Mahmoud Khalil Sues Columbia as UN Raises Alarm Over Gaza's Rubble
September 15, 2026. Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is suing Columbia University, the UN's human rights chief warned about remains being cleared from Gaza's rubble, and a new report detailed the West Bank crisis. Here's each story in brief, with links to the original reporting.
Mahmoud Khalil Sues Columbia University
Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestinian activist the Trump administration tried to deport, is suing Columbia University and one of its deans over alleged institutional racism against pro-Palestine students. Last month a federal judge ruled against his deportation, finding the administration had violated students' constitutional rights.
Sources: Al Jazeera
UN Rights Chief Criticizes Rubble Clearing in Gaza
UN human rights chief Volker Türk criticized how Israel is clearing debris in Gaza, as the discovery of extensive remains fuels concern that evidence of war crimes is being lost. Gaza's Civil Defense has recovered more than 630 bodies and remains since November 2025.
Sources: Al Jazeera, OCHA
West Bank Violence Is Deliberate, Rights Group Says
Israeli rights group B'Tselem says settler violence, restrictions and land seizures in the occupied West Bank are part of a campaign to break up Palestinian society, Al Jazeera's Nida Ibrahim reports.
Sources: Al Jazeera
Allies Urged to Investigate World Central Kitchen Attack
An Al Jazeera opinion piece calls on Canada, the UK and Australia to investigate the 2024 killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza, after Israel declined to pursue criminal charges.
Sources: Al Jazeera
Inside B'Tselem's 'Elimination Project' Report
B'Tselem's report details five tactics it says Israel uses to break up Palestinian life in the West Bank, from violence to land seizures.
Sources: Al Jazeera
Gaza Families Face a Costly School Choice
As classes begin, Gaza families must choose between under-equipped tent schools and private schools they cannot afford.
Sources: Al Jazeera
Settler Attacks Hit 275 Communities
Settler attacks have affected 275 Palestinian communities in 2026, nearly matching last year's record of 279.
Sources: OCHA
Background
Almost a year after the ceasefire, life in Gaza is still defined by destruction, ongoing strikes and shortages of fuel, machinery and medical supplies that make recovery all but impossible. Gaza's health ministry says more than 73,900 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 and over 174,000 wounded, including at least 1,381 killed since the ceasefire took effect.
Sources: Al Jazeera, OCHA
The West Bank has seen its own escalation. UN figures show 275 Palestinian communities hit by settler attacks this year, close to last year's record and the highest since monitoring began in 2006. More than 4,300 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank this year, over a third of them by demolitions carried out because families lacked permits to build on their own land. Aid agencies say there are few safe options left: over 90 percent of Gaza is in ruins, and with nowhere else to go, families shelter in damaged buildings.
Sources: OCHA
Humanitarian access remains the central obstacle. Aid groups say the machinery, fuel and spare parts needed to clear rubble and repair water and power systems are still restricted, while two million people depend on supplies that arrive irregularly. International law runs alongside events on the ground. The International Court of Justice found the occupation unlawful in July 2024, and South Africa's genocide case remains before the court.
Sources: OCHA
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