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Daily Briefing — Palestine, 26 August 2026

Israeli forces seized the UNRWA Qalandiya Training Institute in occupied East Jerusalem on 26 August, with Al Jazeera reporting that the move forms part of Israel’s broader campaign against UNRWA to advance West Bank annexation. Simultaneously, Israeli authorities threatened to expel Gaza residents over kite flying, drawing a sharp rebuke from the United Nations, while settler attacks across the West Bank multiplied through the day.

Gaza

The United Nations condemned Israel’s threat to expel Gaza residents over kite flying as “outrageous,” according to Al Jazeera. Children in Gaza reported fearing to fly their kites following the Israeli threat, with footage showing children in distress. On 25 August, seven people were killed in Gaza when an Israeli strike destroyed an aid supply warehouse, Al Jazeera reported.

Gaza’s humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate sharply. A new IPC report cited by Mondoweiss finds that Israeli restrictions on food entry are stalling recovery from famine as malnutrition cases climb, with two-year-old Hashem Abu Mustafa, born hungry in a Rafah tent, cited as one case described as potentially beyond saving. OCHA’s 2026 Flash Appeal remains critically underfunded, with coverage at only 37.5% of the $4.1 billion required, leaving $2.5 billion unmet. A reported impact snapshot published by OCHA on 24 August covers conditions through 19 August 2026. The Palestinian Cabinet warned on 24 August of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

West Bank

Israeli forces and settlers carried out a wave of attacks across the West Bank on 26 August. Israeli forces raided Izbat al-Tabib east of Qalqilya, closed its entrances, and bulldozed olive-planted land, according to WAFA. Israeli forces also installed a gate near Nablus, further isolating three besieged homes, and Israeli forces caused a Palestinian vehicle to catch fire after firing tear gas and sound bombs in a Ramallah-area village, WAFA reported. Two Palestinians were injured by Israeli army gunfire near Jerusalem, WAFA reported.

Settler violence was widespread. An Israeli colonist abducted two Palestinian brothers near Nablus, according to WAFA. Colonists stole water from the main supply line serving Al-Mughayyir village northeast of Ramallah, WAFA reported, and separately damaged water supply lines southeast of Tubas, as well as solar panels east of Tammun south of Tubas. Armed colonists chased Palestinian shepherds south of Hebron, WAFA reported, and colonists vandalized the contents of a home near Jenin, according to WAFA. OCHA data shows that so far in 2026, 1,024 structures have been demolished and 1,368 Palestinians displaced in the West Bank, with the West Bank Monthly Snapshot for July 2026 published on 24 August.

Israel also escalated steps toward annexation of the West Bank. Mondoweiss reported that Israel’s government handed settlement security to the police of hardline minister Ben-Gvir, a move analysts say further entrenches annexation. Occupation authorities continued renaming Jerusalem streets and landmarks, WAFA reported, describing the effort as aimed at erasing Arab identity.

Jerusalem

The Israeli municipality began work at UNRWA’s Qalandiya Training Institute in occupied East Jerusalem on 26 August, according to WAFA. Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces raided and seized the Qalandiya Training Centre — a key UNRWA facility in the Kafr Aqab neighbourhood — raising an Israeli flag over the site. Qatar condemned the Israeli seizure of the UNRWA training center, WAFA reported, and the UN also condemned the seizure, according to WAFA. A Palestinian boy was shot during the Israeli raid on the UNRWA centre, Al Jazeera reported. Israeli occupation intelligence detained the Jerusalem Affairs Minister, WAFA reported. Mondoweiss reported that residents of Qalandia and Shufaat refugee camps fear Israel’s assault on UNRWA is linked to the ongoing military crackdown on the camps.

Regional

Mondoweiss reported that Israel is exporting its West Bank “shepherding outpost” model to Syria, with an Israeli settler — supported by the state — occupying Syrian pastureland in Wadi Toemm with a herd of 140 cattle. Italy reiterated its rejection of Israeli colonies in the West Bank, according to WAFA. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting on Palestine, WAFA reported.

Politics

Fatah and Dahlan’s Democratic Reform bloc held reconciliation talks in Alamein, Al Jazeera reported, amid fears of a potential opposition coalition ahead of Palestinian elections. The Palestinian Presidency called for an urgent UN Security Council session, according to WAFA. The Palestinian ambassador to Beijing discussed developments with a Chinese diplomat, WAFA reported. US lawmakers urged the Trump administration to free an American student held by Israel, Al Jazeera reported. A Dutch Christian group filed suit against the Dutch government over a West Bank trade ban, Al Jazeera reported.

Sources

About this briefing: OliveWire’s daily Palestine briefing is compiled from Tier-1 primary and verified independent sources only; every factual claim is anchored to a URL drawn verbatim from those sources, and no facts, quotes, or URLs are introduced from outside the provided source material.

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