Palestine in May 2026: the most important developments in politics
In May 2026, Israel's interception of a Gaza aid flotilla and the treatment of its activists dominated the international politics of the Palestinian question. Early in the month the UN human rights office demanded the release of two detained activists, saying delivering aid is not a crime, while an Israeli court extended their detention. On 21 May a video showing Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking detained activists drew condemnation from the EU, Israel's own foreign ministry and several governments. Italy asked for EU sanctions against him and Poland said it intended to bar him. On 22 May, 422 activists arrived in Istanbul after their detention. France banned Ben-Gvir from entering the country and, on 29 May, opened a judicial investigation into allegations of sexual violence, beatings and humiliation of French nationals on the flotilla. Malaysia prepared a case at the International Court of Justice.
The second theme was the Board of Peace created under Donald Trump's Gaza plan. On 20 May it told the UN that promised reconstruction funding had not been transferred, and on 27 May the Financial Times, citing sources, reported that its fund was empty despite billions in pledges. The UAE had sent $100 million to train a new Gaza police force. On 13 May the Board's envoy said the truce was holding and Hamas could remain as a political party; on 26 May the Board blamed the breakdown of the ceasefire on Hamas's refusal to disarm. Hamas said it was ready for the second phase of talks but failed to elect a new political leader. On 29 May the UN said all of Gaza must remain for Palestinians after Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered further occupation.
In the West Bank, a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of deadly terrorism took effect on 18 May, and Israeli bills advanced on antiquities and on ending the Oslo Accords. Western governments demanded a halt to construction in the E1 area. Fatah held its first general conference in ten years, and Mahmoud Abbas was re-elected party head on 17 May, with his son also winning a party role. BRICS members backed an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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