AGP Executive Report

Gaza Tech & Jobs: Israel’s war has smashed Gaza’s innovation ecosystem, with the UCAS Technology Incubator in Tal al-Hawa reduced to rubble after attacks in 2024, cutting off a pipeline that once backed 500+ young tech professionals and startups. Ceasefire Talks in Cairo: Hamas says “acceptable” approaches were reached on key Gaza ceasefire sticking points, but warns Israel and mediators must push implementation forward, with disarmament still a major hurdle. Medical Travel Blocked: Gaza’s health authorities say Israel is preventing thousands of patients from leaving for treatment, with 17,757 referrals recorded by May 20 but only 3,226 exits so far. West Bank Finance Pressure: Israel’s Knesset approved deductions from Palestinian clearance revenues, deepening the PA’s cash squeeze and threatening salary payments. Sanctions & Settlement Pressure: The UK for the first time issued guidance discouraging business involvement in illegal settlements, while Australia and allies coordinated sanctions targeting networks enabling settler violence; France also banned Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entry. Humanitarian Fallout in Lebanon: The UN warned Israel’s sweeping evacuation order for Tyre could displace nearly 44,000 people, many already uprooted.

West Bank Sanctions Push: Britain, Canada, France, Norway, Australia and New Zealand announced coordinated sanctions on people and networks they say finance and enable settler violence, while France also banned Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other settler leaders from entering the country. PA Cash Crunch: Israel approved a freeze on Palestinian clearance revenues, a move that could worsen the Palestinian Authority’s ability to pay salaries. UN Accountability Report: A UN inquiry said Israeli authorities and security forces are directly involved in shielding settler attacks, with settler violence against Palestinian villages and farmland rising sharply since 2023. Gaza Medical Exit Block: Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israel is preventing more than 16,500 patients from leaving for treatment abroad despite a ceasefire. Energy Talks: Egypt urged a restart of Palestinian offshore gas discussions, framing it as a route to jobs and recovery for both the West Bank and Gaza. Humanitarian Pressure: UN agencies warned Gaza’s situation remains volatile, with disease risks rising as displacement and services strain continue.

AI & Security: A new report says Israel has expanded AI-controlled drones for intelligence and strike missions, with more autonomy in surveillance and targeting across Gaza, the West Bank and southern Lebanon. Public Opinion & Risk: A Pew poll finds Israel’s global image has sharply worsened, with major majorities holding unfavorable views in most surveyed countries as the Iran war deepens isolation. West Bank Economy & Trade: UK Labour MPs (137 lawmakers) push to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements, citing E1 expansion and rising settler violence. Ceasefire Pressure: As Israel-Iran tensions flare again, mediators warn the Lebanon trigger could push the region toward a wider breakdown. Aid & Compliance: The US watchdog alleges more than 100 UNRWA staffers linked to Hamas attacks, raising pressure on funding and oversight. Detention & Rights: Palestinian community leader Salah Sarsour’s lawyers say his health is deteriorating in US immigration detention and that religious freedoms are being denied.

AI & Security: A new report says Israel has expanded AI-controlled drones for surveillance and strike missions, reducing real-time human oversight across Gaza, the West Bank and southern Lebanon. Global Sentiment: A Pew poll finds negative views of Israel rising sharply in 32 of 36 countries, with the Iran war and Gaza’s destruction driving the shift. Gaza Crossings & Aid: Israel temporarily closed Gaza crossings after Iran-linked fighting, then said Kerem Shalom would reopen gradually for aid. Humanitarian Cost: Analysts estimate Gaza reconstruction could run $30bn–$50bn, but argue the real bottleneck is governance and fragmented delivery, not money. West Bank Land & Settlements: Israeli bulldozers began work for a new settlement road north of al-Quds, tied to Route 45 and land confiscations. Red Sea Shipping Risk: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis announced a total ban on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, raising fresh supply-chain and oil-market concerns. EU Finance for Businesses: The EU and EIB launched a €400m facility to support Palestinian small businesses.

Middle East Escalation: Israel and Iran traded attacks again for the first time since a two-month ceasefire, after Iran struck in response to an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs; no casualties were reported so far, but the flare-up included strikes on an Iranian petrochemical complex and missile activity involving Yemen’s Houthis. Maritime Pressure on Trade: Yemen’s Houthis declared a complete ban on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, warning any Israeli vessel movement would be treated as a military target—raising risks for commercial routes tied to global trade. Gaza Crossings & Aid: Israel sealed all Gaza crossings and suspended humanitarian aid deliveries after the Iranian missile attack, with COGAT saying food volumes since the ceasefire exceeded UN needs, while Palestinian and aid groups warn hunger is worsening. Human Rights & Tech Oversight: Microsoft said it will tighten human-rights and security measures after an internal inquiry into Israeli military use of Microsoft cloud tech for surveillance of Palestinians. Industry Watch (Egypt): Egypt’s PM Mostafa Madbouly inspected major Alexandria investments, including a new Lipton production line, as part of a push to deepen local manufacturing and exports.

Gaza Ceasefire Under Strain: An Israeli airstrike hit a police station in Khan Yunis’s Al-Mawasi area, killing at least five and wounding several, as Israel and Hamas trade accusations over repeated ceasefire violations. Humanitarian Access: The Palestinian Red Crescent said 34 patients and 63 companions were evacuated via Rafah with WHO coordination, underscoring how medical travel remains a lifeline amid war. West Bank Security Fallout: Israeli forces shot and killed a 7-month-old Palestinian baby near Hebron after firing at a vehicle, while separate reports described a drive-by attack in Israel near the West Bank border that killed one and wounded several. Sanctions & Settlement Pressure: France signaled more sanctions against Israeli settlers may come soon, as the UK and partners prepare a package aimed at deterring companies from involvement in the E1 settlement plan. Ireland Tightens Entry Rules: Ireland confirmed travel bans on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, with officials citing actions tied to Gaza’s “unfolding disaster.” Regional Diplomacy: Lebanon’s president accused Iran of using the country as a bargaining chip in US-Israel peace talks, as the Lebanon-Israel front remains volatile.

Gaza Health Access: Palestinian officials say that since the latest Gaza ceasefire, only 840 patients have been allowed to leave for treatment, far below the planned flow, as Rafah crossing approvals and closures keep delaying evacuations. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: A report from Khan Younis highlights the lack of proper toilets across Gaza’s tent cities, forcing families to dig makeshift latrines and deepening health and dignity concerns. West Bank Settlements & Finance: The Palestine Solidarity Campaign urges the UK to stop a London “Great Israeli Real Estate Event,” arguing it markets homes and mortgages in illegal West Bank settlements. PA Internal Politics: A rare Fatah critique by senior PA official Jibril Rajoub says sidelining a Dahlan-linked faction before party elections was a mistake, with reinstatements to be handled “respectfully.” Ireland Sanctions Push: Ireland banned far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering, and plans settlement-origin trade restrictions, while also calling for EU-wide sanctions. Regional Energy Tensions: Iran fired drones and ballistic missiles toward Bahrain and Kuwait as the US intercepted threats near the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring how the conflict keeps disrupting regional trade routes.

Diplomatic Pressure: Ireland banned far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country, citing inflammatory rhetoric and policies toward Palestinians, and said it will push EU-wide sanctions while drafting settlement-goods trade restrictions. Ceasefire Reality Check: Despite ceasefire deals, strikes keep hitting—AP reports Iran firing missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait while Israel strikes in Lebanon killed nine, including Lebanese army personnel, raising fresh questions for regional stability. West Bank Violence: Israeli forces killed a 7-month-old Palestinian baby in the occupied West Bank after firing at a car near Hebron; separate reports also describe settler attacks injuring Palestinians in Huwara. Gaza’s Economic Squeeze: Coverage highlights Gaza’s “open laboratory” transformation—war management, displacement, and reconstruction tied to security conditions—while aid and basic services face mounting strain. Islamic Finance & Trade: Qatar Chamber and the Global Islamic Economy Summit in Istanbul spotlight ethical finance, digital transformation, and sustainable growth—relevant for regional business ties amid conflict.

West Bank Violence: A seven-month-old Palestinian baby boy, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was killed after Israeli forces fired on his family’s vehicle near Tel Rumeida south of Hebron; his parents were also wounded, according to Palestinian health officials. Ireland Sanctions & Travel Bans: Ireland banned Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, with Prime Minister Micheál Martin saying their actions and statements amount to a desire to eliminate Palestinians; the move follows similar UK and other European measures. Palestinian Health Under Pressure: Palestinian health officials warn that medicine shortages are worsening as Israel withholds clearance revenues (maqasa funds), with over 726 medicine types reportedly unavailable and cancer and emergency supplies at dangerously low levels. Gaza Governance Talks: Hamas says it will not hand over its weapons immediately, proposing that only “official” police weapons would be visible under a future Gaza administration, while negotiations continue. Tech & Security Contracts: UK police database management awarded to Palantir (about £9m) is drawing scrutiny over the firm’s role in surveillance and alleged links to military use. Settlements & Land/Water: A US House amendment boosts funding for an agricultural research project with Israel, critics say it further embeds US spending in the settlement system that restricts Palestinian access to land and water.

Diplomatic Pressure on Settlements: 85 U.S. House Democrats led by Mark Pocan and Jan Schakowsky urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to halt Israel’s E-1 settlement construction, warning the window for action is closing fast and that E-1 would sever West Bank contiguity. EU/Irish Sanctions: Ireland barred far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, with the Taoiseach citing their role in Gaza policy and statements amounting to a desire to “eliminate Palestinians from Palestine,” and signaling EU-level sanctions may follow. Gaza Economy & Education: A Gaza ice-cream shop run by university students is keeping higher education alive amid cash shortages and rising input costs under siege conditions. Ceasefire Reality Check: A legal explainer argues ceasefires are political promises without reliable enforcement, as fighting continues across Gaza and Lebanon despite announced truces. Regional Trade Talks: Bangladesh and Türkiye agreed to deepen strategic cooperation and expand trade, including exploring a free-trade arrangement—an economy-focused development beyond the conflict zone.

Tech & Human Rights: Microsoft says it will tighten human-rights controls after reviewing how its cloud and AI tools were allegedly used by Israel’s military for surveillance in Gaza, including enhancing pre-contract reviews for national-security work. Ceasefire Credibility: A new explainer argues “ceasefires” across West Asia are being treated as conditional pauses, with Gaza and Lebanon showing how fighting and territory grabs continue even after announcements. Healthcare Under Pressure: The Palestinian Health Ministry warns medicine shortages are worsening as Israel freezes PA tax revenues, putting thousands of cancer and dialysis patients at risk and delaying thousands of surgeries. Humanitarian Access: Gaza’s Rafah evacuation saw 23 patients and 60 companions (83 total) transferred for treatment abroad amid severe medical-system strain. Labour & Trade Policy: Polling shows 78% of Labour members back a full arms embargo on Israel and 87% support banning trade with illegal West Bank settlements, raising pressure on the UK government. Settlements & Costs: Israel’s Knesset approved tax benefits for West Bank settlements, a move criticized as further entrenching annexation economics. Diplomatic Status: A Palestinian trade-union official says Palestine’s observer status at the ILO was defended despite US and allies’ pushback, seen as a step toward full membership. Local Economy & Environment: PCBS reports Gaza emissions from the aggression hit 33.2 million tons CO2e, alongside major impacts on water and household costs.

West Asia Ceasefires Under Strain: Despite US-brokered truces, Gaza, southern Lebanon, northern Israel and Kuwait kept taking hits this week, with Washington saying fighting is happening “more moderately” rather than stopping. Settlement Expansion Watch: Israel’s far-right finance minister approved 2,162 new Jewish homes across the occupied West Bank, a move Palestinians and many countries say deepens illegality and blocks a two-state path. Occupied West Bank Land Pressure: Jerusalem Governorate warned of a major waste treatment project on Qalandiya village lands that would shift the separation wall and confiscate about 278 dunams, threatening homes and olive-based livelihoods. Education Under Siege: IOF abducted four Birzeit University female students in a dawn raid, framed as part of a wider pattern of raids and detention that disrupts Palestinian education. Tech, Money & War Risks: Shareholder and worker pressure is growing inside major tech firms over alleged surveillance and military-linked cloud/AI contracts tied to Israel. Labour & AI for Decent Work: Qatar told the ILO that AI’s real challenge is political choice—pushing for social justice, stronger worker protection, and inclusive prosperity.

UN Security Council: UN members will hold a closed-door briefing on “the Palestinian question,” after a letter from the State of Palestine warned Israel is pushing measures described as annexation— including plans for over 3,400 West Bank housing units that could fragment East Jerusalem from the rest of the territory. West Bank Settlements: Israel’s hardline finance minister announced approval for 2,162 new settler homes across three settlements, reinforcing “facts on the ground” despite widespread international illegality concerns. Gaza Reconstruction Stalls: A Gaza “reconstruction” framework is criticized as coercive rather than rebuilding-focused, with reconstruction tied to strict conditions like disarmament and security restructuring. UK Policy Pressure: A former UK diplomat says Britain could ban its citizens from buying homes in illegal West Bank settlements, using criminal-offence tools to target the settler enterprise itself. Humanitarian Access & Visas: Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour says Israel revoked her travel authorization to visit family in the occupied West Bank, citing her pro-Palestinian advocacy and BDS support. Diplomacy & Regional Economy: Pakistan says it’s stepping up diplomacy for Middle East stability while also expanding trade ties, including business-to-business talks with China.

West Bank Settlements: Israel approved 2,162 new Jewish homes across the occupied West Bank, including 1,006 near Jerusalem, 922 by Nablus and 234 near Hebron—moves Palestinians say further erode any realistic path to a future state. US-Iran Talks Pressure: President Trump confirmed he called Netanyahu “crazy,” saying Israel’s Lebanon fighting is complicating US-led efforts to revive peace talks with Iran, while he avoided a clear timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Lebanon Ceasefire Friction: Despite renewed talks in Washington and Trump’s claim of a Lebanon ceasefire, Hezbollah rejected any “partial” deal and Israel continued strikes, with reports of deaths in Tyre. Gaza Destruction Narrative: A new Gaza-focused piece describes the scale and layout of destruction as part of a broader campaign against Palestinian identity, keeping humanitarian and economic fallout in the spotlight. Local Business & Community: Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce announced “Taste of Palestine & Business Expo” on July 25, aiming to connect local restaurants and firms with new customers. Palestinian Economy Watch: Australia imposed sanctions and travel bans tied to West Bank settler violence, signaling more pressure on actors linked to instability.

Gaza Reconstruction Funding Stalls: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Gaza rebuilding can’t move forward unless Hamas is demilitarised, warning investors won’t fund recovery while the group retains military power. EU Pressure on Israel: EU leaders are set to castigate Israel over “unlawful” attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, demand border crossings reopen, and reject Netanyahu’s plan to seize 70% of Gaza. Arms-Shipping Legal Fight: Amnesty joined a criminal complaint against FedEx Belgium over alleged unlawful transit of F-35 parts to Israel, raising new compliance risks for logistics firms. Palestinian Politics in the US: Progressive Dr. Adam Hamawy won New Jersey’s 12th District Democratic primary, campaigning on healthcare reform and ending US weapons sales to Israel. Regional Escalation Risk: Iran’s Quds Force chief warned that intensifying Gaza and Lebanon fronts could open additional regional fronts and disrupt key maritime routes. Local Business/Services: Avir at Town Creek in Palestine, Texas received a one-star CMS rating in Q1 2026, with multiple fines—another reminder of pressure on for-profit care providers.

Gaza Ceasefire Reality Check: Despite announced ceasefires, Israeli forces kept striking and advancing in Gaza and Lebanon, with fighting continuing as the “term is rapidly losing its meaning,” raising new questions for regional stabilization. Settler Violence & Displacement: UN experts warned that escalating settler attacks in the occupied West Bank are becoming “daily terror,” with coercion and displacement risks tied to settlement expansion. Jerusalem Under Pressure: The Jerusalem Governorate reported intensified assaults around Al-Aqsa, demolitions, arrests, forced deportation orders, and new settlement planning during May. Activism Hits the Supply Chain: Pro-Palestinian campaigners launched “Global Intifada Disarm” at Italy’s Gioia Tauro port, alleging dual-use and military-linked containers are being held and demanding transparency. EU/Irish Trade Policy: Ireland’s Occupied Territories Bill is set for debate, aiming to ban trade with illegal West Bank settlements—sparking criticism over whether services are being excluded. UAE-Israel Business Push: Israel and the UAE signaled closer ties, including talks on a trade corridor linking India, the Middle East and Europe, framed as an opportunity driven by the Iran war. Palestine Business Note: Brakes Plus opened a new store in Palestine, Texas, highlighting local job and service growth in the region.