Palestinian painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour has died at the age of 79 at his home in East Jerusalem, according to relatives cited by Le Monde. His work depicted Palestinian traditions and his people’s struggle under Israeli occupation.
Donald Trump announced on July 31, 2026 via Truth Social that an agreement on "complete disarmament" of Hamas in Gaza had been reached through the American Peace Council. The Islamic organization would place its weapons under international supervision without direct handover to Israel. In return, Israeli forces must withdraw completely from Gaza. However, Israel expressed reservations, stating that the 15-point plan negotiated in Cairo does not meet its full demilitarization requirements.
Mary Robinson, Ireland's first president, and Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, warned on July 17, 2026, that prospects for a Palestinian state are "disappearing." Both are members of the Elders, a group of former political leaders and Nobel Prize laureates founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela. They recently completed a tour through Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and occupied West Bank. They point to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and incitement to violence against Palestinians by Netanyahu government ministers. The UN recorded over 760 settler violence incidents in the West Bank from January to May 2026.
