Palestine News Today: Gaza flood warnings and settler attacks mount as diplomatic pressure on Israel grows
16 October 2026. A year after the Gaza ceasefire, the UN is warning of worsening humanitarian conditions as winter approaches, while settler violence against Palestinian farmers escalates during the olive harvest. Internationally, pressure is building through UN statements, diplomatic condemnations and a UK literary row over support for Palestine Action.
Sally Rooney's stand for Palestine Action sparks UK debate
The Guardian reports that novelist Sally Rooney has risked having her books withdrawn from sale in the UK over her support for Palestine Action, a group affected by Britain's terrorism laws. Rooney reportedly said in July that royalties from her books and their BBC adaptations would be affected by her stance. Commentary in The Guardian described her position as a rare instance of a prominent author risking legal consequences in Britain for political beliefs linked to Palestine.
Sources: The Guardian
Authors withdraw Palestine book from Penguin Random House
According to Anadolu Agency and The Guardian, authors Jenan Matari and Alana Hadid have pulled their children's book about Palestine from Penguin Random House after disputes with editors over passages concerning the Nakba and the events of 7 October. The book, originally signed in November 2024, will now be published instead by Interlink in 2027. The authors said the publisher's proposed edits altered their account of Palestinian history.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, The Guardian
UN warns nearly a million displaced Gazans face winter flooding
Al Jazeera reports that the United Nations has warned nearly one million displaced Palestinians in Gaza face serious flood risks as winter approaches. Many are living in makeshift shelters along the coastline amid widespread destruction of housing and infrastructure. The warning comes as humanitarian agencies continue to report severe shortages of adequate shelter across the territory.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Middle East Monitor
UN official sounds alarm one year after Gaza ceasefire
A senior UN official, Ramiz Alakbarov, has said he feels obliged to sound the alarm over conditions in Gaza and the West Bank a year after the ceasefire, according to Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor. He described desperation among Palestinians in Gaza as palpable. Separately, Gaza's Health Ministry said a second week of Rafah crossing closure is worsening the crisis for patients needing treatment abroad, while Gaza's government media office denied Israeli claims that it is imposing fees on aid trucks, calling for 600 trucks to be allowed in daily.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor
Settlers accused of torching olive trees during harvest
Al Jazeera reports that Israeli settlers have set fire to Palestinian olive trees and vehicles during this year's harvest season, in what the outlet describes as escalating attacks. Separately, Anadolu Agency reports that two Palestinians, a 63-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, were hospitalised after an assault by Israeli forces on farmers in the West Bank town of Abu Falah, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency
Gaza strikes and demolitions continue despite ceasefire
Anadolu Agency reports that an Israeli drone strike wounded four Palestinians in Gaza despite the ceasefire, with Israeli warships also reported to have fired more than 40 times along Rafah's coast. Middle East Monitor separately reported the demolition of a residential building housing two Palestinian families near Hebron in the West Bank, days after other demolitions, amid concerns that the international community is not objecting to what is described as permanent forced displacement of Palestinians.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor
China and Türkiye press Israel over settlements and Gaza crisis
BBC News and Al Jazeera report that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Israel must stop what he called the forced establishment of West Bank settlements, describing the Palestinian question as the greatest historical injustice of the century. Separately, Anadolu Agency reports that Turkish officials, including the parliament speaker, said the international community can no longer ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, as Türkiye's foreign minister prepares to raise Palestinian unity at an upcoming meeting of Muslim-majority states in Baghdad.
Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, Anadolu Agency
Nineteen countries condemn Colombia's Jerusalem embassy move
Anadolu Agency reports that nineteen countries have condemned Colombia's decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, saying it violates UN Security Council resolutions and undermines efforts towards a two-state solution. Middle East Monitor separately cited diplomats saying Colombia's related withdrawal from South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice reflects alignment with the United States.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor
Palestinian prisoners report being shot by guards, UN envoy warns of 'subjugation'
Anadolu Agency reports that Israeli rights groups have documented 22 accounts of Palestinian prisoners being shot by guards, with serious injuries recorded. Separately, Palestine's deputy UN envoy, Majed Bamya, said Israeli demands amount to permanent subjugation of Palestinians, arguing that annexation cannot be justified by security concerns anywhere in the region.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, Anadolu Agency
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.
