Palestine News Today: Gaza medical supplies delayed as West Bank violence intensifies
3 October 2026. UK politics featured today as a party leader demanded the reversal of a ban on a pro-Palestinian direct action group, while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepened amid WHO warnings of chronic medical shortages. Meanwhile, settler violence and killings continued across the occupied West Bank, and fresh details emerged about missed opportunities to end the Gaza war sooner.
Green Party leader urges end to Palestine Action ban
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for Palestine Action to be de-proscribed, according to Middle East Eye. Addressing his party's conference in Brighton, he urged the government to drop charges against members and end the proscription, which was introduced by Keir Starmer's government in July 2025. Under the ban, expressing support for or membership of the group is a criminal offence.
Sources: Middle East Eye
WHO warns of 'devastating consequences' from aid delays
The World Health Organisation has described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as utterly dire, with none of the territory's hospitals fully functional, according to Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera. WHO representative Reinhilde Van de Weerdt said getting aid through Israel into Gaza involves repeated delays, leaving chronic shortages of medical supplies. UN News reported the WHO is appealing for a massive influx of aid before winter, warning that continued delays risk devastating consequences for Palestinians who urgently need medicines and equipment. Middle East Monitor reported that large volumes of medical supplies for Gaza face a median wait of 74 days for Israeli clearance.
Sources: Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, UN News, Middle East Monitor
Gaza apartment strikes kill several Palestinians despite ceasefire
An Israeli strike on an apartment in Gaza City's crowded Remal neighbourhood has killed at least five people, including three women and a young girl, according to Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye, which cited Palestinian medical sources. No warning was given before the attack. A separate strike on a residential complex west of Gaza City killed four Palestinians, including a young girl, Middle East Eye reported. Middle East Monitor separately reported that three Palestinians were killed and four injured in a drone strike on a crowd gathering in western Gaza City, despite the ceasefire agreement.
Sources: Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency
Settler violence and killings continue in the West Bank
A 19-year-old Palestinian, Bahaa Sami Amin Nathsheh, was shot dead by Israeli settlers in the village of Kobar near Ramallah, with Israeli forces then preventing medics from reaching him, according to Middle East Eye and Anadolu Agency, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry. Anadolu Agency separately reported that a Palestinian commission has recorded 30 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across the West Bank since the start of 2026, more than double last year's total, as settlement activity intensifies. In a further incident, Israeli settlers stole a goal post from a children's football field in Umm al-Kheir, part of what activists describe as surging settler violence condemned internationally.
Sources: Middle East Eye, Anadolu Agency, Anadolu Agency, Middle East Eye
UN rapporteur says checkpoints are 'choking' Palestinian life
A UN special rapporteur has said Israel's network of checkpoints across the West Bank is arbitrarily restricting Palestinian movement, according to Anadolu Agency. The UN has recorded 925 checkpoints affecting the movement of 3.4 million Palestinians. Separately, Mondoweiss reported that Israel is preparing to give settlers access to a main Palestinian road in Ramallah, a move that would bring new checkpoints and gates to one of the West Bank's last areas of free Palestinian movement.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, Mondoweiss
Israeli minister threatens to dismantle Palestinian Authority
An Israeli minister has said the entire West Bank 'belongs to Israel' and threatened to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, according to Anadolu Agency. The minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, reportedly vowed to push for the displacement of Palestinians from the occupied territory if appointed defence minister.
Sources: Anadolu Agency
Thousands of Israelis storm Al-Aqsa during holiday period
More than 11,400 Israelis stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Jewish holiday season, according to Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor, citing the Jerusalem Governorate. The visits, which included raids on the adjacent Muslim Rahma Cemetery, were accompanied by increasingly public religious rituals involving Israeli ministers and political figures. Turkey's defence ministry said such actions at the holy site threaten regional stability, Middle East Monitor reported.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor
Former Israeli general says captives could have been freed sooner
Retired Israeli Major General Nitzan Alon, formerly the government's point person on hostage negotiations, has said a deal to free Israeli hostages in Gaza could have been reached up to a year before it finally happened in late 2025, according to Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye. Speaking at a Washington Institute forum, Alon said political and personal considerations had obstructed earlier agreement, and suggested more captives could have returned alive.
Sources: Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera
Gaza voters look ahead to first national elections in 20 years
Palestinians in Gaza are hoping to rebuild their lives after Israeli destruction as the territory approaches its first national elections in two decades, according to Al Jazeera. Voters say jobs and security are among their top priorities as the political process moves forward.
Sources: Al Jazeera
Palestine News is published every day on Free Palestine Store. Each item recaps reporting from the named outlets in our own words; follow the source links for full coverage.
