London Archives - CrossFireArarbia

Israel Orders Closure of The UK Consulate in East Jerusalem

CrossFireArabia
September 9, 2026

Israel has notified the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem that it must close within 30 days, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported Wednesday.

The move came shortly after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, along with sanctions targeting companies and individuals involved in settlement expansion.

According to KAN, Israel gave the consulate 30 days to shut down, after which British diplomats stationed there will lose their accreditation.

Earlier Tuesday, Miliband announced in the House of Commons a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, sanctions on companies and individuals facilitating settlement expansion, and additional sanctions on extremist Israeli occupiers accused of supporting or inciting violence against Palestinians.

He also said the UK would reject new arms export licenses for items that materially contribute to the occupation while maintaining the suspension of 30 existing licenses.

Miliband said the British government agrees that there is “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians” in the occupied West Bank perpetrated by Israeli “settler terrorists.”

Netanyahu driving Israel toward international isolation

The Israeli opposition has repeatedly accused Netanyahu of driving the country toward international isolation through his government’s policies and the genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu himself acknowledged about a year ago that Israel is entering a form of isolation.

Since taking office in late 2022, Netanyahu’s government has approved 104 new illegal settlements, while 160 agricultural outposts have been established in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian figures.

During the first half of 2026, Israeli occupiers carried out 3,488 attacks in the occupied West Bank, killing 17 Palestinians and fully or partially displacing 26 Bedouin and pastoral communities, according to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. The commission also documented the establishment of 42 new illegal outposts.

Around 750,000 Israeli occupiers live in 194 illegal settlements and 400 illegal outposts across the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian figures.

Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects. Anadolu

Culture News

Youssef Heikal: Last Mayor of Yafa

CrossFireArabia
September 2, 2026

From Palestinian Heritage:

Youssef Heikal was politician and a legal scholar who he was born in Yafa in 1907, called in English Jaffa. His father was a prominent figure and a nationalist.

He received his primary and preparatory education in Jaffa and completed his secondary education at the Arab College in Jerusalem and then traveled to France, earning a Bachelor of Law degree from Paris, a Postgraduate-diploma in Political Science and International Relations, a Postgraduate-diploma in Economics, and a Phd in Legal and Economic Sciences.

He traveled to Britain and received a doctorate in political science from the University of London. Due to his academic excellence, the university awarded him the Hutchinson Medal, which is given annually to the top graduate student at the university. Youssef Heikal was the only Arab to receive this medal since its inception. He began his career as the director of Islamic endowments and schools in Palestine from 1939 to 1943, and then served as a judge in the Central Court of Nablus from 1943 to 1945.

He completed postgraduate studies in law at the University of Montpellier in France and went on to study Criminology, Economics and Political Science at the Sorbonne, with honors. He then completed his doctorate in 1935. Until 1937, he studied at the London School of Economics. That year, he returned to Jaffa and published his book, “The Palestine Question.”

In 1938, he was appointed Director of Waqf (Islamic endowments) in the district of Lod. He was later promoted to Director of Waqf and Islamic Schools throughout Palestine and appointed to the Committee for the Supervision of Arab Education. In these positions, he traveled and spoke throughout the country about the need for Arab unity. In 1942, his book, based on his speeches, “Towards Arab Unity” (or “Towards Arab Unity”), was published. From 1943 to 1945, he served as a judge in the Magistrate’s Court in Nablus.

In 1945, he was elected Mayor of Jaffa. He served in this capacity until May 5, 1948, when he left for Jordan. In Jordan, he served on the Jordanian Armistice Commission and established the Palestinian Ministry to address the Palestinian refugee problem. He served for 16 years as his country’s ambassador to Washington (1959-1962), Paris, London, and Taipei. and United Nations institutions.

In 1969, he published his book “The June Defeat” (or “The June War”) about the Arab defeat in the Six-Day War. In 1971, his book “Palestine: Before and After” (or “Palestine: Before and After”) was published.

He died in Amman, Jordan in 1989.

Culture News

UK Performer Raises The Palestinian Flag in Curtain Call

marwan
July 28, 2026

A London Opera performer raised a Palestinian flag during the final curtain call and refused to let it be taken away when a staff member attempted to remove it. The moment was captured on video and quickly spread across the social media, sparking widespread discussion about artistic expression, peaceful protest, and solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Disclaimer: This caption summarizes publicly reported events at London’s Royal Opera House. The flag display was described by the Royal Ballet and Opera as an unauthorized act by the performer, and the incident generated significant public debate and differing reactions.

#London #PalesTine #GaZa #RoyalOperaHouse #WorldNews

News

Murdered Palestinian Cartoonist Wanted to Reach Palestine With His Art

marwan
July 23, 2026

On this day, July 22, 1987, an unknown assailant shot Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali in London, wounding him below his right eye. He remained in a coma until his death on August 29.

Al Ali drew with one goal: To reach Palestine with his art. For him, the road to Palestine was neither far nor near; it was the distance of a revolution.

The martyred Palestinian writer, novelist, and journalist Ghassan Kanafani discovered him after seeing his drawings during a visit to the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. Kanafani published his first cartoon in the magazine “Al-Hurriya” in 1961: it depicted a tent with a hand waving from its peak.

All of Al Ali’s drawings featured the character of Handala, a 10-year-old boy who symbolizes the suffering yet resilient Palestinian. Despite all the hardships he faces, Hanthala is a truthful witness to events, fearless and unconcerned, with his back to the world and his hands behind his back. Al Ali introduced other characters who accompanied Hanthala, including the Palestinian woman represented by Fatima, a strong, angry, and uncompromising figure whose stance on the Palestinian cause is clear. This contrasts with her husband, a hardworking, thin, mustachioed fighter, hesitant and submissive, yet ultimately a kind and peaceful man.

Even today, the British police issues an appeal every year for information about him, hoping that “someone will feel more able to speak freely,” according to Scotland Yard’s latest appeal.

May his soul rest in peace.

Culture News

In Memory of Naji al-Ali

CrossFireArabia
July 23, 2026

Artist Said Elatab writes:

This painting is dedicated to the memory of Naji al-Ali, the prominent Palestinian cartoonist and artist whose work gave voice to the struggles and hopes of the Palestinian people. He was shot by an unknown gunman in London in 1987 and later died from his injuries.

His art continues to inspire generations. Through his iconic character, Handala, his spirit lives on as a symbol of resilience, justice, and the enduring Palestinian story.