AGP Executive Report

Palestinian Arts & Culture: Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters is set to executive produce director Rishi Pelham’s documentary Freedom Theatre, following artist Ahmed Tobasi as he fights to keep Jenin’s legendary theatre alive amid imminent destruction. Film & Festivals: Venice Film Festival coverage turns sharply political, with No Other Land’s NAZA and other Gaza- and Israel-focused titles expected to dominate conversations on the Lido. Sports Under Siege: Gaza’s sports community is in crisis after Israel’s attacks killed at least 1,014 Palestinian athletes and sports personnel, with clubs and facilities repeatedly destroyed. Everyday Culture, Now Criminalized: Gaza children’s kite-flying—once a beloved pastime—has become a fear after Israeli orders targeting kites and drones, leaving families tearing up what used to be play. Media & Safety: Masked Israeli settlers attacked an NBC News crew and a Palestinian woman in the West Bank, smashing a vehicle and injuring staff, while the incident drew condemnation from Israeli officials. Arts Memory: A Palestinian painting story and Gaza’s cultural losses keep resurfacing, including efforts to preserve artifacts after strikes.

Palestinian Culture & Film: Annemarie Jacir’s historical epic Palestine ’36—built around the 1936 revolt—kept fighting for one Jerusalem shot even after the Oct. 7 attack shut down filming plans, and now the film has landed on an Oscars shortlist. Music & Solidarity: Irish rap trio Kneecap closed Reading Festival with a Palestinian flag on the decks, shouting “f* Benjamin Netanyahu” and turning the set into a direct Palestine solidarity moment. **Protest & Rights: In Gaza City, dozens rallied for answers on missing people, calling for an independent mechanism and forensic support; in the West Bank, masked settlers attacked an NBC crew and a Palestinian woman in Jalud. International Law: South Africa accused Israel of defying ICJ binding genocide orders and submitted a dossier urging “necessary action” to prevent and punish genocide. Regional Tensions: Iran said the Strait of Hormuz won’t reopen until US commitments are met, as US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers.

UAE–Palestine Solidarity: Over 50,000 people packed Expo City Dubai for “Emirates Loves Palestine,” with UAE officials reaffirming “security and stability” for Palestinians. Gaza Human Toll: Israeli shelling and gunfire killed at least two Palestinians (including a child) in central Gaza, while other strikes reported deaths and injuries across the Strip despite a ceasefire. Missing Persons Demand: Protesters in Gaza City marked the International Day of the Disappeared, calling for an independent mechanism and a unified database for thousands of missing people. West Bank Press Under Attack: The Foreign Press Association condemned settler violence after an NBC News team was attacked near Jalud, with damage to vehicles and injuries to journalists and a Palestinian woman. Prison Conditions Spotlight: Palestinian groups denounced Itamar Ben-Gvir’s filmed raid on women prisoners in Damon Prison as intimidation and humiliation, while reports also flagged worsening medical suffering in Israeli jails. Palestinian Fashion in the Spotlight: Olivia Rodrigo wore a handmade tatreez dress by Ramallah-based Nöl Collective at Daisy Chain Fields, boosting global attention to Palestinian craft. Cultural Memory & Identity: A new piece argues Palestinian Christians are “disappearing” and warns that repeated warnings lack a real plan.

West Bank Settler Violence: Netanyahu condemned “criminal acts of violence” after masked settlers attacked a Palestinian woman and an NBC News crew in Jalud, injuring multiple people and drawing fresh international outrage. Siege in Qusra: Settlers ended a weeks-long siege of a Palestinian home in Qusra, with reports of injuries as Israeli forces reportedly cordoned off the area without stopping the assault. Gaza Heritage Salvage: Volunteers salvaged stones and marble columns from the damaged Abu Salim Mosque in Deir al-Balah, aiming to preserve pieces for possible future restoration. Film & Palestine at Venice: Venice Film Festival scrapped its jury press conference amid pressure over Gaza coverage, as filmmakers and artists renewed calls to spotlight Palestine, including a Venice4Palestine petition. Arts/Community in the UAE: Tens of thousands joined “Emirates Loves Palestine” in Dubai, celebrating Palestinian culture and heritage. Free Speech in the US: A federal judge ruled the Trump administration violated the Constitution by targeting noncitizen students for pro-Palestinian speech, reinforcing press and speech protections. Palestinian Culture in Motion: DFI selected eight Palestine-supported films for the 83rd Venice festival, keeping Arab voices on the global cinema map.

Health Under Fire: An Israeli strike hit a medicine storage facility at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, wounding three and adding to repeated damage to Gaza health supplies. UNRWA Under Pressure: Israel’s withdrawal from the Qalandiya Training Centre in East Jerusalem doesn’t end control, officials say—doors were welded shut, surveillance installed, and UN assets reportedly looted after a raid. Settler Violence in the West Bank: Settlers besieged a Qusra home for weeks before breaking in, with injuries reported; elsewhere, settlers attacked women picking figs and assaulted journalists in Jalud. Prisoner Health Crisis: Palestinian prisoners’ media reports severe medical neglect for detainees, including diabetes and infections in “Ganot” prison and brutal abuse in Ramleh’s “Rakevet” section. Cultural Ties & Resistance: Palestinians in the UAE marked “Emirates Loves Palestine” with music and food, while tributes continue for artist Sliman Mansour, a defining figure of Palestinian art. Arts & Film Spotlight: Venice Film Festival open letters and Palestine-focused screenings keep Palestine in the spotlight, including Gaza-related documentaries.

Palestinian Art: Sliman Mansour, the Intifada-era painter who turned faces, land, and memory into a visual language of resistance, has died at 79 in Jerusalem, with tributes highlighting how his work was repeatedly censored yet remained a cornerstone of contemporary Palestinian art. Film & Activism: Venice4Palestine is urging the Venice Film Festival to take a stronger pro-Palestinian stance as Gaza continues to burn, pointing to the festival’s earlier attention to “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and calling for more concrete action. Culture & Pride: Ottawa’s Capital Pride parade returns after last year’s cancellation amid backlash over a “Solidarity with Palestine” statement, reigniting debate over how arts and events handle Palestine-related politics. Sports & Protest: The Sydney Marathon faces potential disruption fears as protest groups target the event over the presence of Israeli Defence Forces representatives, putting sport’s public stage in the middle of the Palestine conversation. Arts, Borders & Speech: A federal court ruling in the US struck down speech-based deportation statutes, a reminder that free expression battles are playing out alongside Palestine-related activism. Gaza on Screen: The “NAZA” Gaza documentary from No Other Land directors is set for Venice competition, keeping Palestinian lived reality at the center of major film festival discourse.

Gaza on the brink: A US peace official warned the ceasefire could hit a “point of no return” as strikes and violations continue, with civilians still trapped in overcrowded shelters. Airstrikes and camp conditions: Reports say at least four people were killed in Gaza strikes, including a tent shelter hit in the south, as displacement camps struggle with worsening sanitation and pests. Jenin crackdown: An IDF drone strike near Jenin reportedly killed three men tied to a Hamas network, with delays to rescue crews also raised. Arts & memory: Palestinian visual art pioneer Sliman Mansour, known for works tied to land and resistance, died at 79; tributes highlighted his role in shaping Palestinian visual identity. Film festival politics: Venice4Palestine renewed calls for the Venice Film Festival to take “concrete action” for Palestine, pointing to Palestinian films in the lineup. Protest under pressure: In Scotland, seven Palestine Action activists face charges framed as having a “terrorist connection” over vandalism at Trump Turnberry. Culture as conflict: Israel’s new threats over Gaza kites and balloons add another layer to how childhood symbols are being treated as security issues.

US Terror Designations: The Trump administration designated UK group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, with UN rights chief Volker Turk calling it a disproportionate, unnecessary curb on free speech that will chill civic space; the move follows similar UK bans and sparked international condemnation. Sanctions & Tech Networks: The US also sanctioned Europe-based groups Autistici/Inventati and Masar Badil, alleging links to extremist activity and support for Palestinian prisoners. Gaza Under Ceasefire Strain: Despite a ceasefire that began in Oct 2025, Israeli strikes killed Palestinians in Gaza, including drone attacks and shelling, while raids and settler pressure continued in the West Bank. West Bank Flashpoint: Qusra is framed as a warning sign of a broader “new Plan Dalet” approach, with siege tactics and settler control tightening daily life. Culture & Memory: UNESCO paid tribute to Palestinian artist Suleiman Mansour, while Palestinians in Gaza worked to salvage artifacts from a historic mosque after an Israeli strike. Diplomacy: Xi Jinping met Jordan’s King Abdullah and urged a four-point path centered on a two-state solution, Palestinian self-governance, humanitarian protection, and justice. Arts/Entertainment: A separate pop-culture item had Gigi Hadid sharing a prosciutto-and-herb pasta recipe she says she makes for Bradley Cooper.

OIC Diplomacy: Malaysia’s foreign minister urged OIC states to reject Israel’s illegal settlement push, back the ICJ advisory opinion, and press for a permanent Gaza ceasefire plus unhindered humanitarian access. Gaza Under Strain: Fresh Israeli strikes killed Palestinians across Gaza, while UN warnings say the enclave is at a “total breaking point” despite the ceasefire. West Bank & Quds Pressure: Reports highlight raids and arrests, escalating demolitions and stop-work orders tied to settlement expansion, and continued withholding of martyrs’ bodies—fueling “suspended mourning” for families. Media & Accountability: Palestinian journalists welcomed British calls to hold Israel accountable for attacks on journalists in Gaza, urging tighter sanctions and independent investigations. Culture & Identity: In East Jerusalem, “Damascus Gate” signs were reportedly replaced with “Ancient Gate,” sparking claims of efforts to alter the city’s Palestinian and historical identity. Arts/Entertainment: A Gaza soccer photo was removed from a French sports photography festival after requests to avoid “offending” anyone. Palestine in the UAE: Dubai announced an “Emirates Loves Palestine” cultural day drawing thousands for performances, food, and heritage displays.

Palestinian Arts & Culture: Tributes and a public funeral marked the loss of Sliman Mansour, the “Camel of Hardship” painter and a key voice in Palestinian art and resistance. Local Arts Ecosystems: From Ramallah to Dubai, Palestinian art is drawing new collectors—showing how culture travels even when politics blocks movement. West Bank Cultural Memory Under Pressure: Far-right Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot smashed a Palestinian memorial in Madama with a sledgehammer, intensifying criticism over attacks on community remembrance. Community Arts Spaces: In Los Angeles, the Bruin Theatre revival project is reportedly fracturing amid allegations tied to the lease operator—another reminder that arts venues can become battlegrounds. Media & Accountability: A new investigation into the Nasser hospital strikes renews calls for international accountability, with journalists and civilians at the center of the dispute. Diaspora Spotlight: A Canadian museum controversy over a Nakba exhibit highlights how Palestine-focused programming keeps colliding with governance and public debate.

West Bank Settlements & E1: Denmark and 20 other countries, with the EU, signed a joint declaration condemning Israel’s E1 settlement tenders, warning they could fracture West Bank contiguity and harm prospects for a two-state solution. UNRWA Under Pressure: Israel began evacuating UNRWA facilities in Jerusalem, including the Kafr Aqab/Qalandiya Training Centre raid, with UNRWA and rights groups denouncing the move as an attack on protected services. Courtroom Fight Over Trade: Dutch evangelical group Christians for Israel is suing the Netherlands to block a planned ban on importing goods from illegal West Bank and Golan settlements. Palestine Action Terror Designation: Reports say the US plans to designate the UK protest group Palestine Action as a global terrorist organization, triggering asset freezes and visa bans. Culture Spotlight: A Gaza documentary, “NAZA,” backed by “No Other Land” directors, is set for Venice, while Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour’s death at 79 sparked tributes across the arts world. Sports & Solidarity: An Iraqi MMA fighter withdrew from a youth championship rather than face an Israeli opponent, citing support for the Palestinian cause.

Gaza Under “Truce” Scrutiny: Reports say Israel’s ceasefire violations continue on the ground, with strikes and raids hitting civilians despite diplomatic claims. UNRWA in the Spotlight: Israeli forces raided and began demolishing the UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre in East Jerusalem, while journalists were reportedly injured during the Qalandia Institute seizure. Kites as a Flashpoint: A US-led Gaza peace board warned Hamas to stop kite-flying after Israeli threats of retaliation; the UN called the rhetoric “outrageous,” especially given children’s involvement. Human Cost in Gaza: Medical sources reported multiple Palestinian deaths in strikes and gunfire across Gaza despite ceasefire violations, alongside allegations of severe conditions for detainees in Megiddo Prison. Arts & Culture: Palestinian heritage gets a spotlight in Florida as Bazaar47 rebrands a community venue under Palestinian owner Laila Fakhoury; and the Venice Film Festival adds Gaza documentary “NAZA,” centered on Palestinian civilian casualties. Remembering Sliman Mansour: Tributes continue after the death of the influential Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour, widely celebrated for carrying “land and memory” through art.

Palestinian Arts & Culture: Iconic resistance artist Sliman Mansour has died at 79, leaving behind decades of paintings, sculpture, writing and cartoons rooted in Palestinian memory and struggle. Film & Screen: Gaza documentary “NAZA,” by the “No Other Land” team, has been added to the Venice Film Festival competition lineup—bringing Gaza’s “calculated killing” to a major global stage. Local Arts as Escape: A Gaza cinema project is giving displaced girls a weekly break from war, turning TV screenings into a small pocket of normal life. Cultural Memory Under Pressure: Reports say Palestinian Authority schools used October 7 in math lessons and assemblies, sparking backlash over how violence is framed for children. Arts, Politics & Public Space: Montreal’s city council adopted an amended Gaza motion, removing calls to label apartheid/genocide and to suspend ties with Israel—showing how cultural-political activism is reshaping local debate. Humanitarian/Institutions: Israel seized UNRWA’s Qalandia Training Centre in East Jerusalem, escalating fears for refugee education and training.

West Bank Settlements: Singapore’s foreign ministry reiterated that Israel’s E1 settlement expansion is illegal and urged Israel to halt the 1,200+ housing-unit tender, warning it fractures the West Bank and harms any two-state path. Gaza Ceasefire Under Fire: Gaza’s Government Media Office says Israel has killed 21,500+ Palestinian children and targeted 1,244 mosques since Oct 2023, while attacks continue despite ceasefire claims. Palestinian Arts Loss: Iconic Ramallah-born painter Sliman Mansour, known for works like “Camel of Hardship,” died at 79, leaving a legacy of sumud and collective memory. Film Spotlight: Venice Film Festival added “NAZA,” a Gaza-focused investigative documentary by the “No Other Land” team, to its main competition, intensifying global scrutiny of Israel’s Gaza “calculated mass killing” claims. Regional Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia and France reaffirmed Palestinian statehood and called for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, while urging diplomacy over Iran and safer Strait of Hormuz navigation. Controversy in Sports Culture: San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York pleaded no contest in an Ohio prostitution sting after charges were reduced—another off-field story dominating headlines.

Gaza Under Ceasefire, Still Hit: Israeli drones struck tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, killing at least one man and injuring others, while Hamas says ceasefire violations have surged to 4,379 since October 2025. Kites as Flashpoint: Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz warn of intensified Gaza strikes and possible evacuations tied to kite launches near the border, with Israel saying no explosives were found. West Bank Siege Tactics: Ynet reports repeated settler-led intimidation and home sieges in Qusra and Jalud, including fuel threats and blocked deliveries. Lebanon Escalation: In southern Lebanon, Israeli shelling and demolitions reportedly killed two teenagers and burned fields, with homes blown up in Khiam. Venice Film Festival Spotlight: The Venice Film Festival adds “NAZA,” a Gaza-civilian-toll documentary by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor (Guardian-produced), to the Golden Lion competition, continuing the festival’s Palestine-focused spotlight. International Pressure: UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese calls for an urgent international protection presence in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

Gaza Under Threat: Israeli PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas of intensified targeted strikes and possible evacuations after kite and balloon launches from Gaza, even as reports say recovered kites carried no explosives. Ceasefire Violations: A drone strike hit a displacement tent near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, killing two Palestinians and injuring others, with daily ceasefire breaches continuing. West Bank Crackdown: RSF condemned Israeli army attacks and obstructions against Palestinian journalists amid escalating violence by settlers. Political Shifts: A new PSR poll says Hamas support fell while distrust in both Hamas and Fatah rises, with Marwan Barghouti emerging as a strong electoral alternative ahead of Nov. 28 elections. Arts & Media Spotlight: Mark Ruffalo pushed back against Paramount Skydance after accusations of “antisemitic tropes,” as the dispute ties into broader debates over Gaza, technology, and accountability. Regional Diplomacy: UAE joined other Islamic states backing sanctions targeting Israel’s E1 settlement project.