Palestinian territory Armed Israeli settlers stand next to soldiers during an attack on Palestinians and international activists in Hebron on 14 August 2026 (Mamoun Wazwaz/IMAGO/APAimages via Reuters) Off Israeli settlers shot and partially paralysed a Palestinian nurse in a town near Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. Muhammad Mutoor, 26, suffered gunshot wounds that severed his spinal cord during a settler attack on Sa'ir, a town northeast of Hebron. Another Palestinian man was also shot in the shoulder with live ammunition.
US senator condemns Ben Gvir’s call to 'kill 30 or 40 people in Gaza every night' US Senator Jacky Rosen has called for Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir to resign after comments in which he said Israeli forces should kill “30 or 40” people in Gaza every night. In a post on X, the Democratic senator described the remarks as “horrific and completely indefensible”. “Anyone advocating for acts of violence against innocent civilians should not be in an official government position,” Rosen said.
Pope calls for end to Israeli violence against Palestinians in occupied West Bank Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for an end “to the repeated acts of violence against the Palestinian population of the West Bank," Vatican News reported. The leader added an urgent appeal to the international community “to ensure that progress is made toward a two-state solution, for a just and lasting peace.
Israeli settlers pray in Al-Aqsa compound More than 150 Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound under the protection of Israeli police and performed prayers there. Only Muslims are allowed to pray in the compound under the status quo arrangement which has been in place since 1967 in Jerusalem. The Al-Aqsa compound is administered by the Jordanian waqf.
Israeli police ease restrictions on Jewish prayer in Al-Aqsa compound Israeli police have eased restrictions on Jewish prayer in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to Haaretz. A few months ago police allowed Jewish worshippers to bring prayer sheets into the compound, but police have reportedly now allowed worshippers to bring prayer books in. The compound is administered by the Jordanian Waqf, meaning these moves are in violation of the "status quo" agreement.
Settler violence: 60-year-old man among two Palestinians shot, eight beaten Israeli settlers, backed by Israeli forces, shot at and injured two Palestinians and beat up eight others during an attack in the al-Ras area of Hebron city on Sunday, Wafa reported. One of the shooting victims, a 60-year-old man, was shot in the back and hand. A second man, aged 46, was also shot before being detained by Israeli forces.
Several Palestinians injured as settlers continue attacks in West Bank Israeli settlers continued their assaults on Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank, injuring several people. Here are the details of some of these attacks, reported by Wafa. • Israeli settlers beat up three Palestinians and sprayed them with pepper spray in the al-Masoudiya area, on the outskirts of the village of Burqa, northwest of Nablus.
Israeli settlers injure five Palestinians in Masafer Yatta attacks Five Palestinians, including two women, two men and a child, suffered bruises and contusions when Israeli settlers attacked residents of Umm al-Khair village in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reported. Anti-settlement activist Osama Makhamrehn told the agency that the settlers also hurled stones at a vehicle belonging to Imad Hawshiya, a resident of al-Markaz village, as he travelled along al-Zuweidin Road towards his home. Settlers also attacked the home of a Palestinian family in Wadi al-Rakhim, south of the nearby town of Yatta, and vandalised their property, according to Wafa.
Thirteen years after Rabaa massacre, families urge Egypt to free political prisoners Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 08/15/2026 - 11:05 On 14 August 2013, Egyptian forces under Abdel Fattah el-Sisi killed at least 900 pro-democracy protesters Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, eastern France, on 17 June 2026 (AFP) Off The Families of Egyptian Detainees Association (Feda) on Friday called on the Egyptian government to release political prisoners on the 13th anniversary of the Rabaa massacre . Feda, which represents the families of political detainees held in Egypt, urged "Egyptian authorities to release those imprisoned in connection with the Rabaa events, as part of efforts to turn the page on this painful chapter in Egypt’s history". "Those who took part in a peaceful sit-in to express their views were transformed from victims into defendants and accused persons," the group said.
UN says 900 ‘physical obstacles’ delay, limit aid to West Bank More than 900 physical obstacles, including Israeli checkpoints, gates, roadblocks and other restrictions, are delaying and limiting aid to the West Bank, the UN has said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said aid and municipal workers have been struggling to secure access to three Palestinian families in the village of Qusra in the Nablus governorate. These families have been trapped there since Tuesday, following the establishment of a settler outpost next to their homes and the tightening of access restrictions in the area.
