Italian legal scholar and UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories since 1 May 2023
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been acquitted of charges including spreading false information and harming national security after 52 days in Kuwaiti detention and has left Kuwait, his legal team and rights groups have said. His arrest had highlighted an expanding crackdown on social media and press coverage in Gulf states since the US-Israel strikes on Iran began in late February.
Since mid‑April 2026 the Global Sumud Flotilla has been sailing from Mediterranean ports with more than 70 boats and about 1,000 activists carrying symbolic food and medical supplies for Gaza. Departures have been delayed by weather; organisers are coordinating with NGOs including Greenpeace and Open Arms, while critics and Israeli officials have questioned the mission's effectiveness and raised misconduct allegations within leadership.
Israel has continued to expand settlements in the West Bank, approving over 100 new or re-established sites in 2026. This includes plans to restore evacuated settlements like Sa-Nur and Ganim, with settlers crossing into Syria's Golan Heights. The moves are increasing tensions and restricting Palestinian movement.
The US Treasury has listed UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese under an "International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal" after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking earlier sanctions. The Trump administration has appealed and the State Department has said it intends to restore her designation if the court reverses the injunction.
The U.S. Treasury has removed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, following a federal judge’s injunction blocking measures tied to her criticisms of Israel’s Gaza war. The action affects Albaneze and related designations, and comes after parallel court rulings that protect free speech related to her UN work.
The United States has imposed sanctions on activists tied to Gaza flotilla campaigns and related networks amid ongoing clashes over aid deliveries to Gaza. The measures accompany broader penalties accusing backers of Hamas and other groups, as Israeli operations continue and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis persists after a ceasefire.
Israel has intercepted a Gaza aid flotilla, detaining activists and deporting them. A minister has been filmed taunting detainees, triggering condemnations from allies and a push for accountability. Protests have erupted in Bilbao as activists allege abuse during detention.
The United States has reimposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, returning her to the ICC-related designation list after a brief removal that followed a federal judge’s injunction. The move comes as appeals processes continue to play out.
The US has carried out new strikes inside Iran and shot down Iranian drones near the Hormuz Strait. Iran has reported ground attacks and Israel has broadened strikes in Lebanon as war tensions escalate. Trump has warned Iran to accept a deal or face further action, while talks to end the ceasefire remain fragile.
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