West Bank Jobs: PCBS reports West Bank employment rose 4.6% in Q2 2026 to 733,000 workers, helped by commerce, restaurant and hotel activity after the Oct. 7 tourism shock—yet unemployment remains high (27.9%) and underutilization near 29.9%, with wages and job protection still weak. Christian Community Under Pressure: Israel’s army surrounded Taybeh, the last fully Christian town near Ramallah, after declaring it a “closed military zone,” as settlers’ attacks and intimidation intensify. Gaza Education Bottleneck: Dozens of Palestinian scholarship students in Gaza are still stuck waiting to leave for Italy due to bureaucratic delays and unclear rules, even as evacuations resumed earlier in the year. Legal Pressure on International Justice: Human rights groups sued the Trump administration over sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court, arguing the move undermines accountability for mass crimes. Diplomacy & Security: Netanyahu formally rejected Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan, insisting no withdrawal until Hamas is fully disarmed, widening the rift with Washington. Regional Trade/Shipping Risk: Yemen’s Houthis killed six in an attack on a vessel in Bab el-Mandeb while US forces fired on another ship, raising fears for Red Sea oil routes and costs.