Palestinian territory on the Mediterranean coast
Palestinian water springs and reservoirs in the West Bank are increasingly inaccessible as Israeli settlers, backed by a hard-line government, hew to a plan to seize springs and designate heritage sites. A water diversion near Fasayil has been linked to a new “Herod’s Pool” and substantial government funding for archaeological projects, illustrating broader tensions over land, resources, and memory.
The US‑backed Board of Peace has presented a six‑month, $2.45bn, 66‑project recovery programme for Gaza while warning that full reconstruction will require about $71.4bn over the next decade. Implementation has not begun because the plan depends on Hamas disarming, Israeli cooperation and major donor funding that remains largely unpaid; Israeli forces continue to control large parts of the Strip.
Abdullah Albadri has been found guilty of preparing terrorist acts and possessing two knives after an attempted breach of the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, in April 2025. A jury has ordered a minimum 20-year sentence, later adjusted for time served. Authorities say the suspect sought revenge for Gaza casualties.
The Green Party conference has adopted a motion declaring Zionism to be racism and calling for a single democratic Palestinian state. Several MPs oppose it, including four of five Green MPs, while Israel condemns the motion and bans the party leader from entering the country. The debate exposes tensions between grassroots members and elected officials and raises questions about the party’s governance.
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a man in Westminster and searched a nearby property as part of the investigation into the September 27 security incident near RAF Fairford. The probe has recovered petrol from vans but no explosives; five men arrested earlier remain on bail while investigators pursue multiple lines of inquiry, including potential foreign-state involvement.
Britain has warned it could expel up to about 27 Israeli diplomats if Israel closes the UK consulate in East Jerusalem on Thursday. Israel has ordered the consulate to shut within 30 days after Britain announced sanctions on goods and services linked to West Bank settlements. British officials have tried last-minute talks to avert the closure but have not reached a deal.
Maritime trackers have reported that Middle East crude exports have returned to near or above pre‑war levels in late September. Ship‑to‑ship transfers, US naval escorts and pipeline bypasses — notably Saudi Arabia's East‑West line and UAE links to Fujairah — have restored large volumes, but attacks on tankers and high insurance and freight costs are persisting.
Benjamin Davis has been dismissed from the FAO after a 26-year tenure, amid controversy over his Gaza hunger brief and moments of silence protests. Qu Dongyu has warned staff about firing more for political activism, while Davis argues the dismissal undermines the UN’s human-rights mandate. The case now moves to the FAO’s internal justice process.
The Green Party at its Brighton convention has passed a motion calling Zionism a form of racism and backing a single democratic Palestinian state in historic Palestine with equal rights for all. The vote was 1,022 to 813, prompting condemnation from Jewish groups and Israel’s government.
Birzeit University in the West Bank has been raided by Israeli forces, who demolished a memorial bearing the names of students killed in Israeli attacks. The raid followed earlier measurements of the monument and comes amid ongoing Israeli incursions into campuses in the occupied territories. The university notes this is part of a broader pattern and may escalate tensions around higher education.
UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector following a tense Nations League double against Ireland and Israel. Reports allege an Israeli player spat at Ireland’s fitness chief; Ireland’s coach says the rounds were marked by intimidation attempts. Both matches ended 3-0 and 1-1 respectively, with Ireland citing security and protest concerns.
Saudi Arabia has faced an intensified campaign of drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis since July, and the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed in August has prompted Pakistan and Turkiye to discuss defensive support. Britain has approved time-limited refuelling for Saudi jets and the three allies are meeting to decide collective steps as attacks continue.
The Supreme Court has unanimously overturned the Central Elections Committee’s disqualification of Ra’am and the Joint List, reinstating their ballots for the October 27 election. Cassif remains barred, while Sami Abu Shehadeh withdraws his candidacy; the court’s decision keeps Arab citizens represented as the election race tightens ahead of voting.
The Guardian-produced NAZA has sparked a fierce backlash in Israel after its Venice premiere and North American rollout. The film features 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers describing AI-assisted targeting and civilian casualties in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations and promises to defend its soldiers, while the filmmakers face calls to revoke their citizenship.
Ireland’s Nations League fixtures against Israel are under intense scrutiny as players debate boycotting amid Gaza war concerns. The team has moved a game to a neutral venue and will play behind closed doors in Belgrade, Serbia, with protests continuing and players weighing their stance.
The Israeli election has left both Netanyahu’s supporters and his opponents short of a 61-seat majority in the Knesset. Polls show the blocs remain tightly divided with Arab parties potentially pivotal, and opposition leaders pledge to cooperate while avoiding intra-bloc clashes ahead of the October 27 vote.
The United States has provided intelligence and advisory support to Saudi forces as the Yemeni government and its allies pursue operations to retake Sanaa and secure the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Houthis have intensified missile and drone attacks, while international partners debate whether to join or widen the conflict.
Portugal has secured a 4-2 win over Denmark, while Germany beats Serbia 2-0 and the Netherlands draw with Greece as part of Nations League action. Ireland defeats Israel 3-0 amid security concerns surrounding the Israel fixture. Ronaldo remains on the bench for Portugal in Oslo.
Ireland and Israel played a Nations League match with Ireland’s captain avoiding a handshake with Israel’s captain, while both teams wore black armbands. Ireland voted to proceed with the fixtures amid Gaza war pressure; Bazunu withdrew, citing a personal belief against killing. The match was held at a neutral venue for operational reasons.
Mediapart has published private messages it says were written by Jordan Bardella in 2013 that include antisemitic remarks; Bardella has denied the messages and called the disclosures a "total war" to destabilise Marine Le Pen's campaign, and Le Pen has expressed "total confidence" in him as he threatens legal action.
Republic of Ireland has determined to play Israel in Nations League fixtures, including a behind-closed-doors match in Serbia, as protests at home continue. The team’s stance follows its collective vote and recent debate over Gaza war coverage.
Protesters at UCLA mark the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with SJP describing escalating Palestinian resistance. The event follows related talks at UC Berkeley and Claremont Colleges and ongoing campus tensions over Israel-Hamas coverage and safety.
City Hall’s Strategy to Combat Antisemitism has increased hate-crime funding and education initiatives, but critics say it fails to define antisemitism or address anti-Zionism. Politically charged debate continues as pro- and anti-Israel voices mobilize around a plan aimed at protecting Jewish communities in New York City.
Amnesty International has called for halting flogging after a 2024 livestreamed Qom concert led to 74 lashes per performer and looming punishments for the eight others, including the singer Parastoo Ahmadi. The Guardian and BBC report on the court’s ruling, with rights groups warning this reflects broader suppression of women’s rights in Iran.
BBC Eye investigates Gaza’s ceasefire aftermath, showing how families cope amid destroyed infrastructure, medicine shortages, and repeated disruption. The film follows medical workers and civilians across the summer, with new reporting on infections, education disruption, and mental health strain.
The Gaza conflict has intensified since Oct. 2023, with widespread destruction across Gaza and the displacement of more than 2.1 million people. Recent satellite imagery and UN assessments show 82% of structures damaged and about two-thirds destroyed, including major landmarks and the port. International bodies have raised alarms over humanitarian crisis while ceasefire conditions remain fragile.
Multiple Israeli air strikes have targeted apartment blocks in Gaza City and Remal, killing civilians including women and children and injuring others. The strikes struck late at night and early afternoon, destroying buildings and triggering fires as rescue teams search rubble.
Arab parties face disqualification challenges as Israel's election rules are tested. The Supreme Court and Central Elections Committee are at the center of rulings that could shape representation for Palestinian citizens ahead of the October 27 vote.
Authorities have dismantled a cross-border Hamas financing network that moved over $2 million through charity fronts and cryptocurrency channels. Indictments and arrests have been issued in the United States and Europe, linking individuals to the group’s financial operations. The actions follow a 2023 attack and a continuing Gaza conflict.
Zack Polanski has urged voters to back the Greens to push Labour to act on housing and climate, arguing the party can force changes between general elections. His Holborn and St Pancras byelection rhetoric frames the Greens as a corrective force in national politics.
Ireland has drawn 1-1 with Israel in the Nations League return match in Backa Topola, Serbia, after a politically charged build-up. The fixture has produced allegations of spitting and verbal abuse, a halted press conference and continued FAI and UEFA inquiries into incidents from the first leg and fan behaviour.
The Israeli Defense Forces say 170 Gazans killed during the war who were reported as journalists were actually operatives for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other groups. They say 118 served in Hamas’ military wing, 49 in Islamic Jihad, with 17 involved in the October 7 attacks. The Times of Israel and other outlets publish the list and note ongoing investigations and previous reporting questioning the “journalist” label.
The UN World Food Programme has condemned an aerial attack on two trucks carrying humanitarian food in South Kordofan. A driver has been killed; the vehicles, clearly marked as aid transport, were travelling from Dilling to Kadugli. WFP is urging an immediate, independent investigation and full accountability, as aid operations face a growing security risk.
Palestinian children displaced by the Gaza war are studying in El-Arish, Egypt. A volunteer teacher has set up a free school that now serves nearly 400 students, with support from Misr El Kheir Foundation. The effort aims to preserve Palestinian curriculum and provide stability and healing for the children.
Israel has stated it will continue targeting anyone involved in the Hamas attack and hostages, as violence and casualties in Gaza mount after the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023. Leaders mark anniversaries and pledge resolve amid ongoing conflict and post-war planning.
The Guardian, The Times of Israel, and others recount the ongoing impact of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, as survivors and families remember victims, reflect on captivity, and confront the political dimensions of the commemoration ahead of national elections.