Newspapers of Palestine, from Ramallah to Gaza

In Palestine, news is read mainly in Arabic in Al-Quds, Al-Ayyam, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida or Felesteen, through the WAFA agency, also available in English and French, on Palestine TV and on sites such as Ma'an or Dunia Al-Watan, mostly free.

Falastin, the Jaffa newspaper founded in 1911

The history of the Palestinian press begins under the Ottoman Empire. Falastin, founded in Jaffa in 1911 by Issa al-Issa, became one of the great Arab newspapers of the British Mandate. After 1948, titles moved to East Jerusalem, then under Jordanian administration.

Al-Quds, Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida

Al-Quds, created in Jerusalem in 1951, remains the most widely circulated daily, with a relatively independent tone. Al-Ayyam, launched in Ramallah in 1995, is a private title, while Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, born in 1994, is linked to the Palestinian Authority.

Arabic, English, Hebrew: which languages to read?

Arabic dominates the whole press, from Nablus to Khan Younis. English serves internationally minded sites such as IMEMC, based in Beit Sahour. Understanding Hebrew helps when weighing these sources against the Israeli press, which Palestinian media often quote.

Gaza, West Bank, Jerusalem: a divided press

Since 2007, the split between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza has shaped the media. Felesteen, a Gaza daily turned website, and Al-Aqsa TV reflect the Hamas line, while the Ramallah titles stay close to the Authority.

Ma'an, Dunia Al-Watan and rolling news sites

The Ma'an agency, founded in Bethlehem in 2005, popularised independent online news in Arabic and English. Dunia Al-Watan, based in Gaza, ranks among the most visited sites. Telegram and Facebook relay local alerts in real time.

WAFA, the official agency in three languages

The WAFA agency, founded in 1972 by the PLO and now attached to the Palestinian Authority, publishes in Arabic, English and French. It carries statements from the presidency in Ramallah, figures from the Ministry of Health and diplomatic news.

Palestine TV and the Voice of Palestine

The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation brings together Palestine TV and the Voice of Palestine radio, both based in Ramallah. Their bulletins and live streams are available online. Local radio stations in Hebron, Nablus and Jenin add news from closer to home.

Arab48 and Palestinian voices beyond the territories

Arab48 serves Palestinian citizens of Israel, from Nazareth to Haifa. Abroad, The Palestine Chronicle publishes in English and the London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi follows the cause. The Jordanian press also covers Palestinian affairs extensively.

Economy, the Nablus stock exchange and football

The business pages of Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds follow the Palestine Exchange, based in Nablus, transfers of tax revenue and trade. Sport also has a real place, with the West Bank football league and the national team.

Working as a journalist under occupation and in war

Palestinian journalists work under heavy constraints: movement restrictions, arrests and pressure from rival authorities. The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin in May 2022 and the many journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 have marked the profession.

How to verify information coming out of Gaza

In wartime, old images and rumours spread fast. Cross-check WAFA, Al-Quds, an international agency and the regional Arab press. Palestinian sites remain free with no paywall, and WAFA offers French dispatches useful to French-speaking readers.

Bethlehem, Hebron and cultural news

Beyond the conflict, the local press covers Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, the olive harvest, the heritage of Hebron's old city and the cultural scene in Ramallah. These sections shed light on everyday life often missing from foreign media.

Following Palestinian news from abroad

1. Read Al-Quds every day alongside a second daily, Al-Ayyam or Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, to compare their editorial lines.
2. Add WAFA, available in French, for official statements and figures released in Ramallah.
3. Follow a Gaza site such as Felesteen or Dunia Al-Watan to gauge the local perspective in the enclave.
4. Listen to the Voice of Palestine or watch Palestine TV live during major events.
5. Compare sensitive information with international agencies and the Israeli press.
6. Always confirm when and where a video was filmed before passing it on.

Access and subscriptions for the Palestinian press

Useful facts about Palestinian media

• Main language: Arabic; English and French available on WAFA
• News agency: WAFA, the Palestinian News and Information Agency
• Public broadcasting: Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (Palestine TV, Voice of Palestine)
• Most widely circulated daily: Al-Quds, in Jerusalem
• Time zone: UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer
• Currencies in use: Israeli shekel and Jordanian dinar

Common mistakes when reading the Palestinian press

• Confusing Al-Quds, the Jerusalem daily founded in 1951, with Al-Quds Al-Arabi, a pan-Arab daily published in London.
• Ignoring which camp an outlet belongs to: Felesteen and Al-Aqsa TV are Hamas media, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida is tied to the Palestinian Authority.
• Sharing an old video from Gaza presented as recent without checking when it was first published.
• Treating an anonymous Telegram account as a reliable source during bombardments or military operations.
• Quoting a casualty toll without stating which institution compiled it and on what date.

Common questions about Palestinian newspapers