PALSTAMPS     NEWS

[Return to Home Page]     [West Bank issues]      [Gaza issues]      [Special Offers]     [Palestine Related Stamps catalogue]     [Iraq Dome of the Rock overprints]     [Hand Stamped Overprints]      [Fakes]


On this page you will find information about proposed new issues, news about developments
within Palestine Posts such as opening of new post offices, and anything else relating to
Palestinian Authority stamps which we think will interest you.

This page last updated - 18th December 2023

18th December 2023
In 2023 we were able to donate 3,706 Euros to Palestine

10th September 2023
Still to expect this year (2023)- see previous post 6th January, below
National Womens' Day
The oldest olive tree in the world
International Day of older people
The joint Arabic Postal Stamp Arab League meeting in Algeria

And: another four issues, meant for 2023 or 2024....still uncertain..
Euromed Festivals
Salah Al din
Joint issue with Iraq, Traditional Handicrafts
Banksy

6th January 2023
Titles of the 13 new issues planned for 2023 are as follows:
1. Jerusalem, permanent capital of Islamic culture
2. The poet Haroun Hashjem Rashid
3. National Womens' Day
4. The oldest olive tree in the world
5. Covid 19
6. Historic landmarks: Mosaic Hisham's Palace; Mar Saba monastry; the Roman Amphitheater
7. International Day of older people
8. Nature reserves in Palestine
9 The 50th Anniversary of Ghassan Kanafani
10. Occupational safety and health
11. Palestine post codes
12. The joint Arabic Postal Stamp Arab League meeting .in Algeria
13. The joint Arabic Postal Stamp World Cup in Qatar

31st October 2022
(1) Palestine Posts is planning thirteen new issues. When they will appear is as yet unknown.
(2) There are now 22 new revenue stamps with QR code (2020, 2021, 2022). All are available. Just send us an email for further details.

21st August 2022
Latest thirteen additions to Palestine Posts post offices are:
Alkarmeil, Al Oja, Barta'a, Az Zawiya, Dura rural, Freres, Kafr ad Dik, Nahhalinh, Nuba, Qabalan, Rafidia, Salim, Tuqu'.

16th August 2022
This year Palestine will issue some stamps dedicated to "60 Years Algeria" celebrating the country's freedom from French rule. There will also be an issue commemorating Ghassan Kanafani, the Palestinian author and leading member of the former Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was assassinated by Mossad in response to the Lod airport massacre. Dates of issue are unknown.

13 October 2021
We have been informed that the Israeli authorities have now permitted the release of the 6th December 2018 issue "Jerusalem, Capital of Palestine". The issue consists of two stamps, one souvenir sheet, and two FDC's.
Palstamps will be offering the issue before the end of October/early November 2021.
Keep visiting this page for updates.

21 May 2021
We have been informed that five of the expected seven new issues are ready for distribution. We are informed that "The quality of the stamps is not 100% because the printer was unable to overcome some problems".
The two missing issues are "Palestinian Martyrs" and "Arab & Muslim Scientists", and we do not know whether they will appear later - if at all. We hope to offer the available items for sale in early June.
Keep visiting this page for updates.

9th June 2020 - UPDATED 27th April 2022
Palestine Post has issued the following list of proposed new issues and we have given them Palstamps reference numbers.
To date none of the stamps have been printed, but as soon as we have more news we will add an update to this page.

Palstamps #
Planned issue date
Subject
Items
449
1st October 2019
150th Anniversary of Mahatma Ghandi's Birth
Souvenir sheet with one stamp
450
1st October 2019
150th Anniversary of Mahatma Ghandi's Birth
FDC
451
17th November 2019
Arab and Muslim Scientists
Souvenir sheet with 6 stamps
452
17th November 2019
Arab and Muslim Scientists
FDC
453
6th December 2019
Al Quds - Jerusalem
Souvenir sheet with 6 stamps
454
6th December 2019
Al Quds - Jerusalem
FDC
455
8th December 2019
70th Anniversary of the founding of UNRWA
2 stamps
456
8th December 2019
70th Anniversary of the founding of UNRWA
FDC
457
8th December 2019
70th Anniversary of the founding of UNRWA
Full sheets of 10 stamps
458
8th December 2019
70th Anniversary of the founding of UNRWA
Souvenir sheet with 1 stamp
459
8th December 2019
70th Anniversary of the founding of UNRWA
FDC with Souvenir sheet
460
17th December 2019
100th Anniversary of Dr.Haider Abdel-Shafi & Emile Touma
Souvenir sheet with 2 stamps
461
17th December 2019
100th Anniversary of Dr.Haider Abdel-Shafi & Emile Touma
FDC
462*
7th January 2020
Palestinian Martyrs in the Cemeteries of Numbers
2 stamps
463*
7th January 2020
Palestinian Martyrs in the Cemeteries of Numbers
FDC
464*
7th January 2020
Palestinian Martyrs in the Cemeteries of Numbers
Full sheets of 10 stamps
465
7th January 2020
Palestinian Martyrs in the Cemeteries of Numbers
Souvenir sheet
466
7th January 2020
Palestinian Martyrs in the Cemeteries of Numbers
FDC with souvenir sheet
467
2020
Bethlehem, Capital of Arab Culture 2020
2 stamps
468
2020
Bethlehem, Capital of Arab Culture 2020
FDC
469
2020
Bethlehem, Capital of Arab Culture 2020
Full sheets of 10 stamps
470
2020
Bethlehem, Capital of Arab Culture 2020
Souvenir sheet with 1 stamp
471
2020
Bethlehem, Capital of Arab Culture 2020
FDC with souvenir sheet
* Numbers 462, 463, 464 were not issued.


More than a philatelic trip

In May 2018, I made my second trip to Palestine. Encouraged by Jan Blok I already had made an extremely interesting tour in March 2014. I could fulfil a dream of mine and visit more than 40 post offices at that time. I have been collecting not only Palestinian stamps but also postmarks from all post offices in the West Bank and Gaza strip for more than 20 years, I could list more than 500 postmarks which have been used at less than 100 offices of the Palestinian Post since 1994. The programme of this year's visit includes not only visits to the Philatelic Office in Al-Bireh or meetings with the postmasters of various post offices, as in in Hebron or Saffa but also a few excursions. Therefore, I could not only collect new postmarks and send letters home and to my fellow-philatelists in various countries but also see tourist attractions, for instance the newly built Palestinian city Rawabi, the Dead Sea, the Hellenic ruins of Sebastya or the famous baptism site in the Jordan River Valley Qasr el Yahud. We visited the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit and the Arafat Museum in Ramallah as well. Everywhere we were warmly welcomed, not only in our guest-house in Jifna near Ramallah where Rawda and Issa did their best as our hosts. Jan had rented a car and he drove without problems to the various places inside the Palestinian Territories. Moving by car around in a beautiful landscape with places of history and culture I never felt insecure. Even when we watched the manifestations on occasion of the Day of Naqba (15th of May) in the streets of Ramallah among other bystanders I did not get worried at all. The manifestation was impressive, well organized and peaceful. Using public transport was neither a problem. I went alone by bus from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem, took there the tram Nr. 1 to go to the old city where I met Jan. We took one of the buses which are starting near the Damascus Gate in various directions into the Palestinian territories. We passed the checkpoint without having to show our passports. In contrast to my visit four years ago, I got the impression that the controls were quicker and more liberal. When I left Palestine after a week full of impressions and unforgettable moments I made the same experience. I hope, I will be fit and find time in the future to visit Palestine again. And I can only encourage all fellow-philatelists collecting Palestine stamps to visit this interesting piece of earth and its people.

Thomas Schubert

Posted 4th October 2018

West Bank (Ramallah) new issues for 2019

Only two West Bank issues are planned for 2019. They will be available from the end of July.

30th July 2018
A new Gaza issue will be released this week:
WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY
3 stamps and a souvenir sheet.
It was meant to appear on 14 April 2017, and will be available from Palstamps from 1st September.

Post Offices operational in Gaza, March 2018

1- Rafah    2- Khan Yunes    3- Bani Suhayla    4- Deir El-Balah    5- Al-Nuseirat    6- Omar El-Mokhtar    7- El-Shijaia   
8- Jabalya Camp    9- Beit Lahia    10- Beit Hanun   

Post Offices now closed in Gaza, March 2018

1 - El Bureij   2 - El Karara   3 - El Mughazi   4 - El Shati   5 - Kuza’a   6 - Zawaida   7 - Tal el Sultan

New Issues 2018
The programme for 2018 West Bank (Ramallah) issues will be made public in April.
There will be 11 new issues during the year.The first ones will be available as from April and will appear on the website in June.


GAZA, 3 October 2017:
The latest political development of the meeting of the Palestinian governments in Gaza appears to be a serious step toward reconciliation between the Palestinian factions.
We learned from Gaza Post that a set of new stamps, which should have been issued in Gaza in September, was postponed due to the governmental meetings.
Maybe the time of the separate postal system in Gaza is coming to an end, but the main thing is to see an improvement in the situation of the people of Gaza.

A new Gaza issue "World Post Day" planned for release in October 2016 is expected to be released 'within ten days or so' according to Gaza Posts.
(This message dated 8th February)

RAMALLAH [WEST BANK] NEW ISSUE PROGRAMME 2017

01/03/2017   Poet F. Touqan. - 2 stamps + fdc : S/S + fdc [issued as scheduled]
05/04/2017   Iris flower - 1 stamp + fdc : S/S + fdc [issued as scheduled]
01/06/2017   National Industries: Stone. 1 S/S + fdc [issued as scheduled]
17/07/2017   The Dead Sea. 1 S/S + fdc [issued as scheduled]
25/08/2017   Palm Trees and Dates. 3 stamps + fdc : S/S + fdc [issued as scheduled]
09/10/2017   World Post Day. 1 stamp + fdc [issued as scheduled]
14/12/2017   Palestinian Teachers' Day. 2 stamps + fdc : S/S + fdc [issued as scheduled]




We regretfully announce the passing of the author, Nader Abuljebain, in August 2019





Palestinian History in Postage Stamps
Now Updated

The book has 493 pages with hundreds of colour illustrations of stamps

Size of book: 27 x 27 x 4 cms
10¾ x 10¾ x 1¾ ins approx

Weight: 2,75 kilos

ISBN: 978 - 9953 - 453 - 39 - 2

Price: 100 US$



The first book to display and examine Palestinian stamps in detail, with a bilingual Arabic and English text.
The first part of the book surveys the history of postage in Palestine and of the stamps issued in Palestine during various eras.
The second part displays most, if not all, of the stamps issued by the countries of the world about Palestine and the Palestinian cause

Follow this link for further details about the book

Palestinian History in Postage Stamps

To order the book directly email
Sales@palestine-studies.org
(This is not a live link)

What an adventure!

It was 1st May 2016 that I first met Jan, by arrangement, at my hotel in Jerusalem. We then caught the bus to Ramallah, and the adventure started. We were based at a family-run guest house in Jifna (biblical Ophni from Judges 18:24). Waleed joined us most days and Manhal also joined us for a short time. The thing that connected us was the fact that we all collect stamps of the Palestinian Authority, whether it is mint stamps, used stamps, covers, cancellations or whatever. I have a full collection of the mint stamps and my main aim was to find some of them used. As there are no stamp shops in Palestine, the only way to find used stamps is to buy them mint and use them on envelopes. In our time in Palestine we travelled north to south, east to west and visited about two dozen post offices as well as the main philatelic office in Al-Bireh. The staff of every post office we visited offered us coffee, and three even sent out for a take-away lunch for us. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging. Every post office simply handed over their books of stamps for us to peruse at leisure. We even got to place the cancellations on our envelopes ourselves to make sure they were readable. Apart from stamp collecting, we also visited Jacob's Well at Nablus, Hisham's Palace at Jericho, Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, Mar Saba Monastery and various other well-known places. We had a full tour of Hebron, including Abraham's tomb, and then our guide, Kifa, who is in charge of the Philatelic Bureau, took us to a very fashionable restaurant and bought us lunch. Although we had to pass through several Israeli checkpoints, and couldn't visit a few places because our hired car had Palestinian number plates, we were never in danger and saw no unrest between Palestinians and Israelis. I hope this inspires others to join the tour next year.
David Hague.



Posted 18 July 2016

Official opening day of the new Biddu Post Office on 12th August 2015.

6 Kilometres north-east of Jerusalem the post office opened originally on 22 June 2005 but moved to a renewed building on 14 December 2014.




Photographs courtesy of Palestine Post
(Place mouse pointer on pictures to enlarge)
Posted 25th August 2015

RAMALLAH [WEST BANK] NEW ISSUE PROGRAMME 2016
[Stamp values in Mils]

22/03/2016   Water in Palestine   Set of 2, [Issued 8th August]
22/03/2016   Water in Palestine   S/S - Block [Issued 8th August]
27/03/2016   Nativity Star      One stamp;    [Issued]
01/05/2016   International Workers Day   Set of 2 [Issued]
01/05/2016   International Workers Day   S/S - Block [Issued]
21/05/2016   Solomon's Pools   Set of 2, [Issued 8th August]
21/05/2016   Solomon's Pools   S/S - Block [Issued 8th August]
03/07/2016   Fish in the Mediterranean   [Issued]
30/09/2016   Flag Day
15/11/2016   Definitives   Set of 3 stamp   200, 1400, 4500
18/12/2016   Arabic Caligraphy Day   Set of 2   250, 420
18/12/2016   Arabic Caligraphy Day   S/S - Block -MS   1800







Original Post 26 April 2016
Update 22nd September 2016
GAZA ISSUES 2016
The Ministry of Communication and Information
Technology have issued
a set of stamps commemorating
"World Telecommunications & Information Society Day"

General Post Manager Selim Haraz Allah
said that the stamps will be available
at all post offices in Gaza and used
for mailing to all parts of the world.
The set contains three stamps plus a miniature sheet (block)
Available from this website
[See Gaza page]


Posted 17th May 2016

[Return to Home Page]     [West Bank issues]      [Gaza issues]      [Special Offers]     [Palestine Related Stamps catalogue]     [Hand Stamped Overprints]      [Links Page]      [Fakes]