Palestine & Gaza – Virtually Islamic News

Mon 17 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 28-9-2026AD
Gaza, Google, Palestine, War crimes

Google Earth on Gaza

Evidence of destruction:

Tue 17 Rajab 1447AH 6-1-2026AD
Gaza, Palestine, Phones, West Bank

4G West Bank

"The ministry said the two Palestinian mobile operators — Jawwal and Ooredoo — and Swedish infrastructure firm Ericsson signed management agreements that were approved by Israel on Sunday." Gaza...

Sun 25 Muharram 1447AH 20-7-2025AD
Gaza, Human Rights, Israel, Israel-Hamas Conflict 2025, Palestine, Pope Leo XIV, War crimes

Gaza in Crisis (cont/d)

Nick Maynard, a UK surgeon in Gaza, told BBC this morning he is seeing injuries cluster chronologically. Teenage boys are getting shot at the food distribution sites, but in...

Thu 15 Muharram 1447AH 10-7-2025AD
Gaza, Palestine, Research

The War on Gaza – social media report

7amleh Releases New Position Paper: “The War on Gaza: How Social Media Constructed Narratives and Solidarity among Gazans”, 9 Jul 2025. “The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social...

Sat 10 Muharram 1447AH 5-7-2025AD
Gaza, Palestine

Gaza and Coffee

Nagham Mohanna, The National, ‘It’s how we cope with life’: Gazans lament loss of coffee during war, 4 July 2025 “Ms Hameed is among many Gazans who see the...

Sat 10 Muharram 1447AH 5-7-2025AD
Palestine

Palestine Action

BBC News, Palestine Action banned after judge denies temporary block, 5 Jul 2025 “Palestine Action has been banned after a judge refused its request to temporarily block the UK...

Sun 5 Dhul Hijjah 1446AH 1-6-2025AD
Gaza, Human Rights, Palestine, War crimes

Gaza Under Attack – Video

NEW: At least 26 killed, 150 wounded as Israeli tanks reportedly open fire on starving Palestinians gathered at an aid station. BBC has geo-located this video at Salah al-Din...

Thu 24 Dhul Qidah 1446AH 22-5-2025AD
Gaza, Microsoft, Palestine

Tom Warren, The Verge, Microsoft blocks emails that contain ‘Palestine’ after employee protests, 21 May 2025 “Microsoft employees have discovered that any emails they send with the terms “Palestine”...

Thu 19 Shawwal 1446AH 17-4-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Gaza, Israel, Palestine

‘Genie‘ Intelligence Chatbot

Israel has begun operational deployment of a military-grade artificial intelligence chatbot named Genie, a system now used by commanders to make battlefield decisions in Gaza – such as deciding...

Sun 8 Shawwal 1446AH 6-4-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Gaza, Palestine

Protest at Microsoft

Al Jazeera, Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupt Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event, 5 April 2025 “Reports say AI models from Microsoft were used as part of an Israeli military programme to select...

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

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Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

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