### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa: January 9, 2026 *These roundups are, and will always be, free. No paywalls. If you find them useful, you can help fuel future ones with a cup of coffee [here](https://paypal.me/ridaaburass?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US). Thanks!* **TL;DR**: Israel continues to violate the Gaza ceasefire with near-daily strikes, killing at least 18 Palestinians, including children. Settler violence continues to spiral out of control in the West Bank. Gun violence is surging within the '48 Palestinian community (Palestinian citizens of Israel), claiming at least 11 lives this week alone. Regionally, Saudi-backed forces have seized Aden from UAE-backed forces, while anti-regime protests in Iran continue to grow, fueled by economic collapse and repression. --- ##### The Gaza Strip: - 2026-01-05 - [Israeli forces struck a tent in Gaza, killing four Palestinians](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-05/ty-article/.premium/four-reported-killed-in-strike-on-gaza-tent-idf-says-it-struck-hamas-terrorist/0000019b-8ead-d57c-a9bb-eeafd98b0000). Israeli forces have killed an average of three Palestinians in Gaza per day since the beginning of December. - 2026-01-05 - A covert network of organizations linked to Israel [is accused](https://www.newarab.com/news/secret-evacuations-fuel-fears-gaza-displacement-scheme) of facilitating the displacement of Gazans to other countries. - 2026-01-06 - A Palestinian man [was killed by Israeli drone fire](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165910) near Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. 422 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement came into effect in October 2025. - 2026-01-07 - An Israeli-backed [Palestinian militia](https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-militia-leader-says-israel-funds-feeds-protects-his-group) [claimed it had killed two Hamas operatives](https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-raids-west-bank-continue-tensions-simmer-yemen?blockId=block_69213) in southern Gaza today. - 2026-01-08 - [Three people were killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165973) in an Israeli drone strike targeting a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza. - 2026-01-09 - Yesterday's death toll [rose to 14](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-continues-strike-gaza-strip-after-14-killed-overnight), with new strikes today. Since October, Israel has violated the ceasefire hundreds of times - with near-daily shelling, airstrikes, and gunfire. ---- ##### The West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2026-01-05 - Israeli forces [detained and interrogated 20 Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165886) in the Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. - 2026-01-05 - Israeli settlers [vandalized an Islamic cemetery](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165890) in Jerusalem, destroying several gravestones. - 2026-01-05 - Israeli settlers [stole 10 sheep](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165893) from Palestinian residents in a village near [Salfit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salfit). - 2026-01-05 - Israeli settlers [uprooted more than 150 olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165897) south of Hebron. - 2026-01-06 - [Israeli forces raided the Birzeit University campus](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-forces-fire-live-rounds-storm-birzeit-university), firing live ammunition, tear gas, and stun grenades. Over forty people, mostly students, were injured. - 2026-01-07 - [Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian vehicles](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165930) near Nablus. - 2026-01-07 - [Israeli forces uprooted olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165941) in the village of Deir Qaddis, west of Ramallah. - 2026-01-07 - [Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned farm](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165945) in town of Anata, east of Jerusalem. - 2026-01-08 - Around 30 settlers [threw Molotov cocktails](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-08/ty-article/.premium/three-arrested-after-masked-settlers-torch-palestinians-cars-in-west-bank-wounding-three/0000019b-9e3d-d171-adbb-bf3fb9fc0000) at vehicles and beat Palestinians with clubs in the northern West Bank, seriously injuring some. - 2026-01-08 - Israeli forces [seize 35 acres of Palestinian land](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165963) near Jenin. - 2026-01-08 - [20 Palestinian families were displaced](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165967) from the northern part of the Al-Auja Bedouin community, north of Jericho, after repeated settler attacks on their village. - 2026-01-09 - [Israeli settlers set fire to a secondary school](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165984) in village of Jalud, south of Nablus, and sprayed racist and hostile slogans on its walls. - 2026-01-09 - [Israeli settlers torched five vehicles](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165985) in the village of Bazariya, north of Nablus. - 2026-01-09 - [Israeli forces fired live bullets at Palestinian farmers](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/165987) near Ramallah. ---- ##### Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians): - 2026-01-05 - The leaders of the United Arab List - an Islamist Palestinian party operating within Israel, which broke away from the broader Palestinian leadership in 2021 (see [detailed analysis here](https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/pir/article/1/2/421/390099/The-Two-Pronged-Palestinian-Response-to-Exclusion)) - [announced their intentions](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-05/ty-article/.premium/embarking-on-a-new-path-united-arab-list-leader-to-allow-jewish-candidates-on-slate/0000019b-8dac-d1a3-a1df-fdaca91a0000) to include Jewish candidates within the party, for the first time. - 2026-01-04 - Israeli police forces [shot and killed a Palestinian Bedouin man](https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-police-kill-palestinian-bedouin-man-during-raid-negev) in the village of Tarabin, in the Negev (Naqab). The police alleged the man "endangered" their forces, without providing any evidence to back up this claim. [Thousands attended his funeral](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2026/01/05/%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%8A%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%AC%D8%AB%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88-%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9). - Over the past week, Israeli police forces, led by far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, have carried out a large-scale operation in the Palestinian Bedouin village of Tarabin, intimidating residents under the pretense of cracking down on crime. - 2026-01-05 - [Six Palestinian citizens of Israel have been killed](https://www.arab48.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9/2026/01/05/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%87-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1) in crime-related incidents this year already. 252 citizens were killed in such incidents in 2025 - the highest annual toll recorded to date. #arabic - [This is a systemic problem](https://abrahaminitiatives.org/victims-of-violence-and-crime-in-arab-society-in-2024/), caused by institutional neglect, with Palestinian localities chronically underfunded. Crimes are rarely solved, and perpetrators rarely brought to justice. - 2026-01-07 - [Three more people were killed](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2026/01/07/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8) in crime-related incidents, bringing the total to 11 this week. #arabic - 2026-01-08 - Hundreds [protested](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2026/01/08/%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-12-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A3%D8%A8-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%86%D9%87) in the Palestinian town of [Tur'an](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tur%27an) to protest gun violence and crime - including a prominent contingent from the binational grassroots organization [Standing Together](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_Together_(movement)). #arabic - 2026-01-06 - Ayman Odeh, outgoing leader of the socialist [DFPE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadash) party, and Mansour Abbas, leader of the Islamist [UAL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_List) party, [have both called on Arab parties to unite](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/2026-01-06/ty-article/.premium/0000019b-9354-d8ec-a59b-f3560c990000) ahead of the next Israeli elections - in separate statements made at an Arab-Jewish coexistence forum. The two have been on bad terms since Abbas left the [Joint List](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_List) in 2021, to join a governing Israeli coalition alongside right-wing Zionist parties. - 2026-01-09 - [A Palestinian citizen was shot and killed](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/law/2026-01-08/ty-article/.premium/0000019b-9f43-dd67-a9ff-9f4332c90000) by an Israeli soldier, using his IDF-issued M-16 rifle, following a traffic dispute. The soldier and his brother are suspected of hiding evidence following the shooting. #hebrew --- ##### Israel: - 2026-01-06 - 15,000 [Haredim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haredi_Judaism) [protested against military conscription](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/education/2026-01-06/ty-article/.premium/0000019b-9427-dd39-a7ff-ff3f6d430000) in Jerusalem. #hebrew - 2026-01-07 - Prominent anti-Netanyahu activists [are now running in the primaries of the "Democrats" party](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-07/ty-article/.premium/key-anti-netanyahu-protest-activists-join-center-left-the-democrats-primary/0000019b-981d-d01b-a7db-9c1d125b0000) - Israel's most left-wing Zionist party. Their candidacies reveal much about the trajectory taken by the Israeli center-left - opposing Netanyahu, without mounting a meaningful ideological challenge against Zionism or the Israeli right. - 2026-01-07 - Worth reading [this deep dive](https://www.972mag.com/israeli-emigration-record-numbers/), exploring the reasons why Israelis are leaving in record numbers - at least 150,000 citizens have left the country in the past two years alone. Includes interviews with recent émigrés. --- ##### MENA + geopolitical: - 2026-01-05 - [Israeli forces attacked what it claimed as Hezbollah and Hamas targets in Lebanon](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/5/israel-bombs-southern-lebanon-saying-it-targeted-hezbollah-and-hamas), after issuing ⁠evacuation orders for four villages in the ​country’s east and south. Dozens of families fled the targeted areas. - 2026-01-05 - Forces belonging to the UAE-backed [Southern Transitional Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Transitional_Council) (STC) separatist movement [withdrew](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-backed-separatists-withdraw-key-yemeni-city-after-saudi-strikes) from the key Yemeni city of [Mukalla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukalla) after Saudi strikes, - 2026-01-07 - Saudi-backed ground forces [moved on the Yemeni city of Aden](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/7/saudi-led-coalition-strikes-yemen-says-stc-leader-al-zubaidi-has-fled) today, [taking it](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemen-stc-control-evaporates-aden-its-would-be-capital-switches-sides) from the STC. - 2026-01-07 - Meanwhile, [the STC said today](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/stc-yemen-delegation-saudi-arabia-disappeared-contact) that its delegation in Riyadh had disappeared onto bus; all contact with it lost (!). - 2026-01-09 - [STC delegation announced the organization's disbandment](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/9/yemens-separatist-southern-transitional-council-announces-its-dissolution), possibly under duress. The organization's spokesperson, currently in Abu Dhabi, rejected the announcement, calling it "ridiculous". - This is not without precedent: [in 2017](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Lebanon%E2%80%93Saudi_Arabia_dispute#Resignation_of_Hariri), Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri abruptly resigned while in Saudi Arabia - probably, under duress. - 2026-01-08 - [This analysis](https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/standing-abu-dhabi-riyadh-reshaping-middle-east) reads a little too pro-Saudi for my liking, but provides valuable and accurate context. - 2026-01-06 - Israel's Foreign Minister and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi [met in Hargeisa](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-06/ty-article-live/netanyahu-warns-iran-of-very-severe-consequences-if-tehran-renews-nuclear-programs/0000019b-914a-d01b-a7db-955e9c0a0000?liveBlogItemId=207834901#207834901) - the first high-level diplomatic visit since Israel became the [first in the world to recognize](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/26/israel-becomes-first-country-to-recognise-somaliland) the breakaway region. - 2026-01-06 - [Fighting broke out](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/6/israeli-army-vehicles-enter-quneitra-countryside-village-in-southern-syria) between Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian armed in the northern Aleppo governorate. At least four people were killed. - 2026-01-08 - [Continues to escalate](https://aje.io/bj6ldn?update=4224759). - 2026-01-09 - The central Syrian government [called on the SDF to surrender](https://www.newarab.com/news/syria-govt-urges-sdf-leave-aleppo-fighters-refuse-budge), SDF fighters rejected the ultimatum. - 2026-01-06 - [10 were killed](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628403/middle-east) in a drone strike on the army-controlled Sudanese city of [el-Obeid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El-Obeid), including seven children. The UAE-backed [RSF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Support_Forces) is likely responsible. - 2026-01-07 - [Widespread anti-regime protests continue](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cre28d2j2zxo) in Iran, sparked by rising prices and the collapse of the Iranian Rial. According to the human rights monitor HRANA, [around 30 were killed in protest-related violence](https://www.newarab.com/analysis/iran-edge-how-will-latest-mass-protests-unfold) by Tuesday. [Here is an interesting report](https://he.crimethinc.com/2026/01/07/iran-an-uprising-besieged-from-within-and-without-three-perspectives) from the ground, including different perspectives from inside the protests, and the ways in which left-wing protesters contend with "reactionary monarchists, largely based outside Iran, who seek to win the backing of the United States and Israel to seize power". - 2026-01-08 - Internet blackouts [reported today](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-08/ty-article-live/two-palestinians-killed-in-northern-gaza-after-idf-targets-senior-hamas-militant/0000019b-9b99-dd39-a7ff-fbbbbf140000?liveBlogItemId=384847645#384847645). - 2026-01-09 - [New Israeli airstrikes](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-09/ty-article-live/trump-says-59-countries-willing-to-intervene-in-gaza-if-hamas-refuses-to-disarm/0000019b-a0b5-dd39-a7ff-ebbfdc650000?liveBlogItemId=1438742163#1438742163) in Lebanon.