Palestine

By Maryam Ahmad

Slovenia has announced that it will broadcast a series of Palestinian documentaries instead of airing the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest 2026, marking a significant cultural and political statement amid growing tensions surrounding the annual music competition.

According to reports, Slovenia is among the five countries that have withdrawn from this year’s contest. While most participating nations will continue with scheduled broadcasts, only Iceland and the Netherlands are expected to air the competition despite their withdrawal. The contest is set to take place next month in Vienna.

Slovenian officials indicated that the decision to replace Eurovision programming with Palestinian documentary content is intended to provide alternative perspectives and highlight ongoing humanitarian concerns. The move reflects a broader debate across Europe about the role of cultural events during geopolitical conflict, particularly regarding the Israel–Palestine issue.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises Eurovision, has not yet issued a detailed response to Slovenia’s programming change but has previously maintained that the contest is a non-political event aimed at fostering unity through music.

Slovenia’s decision adds to mounting tensions surrounding this year’s competition, with critics arguing that Eurovision cannot be entirely separated from political realities, while supporters insist it should remain an apolitical platform for artistic expression.

The development is likely to intensify discussions about the intersection of culture, media, and politics in Europe, as audiences across the continent prepare for one of the world’s most-watched entertainment events.

A Palestinian journalist, Amal Shamali, has died after an Israeli air strike hit the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS).

Shamali worked as a correspondent for Qatar Radio. The PJS said the journalist was killed on Monday when Israeli forces carried out the strike on the camp.

In a statement, the union explained that Shamali had also contributed to several Arab and local media organisations. It added that she remained active in her profession despite the ongoing war in Gaza. The organisation said she was among reporters who continued their work throughout the conflict in the territory.

The PJS described the rising number of journalists killed in Gaza as alarming. It noted that more than 270 journalists and media workers have died since Israel launched its military campaign in the enclave on October 7, 2023. The war began after Hamas-led attacks targeted southern Israel.

The union said: “This represents one of the bloodiest periods for journalists in modern history, reflecting the scale of the deliberate targeting of Palestinian journalism in an attempt to silence the voice of truth and prevent the documentation of the crimes and violations committed against the Palestinian people.”

The organisation added: “Targeting journalists will not succeed in breaking the will of the Palestinian journalistic community or deterring it from fulfilling its professional and humanitarian mission of conveying the truth and documenting the crimes and aggression faced by the Palestinian people.”

Gaza’s Government Media Office also reacted to the killing. In a statement, it said it “strongly condemns the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation”.

The office further stated that it “holds the Israeli occupation, the U.S. administration, and the countries participating in the crime of genocide – such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France – fully responsible for committing these heinous and brutal crimes”.

It called on international and regional media organisations, as well as human rights groups, to condemn what it described as attacks against journalists in Gaza. The office urged the international community to work toward holding Israel accountable for its “ongoing crimes” against Palestinian journalists.

Data compiled by the monitoring platform Shireen.ps indicates that Israeli attacks have killed roughly 13 journalists every month during the more than two years of fighting. The platform is named after Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who died after Israeli forces shot her in the occupied West Bank in 2022.

The monitoring group also reported that at least 10 of the journalists killed during the war worked for Al Jazeera. One of them was Arabic correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who reported extensively from northern Gaza.

Researchers say the war in Gaza has become the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern times. The Costs of War project at Brown University reports that the number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 exceeds the total killed in several major wars combined. These include the US Civil War, both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, and the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan.

A report released earlier this year by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also identified Palestine as the most dangerous place in the world for journalists in 2025.

The report said the Middle East recorded the highest number of journalist deaths last year. It accounted for 74 fatalities out of the 128 media workers killed worldwide. Africa followed with 18 deaths. The Asia-Pacific region recorded 15, while the Americas had 11 and Europe reported 10.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Ministry of Health says that since a ceasefire mediated by the United States and Qatar took effect in October, at least 640 Palestinians have died and about 1,700 others have been wounded.

Health authorities in Gaza say that since the start of the war in October 2023, at least 72,123 Palestinians have died and 171,805 have been injured. Israeli officials say that 1,139 people were killed during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

By Maryam Ahmad

Bundesliga club Mainz 05 have lost their appeal against the unfair dismissal ruling in favour of Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi, who has been awarded €1.7 million in compensation.

A German labour court had earlier found that the club acted unlawfully when it terminated El Ghazi’s contract in November 2023 following social-media posts he made during the Gaza–Israel crisis. The arbitration panel upheld that decision, rejecting Mainz’s argument that the posts constituted grounds for immediate dismissal.

In a statement, Mainz said it accepted the ruling but stressed its commitment to maintaining its internal code of conduct. El Ghazi welcomed the outcome, describing it as a vindication of his right to express his views.

By Maryam Ahmad

More than 100 people were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Tuesday, according to health officials in the enclave. The strikes came shortly after Israel accused Hamas of violating a fragile ceasefire agreement — an allegation Hamas has denied.

Palestinian health authorities said the attacks targeted several densely populated areas, leaving scores of civilians among the dead and many others injured. Rescue teams continued to search through the rubble for survivors late into the night.

In a statement, Hamas rejected Israel’s claims of ceasefire breaches and accused Israel of deliberately escalating the conflict. The group also said Israeli authorities had prevented the return of the bodies of Israeli hostages who were killed during earlier clashes.

The renewed violence has raised fears of a broader breakdown in the ceasefire, which had offered a brief respite after months of devastating fighting. International calls for restraint have grown as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to worsen.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Omar Yaghi, a Palestinian-born scientist whose journey began in a refugee family in Jordan, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the honour earlier today, recognising his pioneering work in designing and developing new classes of materials that have revolutionised the field of chemistry.

Speaking to reporters while in transit between flights, Yaghi reflected on his humble beginnings: “My parents could barely read or write. It’s been quite a journey. Science allows you to do it.”

Born to Palestinian refugees who fled to Jordan, Yaghi’s journey to scientific excellence was far from straightforward. As a young student, he was drawn to the beauty of chemistry, a fascination that eventually led him to develop metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), materials now vital in energy storage, clean water production, and environmental sustainability.

Yaghi described his motivation as both artistic and intellectual: “I set out to build beautiful things and solve intellectual problems.”

For many across the Arab world, especially Palestinians, Yaghi’s achievement serves as an inspiring reminder that brilliance can arise from the most difficult beginnings.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, accusing Western nations of rewarding terrorism and pushing Israel toward “national suicide.”

Addressing the assembly on Friday, Netanyahu sharply criticized recent decisions by Britain, France, and other powers to recognize a state of Palestine.

“Israel will not allow you to shove a terrorist state down our throats,” he declared, arguing that such moves send a message that “murdering Jews pays off.”

The speech came amid ongoing efforts by US President Donald Trump to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump, following Netanyahu’s address, stated, “I think we have a deal.” However, Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, promising to “finish the job.”

Netanyahu’s appearance at the UN was marked by controversy. Facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, he took an unusual route to New York.

As he spoke, several delegations walked out, and protesters gathered nearby calling for his arrest.

The Israeli leader aggressively defended his country’s actions in Gaza, challenging genocide allegations and stating that civilians were urged to flee.

The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has resulted in over 65,549 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Netanyahu also claimed parts of his speech were broadcast via loudspeakers in Gaza, aimed at both Hamas leaders and the remaining Israeli hostages, assuring them, “We have not forgotten you.”

By Muhammad Abubakar

Italy is witnessing widespread labour unrest as dockworkers, unions, and students have launched strikes and demonstrations to protest the shipment of weapons to Israel amid the Gaza conflict.

In Ravenna, Mayor Alessandro Barattoni and local authorities stopped two trucks carrying explosives meant for Haifa, citing solidarity with Palestinians and concerns over loopholes allowing arms transit through Italy.

In Genova, dockworkers participating in a strike have blocked access roads to the port and rallied under the banner of preventing Italian ports from facilitating arms transfers. Similar protests are underway in Livorno. Public transportation services have been disrupted in cities such as Rome and Milan, and several schools have been closed.

Unions are demanding that the Italian government suspend both commercial and military cooperation with Israel, close legal loopholes related to transit of arms, lift any humanitarian blockade on Gaza, and formally recognise the State of Palestine.

The protests highlight increasing internal tensions in Italy’s politics, especially under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, which has traditionally aligned more with Israel diplomatically. Observers suggest the strike actions test if citizen and labour moral pressure can influence the government to curb arms exports and transit.

By Muhammad Abubakar

In a historic diplomatic shift, the governments of Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have formally recognised the State of Palestine. The announcement, made in a joint statement on Sunday, marks a significant moment in international support for Palestinian statehood.

Leaders of the three countries said the recognition was aimed at advancing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, reaffirming their commitment to a two-state solution. They urged both Israel and Palestine to return to negotiations and called for an immediate halt to violence in the region.

The move has been welcomed by Palestinian officials, who described it as a “courageous step towards justice and self-determination.” However, Israel has expressed strong opposition, warning that such recognition could undermine peace efforts.

The decision by three of the world’s most influential Western nations is expected to increase pressure on other countries to follow suit, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the global stage.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Former Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has called on football’s governing bodies, UEFA and FIFA, to impose an immediate ban on Israel over its ongoing military actions in Gaza. Cantona, known for his outspoken views, said football cannot remain silent while civilians continue to suffer.

His statement comes amid growing international pressure on Israel, with Spain reportedly considering a boycott of the upcoming World Cup should the situation persist. 

Spanish officials have hinted that participation in global tournaments could be reconsidered if FIFA does not take more decisive action.

The calls echo previous instances where sporting sanctions were used as leverage against states accused of human rights violations, most notably the bans imposed on apartheid-era South Africa and, more recently, Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Neither UEFA nor FIFA has officially responded to Cantona’s demand or Spain’s potential boycott threat, but the developments add further weight to the debate over the role of football in addressing global conflicts.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Israel’s Culture Minister, Miki Zohar, has vowed to halt government support for the country’s national film awards after a Palestinian-themed movie, The Sea, claimed the top honor at the Ophir Awards.

The film tells the story of Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from the occupied West Bank who dreams of reaching Tel Aviv to see the Mediterranean Sea. It won Best Film at the Ophir Awards, Israel’s equivalent of the Oscars.

By winning, The Sea will now represent Israel in the Best International Feature Film category at next year’s Academy Awards.

In a post on X, Zohar lashed out at the outcome. “There is no greater slap in the face of Israeli citizens than the embarrassing and detached annual Ophir Awards ceremony.

Under my watch, Israeli citizens will not pay from their pockets for a ceremony that spits in the faces of our heroic soldiers.”

Reports in Israeli media suggest it is unclear whether the minister has the authority to pull state funding from the awards.The film also swept other top categories.

Thirteen-year-old Muhammad Gazawi, who plays Khaled, became the youngest ever to win Best Actor in the history of the Ophir Awards.

His character is stopped at an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint during a school trip and barred from entering Tel Aviv.

He later sneaks into Israel to try to reach the sea, while his father, an undocumented worker, searches frantically for him.

Producer Baher Agbariya, while accepting the award, said the movie stood for “every child’s right to live in peace, a basic right we will not give up on.”

Zohar, however, repeated his criticism, labeling the event “embarrassing and detached.”

Defending the jury’s decision, Assaf Amir, chair of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television, argued that the selection carried a message of hope.

“As the never-ending war in Gaza takes a terrible toll in death and destruction, the ability to see the ‘other’… gives small hope. In the face of the Israeli government’s attacks on Israeli cinema and culture, and the calls from parts of the international film community to boycott us, the selection of The Sea is a powerful and resounding response.”

The controversy erupted against the backdrop of mounting global condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 65,000 Palestinians, nearly half of them women and children, have been killed since October 2023.

The war began after Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

This week, a United Nations commission of inquiry accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the findings as “distorted and false.”

The film industry has also been caught up in the political storm. Earlier this year, thousands of Hollywood figures signed a pledge refusing to work with Israeli film institutions they accused of being “implicated in genocide.”