### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa: January 16, 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**: Lots happening across the region this week. Israel continues to violate its ceasefires with Hezbollah and Hamas, killing several people in Gaza and Lebanon, including children. Israeli forces have also conducted large scale raids in the West Bank. Gun violence continues to spiral out of control within the '48 Palestinian community. Regionally, protests grew to massive scales in Iran; Trump vowed to intervene, amid Arab and Israeli pressure not to. Saudi Arabia consolidated gains in Yemen, and strengthened its ties with Egypt and Somalia, as part of its efforts to curtail the UAE's regional influence. --- ##### The Gaza Strip: - 2026-01-12 - [Three Palestinians were killed](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-12/ty-article-live/.premium/trump-says-iran-reached-out-for-nuclear-talks-may-meet-with-them/0000019b-b067-da2a-abdf-fa7f459b0000?liveBlogItemId=1875582986#1875582986) in two separate Israeli drone strikes. - 2026-01-12 - The head of the Khan Yunis police's investigations unit [was killed by an Israeli-backed militia](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-12/ty-article-live/.premium/trump-says-iran-reached-out-for-nuclear-talks-may-meet-with-them/0000019b-b067-da2a-abdf-fa7f459b0000?liveBlogItemId=213753762#213753762). - 2026-01-13 - [Six people were killed](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-13/ty-article-live/pentagon-presents-trump-with-wide-range-of-options-for-iran-attack-u-s-source-tells-nyt/0000019b-b553-d371-a1bf-b5f36f460000?liveBlogItemId=1684182743#1684182743), including two women and two children, in a building collapse in western Gaza City following stormy weather. - 2026-01-14 - The composition of the technocratic Palestinian committee that is set to administer the Gaza Strip (as part of the ceasefire deal) [will be revealed soon](https://www.newarab.com/news/exclusive-us-set-announce-new-gaza-administrationhttps://www.newarab.com/news/exclusive-us-set-announce-new-gaza-administration). This committee will operate under the overall supervision of a so-called “Board of Peace”, to be chaired by US President Donald Trump. Hamas has agreed to cede power to the committee, which will, in turn, be subordinated to an international body shaped by Israel and the US. More details on the likely composition of the 15-member committee [here](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2629320/middle-east). - US special envoy to the Middle East [Steve Witkoff has announced the launch of the second phase](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/14/trump-envoy-announces-launch-of-second-phase-of-gaza-plan) of the US-led Gaza ceasefire deal - a ceasefire that Israel has repeatedly violated since the first phase came into effect in October 2025. - 2026-01-15 - [Hamas welcomed the committee's establishment](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/15/gaza-plan-phase-two-us-to-discuss-hamas-disarmament-israeli-withdrawal). - 2026-01-15 - [Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in Rafah](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166266). - 2026-01-16 - [Israeli forces killed a 16-year old boy in Beit Lahia](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166288), in the northern Gaza Strip. - 2026-01-16 - [Israeli forces killed a Palestinian woman](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166282) gunfire in Khan Younis. ---- ##### The West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2026-01-12 - [Israeli forces shot and seriously wounded a Palestinian man](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166088) near Jerusalem. - 2026-01-12 - [Israeli forces raided the Shufat refugee camp](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166089), near Jerusalem. Soldiers broke into several homes, but did not detaining anyone. - 2026-01-12 - Palestinian families in the Bedouin village of Shallal al-Auja, north of Jericho, [were forced to dismantle and leave nine homes](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166066) after repeated settler violence against them. - 2026-01-13 - Israeli forces [raided homes](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166159) in the Masafer Yatta region, south of Hebron. - 2026-01-14 - Israeli settlers [uprooted olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166227) in the northern West Bank. - 2026-01-14 - Israeli forces raided the West Bank and Jerusalem last night, [detaining at least 45 Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166199). - 2026-01-15 - Israeli forces [carried large scale operations in the West Bank overnight](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/15/israel-carries-out-raids-and-demolitions-arrests-dozens-across-west-bank), including raids and interrogations, detaining more than 80 people. - 2026-01-15 - Israeli settlers [attacked residents and stormed a school](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166268) south of Hebron. - 2026-01-16 - The West Bank [faces economic collapse](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/utensils-olive-oil-inside-west-banks-deepening-economic-collapse). - 2026-01-16 - Israeli forces [shot and killed a 14-year old boy](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166284) in in Al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah. ---- ##### Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians): - 2026-01-14 - [A man was fatally shot](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%A9/2026/01/14/%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B2%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3) in a crime-related incident, bringing the total number of Palestinian citizens killed in such incidents this year to 15. #arabic - [Gun violence is a systemic problem](https://abrahaminitiatives.org/victims-of-violence-and-crime-in-arab-society-in-2024/) within the '48 Palestinian community, caused by institutional neglect, with Palestinian localities chronically underfunded. Victims are often innocent bystanders, caught in the crossfire. - 2026-01-15 - Gun violence continues to escalate: A Palestinian special-ed teacher was [gunned down](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-15/ty-article/.premium/special-ed-teacher-gunned-down-in-front-of-her-children-in-northern-israeli-arab-town/0000019b-c196-d810-a99f-d3f685480000) in front of her children in the north, [bringing the total number of victims this year to 17](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%A9/2026/01/15/%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%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%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A9). #arabic - Palestinians [have already taken to the streets to protest this escalation](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-13/ty-article-magazine/.premium/where-are-israeli-jews-the-lonely-protest-of-arab-citizens-against-a-horrific-murder-rate/0000019b-b864-dfa7-a5bb-bb6583f30000), with minimal Jewish political or mainstream presence. - 2026-01-16 - The [nationalist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balad_(political_party)) and [Islamist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_List) factions of the '48 leadership [have been trading blows](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9/2026/01/16/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D9%8A%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%82-%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%AC%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9), making the ongoing push to re-establish of [the Joint List](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_List)c less likely to succeed. #arabic --- ##### Israel: - 2026-01-12 - Israel's ruling coalition [is advancing a bill to abolish the offense of fraud and breach of trust](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-12/ty-article-live/.premium/trump-says-iran-reached-out-for-nuclear-talks-may-meet-with-them/0000019b-b067-da2a-abdf-fa7f459b0000?liveBlogItemId=1969853493#1969853493), with which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is charged. - 2026-01-13 - [Which countries made the biggest deals with Israel in 2025?](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/13/which-countries-made-the-biggest-deals-with-israel-in-2025) --- ##### MENA + geopolitical: - 2026-01-12 - **Iran**: [protests continue to escalate](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/12/what-we-know-about-the-protests-sweeping-iran). The full picture is difficult to ascertain at the moment, but we can say for sure that the protests are widespread, and that dozens - likely hundreds - have been killed (and many more arrested) by Iranian security forces. - 2026-01-12 - A former **Israeli** intelligence chief [claimed Israel nearly struck Iran twice](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-883070) in recent weeks. He also alleged that Israel and the US are conducting a cyber-based influence campaign, "combined with local disruption and subversion operations". - 2026-01-12 - Counter-protesters - government supporters - [have also taken to the streets](https://www.newarab.com/news/iran-says-protests-under-control-trump-floats-negotiations?blockId=block_69543), today. - 2026-01-13 - Government repression severely escalated last night, [some reports estimating](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/world/middleeast/iran-protester-deaths.html) thousands of protesters had been killed by Iranian forces so far. - 2026-01-14 - [Measured, evidence-based reporting](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-protests-how-internet-blackout-opened-door-deadly-crackdown) from inside Iran. - 2026-01-16 - Iran protests seem to have subsided, the government regaining control. [Israel, Arab countries have reportedly pleaded](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/us/politics/trump-iran-israel-us.html) with Trump not to attack Iran, citing [defense readiness concerns](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-16/ty-article/.premium/report-netanyahu-asked-trump-to-delay-iran-strike-due-to-defense-readiness-concerns/0000019b-c6b3-d85c-a9fb-f7f74c5a0000); fears of regional conflagration. - 2026-01-12 - **Somalia**: [the UAE has removed many military assets](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-removing-its-military-bosaso-after-angry-somalia-ends-agreement) from Bosaso, a Somalian sea port which it has been using as a supply route to support Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Somalia revoked the agreement allowing the UAE use of the Bosaso base after the **UAE** were accused on Thursday of using the country to secretly facilitate the escape of a Yemeni separatist wanted by Saudi Arabia. - 2026-01-12 - Worth reading [this analysis](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-oman-went-mediator-silent-saudi-partner-yemen-fight) on **Oman**'s growing involvement in **Yemen**. - 2026-01-12 - **Syrian** government forces agencies [have been deployed to Aleppo](https://www.newarab.com/news/syria-govt-teams-begin-work-aleppo-residents-return) to aid in the resettlement of at least 150,000 residents who were displaced following days of deadly clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the government forces last week. - 2026-01-13 - **Turkish** president Erdoğan [sought to capitalize](https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-aleppo-events-historic-opportunity-for-sdf-integration-deal-217791) on this, as well as his administration's [[2025-07-04#MENA + geopolitical|recent inroads]] with the Kurdish leadership within Turkey, saying that the Syrian government's successes in Aleppo have created a "historic opportunity" to finalize an agreement integrating the latter into the country's national army. "We cannot allow the brotherhood between Turks, Arabs and Kurds to be broken", he said. - 2026-01-12 - **Sudan**: Prime Minister Kamil Idris [announced the government's return to the capital](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628969/middle-east), Khartoum, after nearly three years of operating from its wartime capital of Port Sudan. - 2026-01-12 - In another violation of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, [Israel conducts at least 43 airstrikes](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628979/middle-east) on valleys and mountains in southern **Lebanon**, after warning residents to evacuate. - 2026-01-13 - [The United States has labeled](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/13/us-labels-muslim-brotherhood-orgs-in-egypt-lebanon-jordan-as-terrorist) Muslim Brotherhood organizations in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as terrorist groups. - 2026-01-14 - **Lebanon**: A senior Hezbollah official [has ‍warned the Lebanese government not to push for the organization's full disarmament](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-14/ty-article-live/iran-trump-encouraging-political-destabilization-u-s-and-israel-to-blame-for-deaths/0000019b-ba76-d356-a3fb-fefe92fe0000?liveBlogItemId=1252892409#1252892409). The government wants to bring all arms in the ‌country under state control, in line with its 2024 cease-fire agreement with Israel, while Hezbollah insists the deal only applies to the southernmost region of Lebanon that borders Israel. - 2026-01-14 - [Excellent analysis](https://www.972mag.com/israel-somaliland-endless-escalation/) of Israel's recent recognition of **Somaliland**. - 2026-01-16 - **Lebanon**: [An Israeli strike killed two people](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/16/israeli-strikes-kill-two-in-lebanon-un-forces-report-drone-attack) - another violation of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. - 2026-01-16 - **Saudi Arabia** [is in the process of establishing a new military alliance with Somalia and Egypt](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-finalises-new-military-coalition-somalia-and-egypt), as part of its efforts to curtail the influence of the United Arab Emirates in the region. - 2026-01-16 - It is also [consolidating its recent gains in Yemen](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemen-government-reshuffles-amid-saudi-uae-tensions).