East Jerusalem is in the news after Israel shut holy sites and demolished UNRWA facilities amid rising tensions and violence.
Israeli forces stormed and demolished UNRWA premises in East Jerusalem, citing a 2024 law banning the agency. The move follows ongoing tensions, accusations of links to Hamas, and international condemnation. UNRWA warns these actions threaten humanitarian aid and Palestinian refugees' rights amid the Gaza conflict.
As of early 2026, Israel has intensified restrictions on humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, demanding detailed staff data and revoking licenses of 37 NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF). MSF controversially shared staff names with Israel to avoid expulsion, sparking criticism over risks to Palestinian workers amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Israeli forces have carried out multiple strikes in Gaza, violating the ceasefire. Palestinian casualties have increased, with over 600 killed since October 2023. Israeli restrictions on aid and military operations are escalating, worsening humanitarian conditions amid ongoing conflict.
Israeli authorities have sealed access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and other key religious sites in Jerusalem, citing security concerns linked to regional conflict and Iran's regional actions. The closures, ongoing since early March, coincide with heightened restrictions during Ramadan and regional tensions, provoking condemnation from Jordan, Palestinian groups, and Arab states.
Since early April 2026, Jerusalem's Old City holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, have reopened after a six-week closure due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has repeatedly entered Al-Aqsa, performing Jewish prayers forbidden under the Status Quo, sparking Palestinian and Jordanian condemnation. Restrictions on Muslim worshippers and settler incursions continue, raising fears of escalating tensions and changes to the site's religious status.
Palestinians report Israeli restrictions and provocations at Jerusalem's holy sites, including attempts by Jewish extremists to perform animal sacrifices at Al-Aqsa. Israeli authorities reopened the sites after weeks of closures due to regional conflict, but tensions persist with reports of incursions and restrictions affecting Muslim, Christian, and Jewish worshippers.
In the Netherlands, tiny-home villages like Minitopia are providing affordable housing options for divorced individuals and young adults. These communities are expanding as a practical solution to urban housing shortages, especially for those unable to access traditional markets. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, eviction disputes escalate over land claims, highlighting ongoing land conflicts.