### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa: January 30, 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, killing residents on a daily basis. Settler and military violence continues to escalate in the West Bank, marked by daily military raids, shootings, and settler pogroms. Within Israel, Palestinians living inside its 1948 borders face escalating gun violence, which has already claimed at least 23 victims this year alone; Palestinians have responded with widespread mobilization, including near-daily demonstrations. Regionally, escalating tensions between the US and Iran continue to dominate headlines. Meanwhile, in Syria, the government continues to consolidate control over areas previously held by Kurdish groups, while in Sudan, fighting resumes between rebels and government forces. --- ##### The Gaza Strip: - 2026-01-26 - Military forces [have found the remains of Israel's last hostage in Gaza](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-01-26/ty-article/.premium/remains-of-ran-gvili-israels-last-hostage-in-gaza-found-and-being-returned-to-israel/0000019b-faa9-d58f-a9db-fbb9f8930000). Israel [has recently faced US pressure](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-agrees-limited-reopening-rafah-crossing-netanyahus-office-says) to open the Rafah border crossing (between the Gaza Strip with Egypt); it has conditioned this on the return of all hostages and their remains (raising suspicions that the Israeli military had already been aware of the location of the last hostage's remains). - 2026-01-26 - Israel [agrees to a "limited reopening" of the Rafah crossing](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2630620/middle-east) - only to pedestrians (thus maintaining its control over aid flows). - 2026-01-27 - [Israeli forces killed four Palestinians](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-kills-two-north-gaza-rafah-crossing-set-reopen?blockId=block_70469) in Gaza. The official death toll since October 2023 [has reached 71,663](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166772) (though the actual number is almost certainly much higher). - 2026-01-29 - Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in Gaza today, in [two](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2631055/middle-east) [separate](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166833) incidents. - 2026-01-30 - [Israeli attacks have killed at least five Palestinians in Gaza](https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-fire-kills-5-gaza-rafah-crossing-reopen-sunday) over the past 24 hours. - 2026-01-30 - [Israel announces plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/30/israel-announces-plan-to-reopen-gazas-rafah-crossing-on-sunday) this coming Sunday, after nearly two years of closure. The move, however, is largely symbolic; [only allowing for a limited number (roughly 150-200) of daily crossings](https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2026-01-30/ty-article/.premium/israel-to-reopen-gaza-strips-rafah-crossing-on-sunday-in-largely-symbolic-move/0000019c-0ec1-d2fd-a9de-cfd7d19c0000). - 2026-01-30 - [How Netanyahu is sabotaging phase two of the Gaza ceasefire](https://www.972mag.com/gaza-ceasefire-netanyahu-sabotage-ncag/). #analysis ---- ##### The West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2026-01-26 - [A new report](https://www.btselem.org/sites/default/files/publications/202601_living_hell_eng.pdf) by [B'Tselem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%27Tselem) details the abuses faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli detention facilities, describing them as "torture camps". #prisons #torture - 2026-01-26 - Israeli forces [stormed the Qalandia refugee camp](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166735), northeast of Jerusalem. - 2026-01-26 - [Israeli settlers destroyed 100 olive saplings](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166730), and [opened fire on Palestinian homes](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166731), near Nablus. #settlerviolence - 2026-01-27 - [Israeli forces uprooted hundreds of olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166767) across the West Bank. - 2026-01-27 - Israeli [settlers opened fire on Palestinian homes](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166777) near Nablus. #settlerviolence - 2026-01-28 - [Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man](https://aje.news/0ptcar?update=4271497) at a West Bank checkpoint. Israeli police [claimed he attempted to attack officers with a knife](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-884839). - 2026-01-28 - [Israeli forces conducted widespread raids](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-raids-across-west-bank-leave-one-dead-and-dozens-detained) across the West Bank; settlers uprooted 200 olive trees near Ramallah. - 2026-01-29 - [Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinians and set homes on fire](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-settlers-set-ablaze-palestinian-homes-jerusalem) near Jerusalem. #settlerviolence - 2026-01-29 - [Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian factory](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166816) in Sebastiya, near Nablus. #demolitions - 2026-01-30 - [An important report](https://www.972mag.com/settler-soldier-pogrom-masafer-yatta/) on recent settler attacks from a Palestinian perspective. #analysis ---- ##### Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians): - 2026-01-23 - Last week, the '48 Palestinian community's four main political parties [agreed to unite, re-establishing the Joint List](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-arab-parties-revive-joint-list-ahead-election) (yet again; though this time, the task of reconciling differences was certainly more difficult). #palestine/48 #parties - 2026-01-29 - [Good analysis](https://www.972mag.com/joint-list-revival-palestinian-politics-israel/), with insights on the List's re-establishment's implications. - 2026-01-26 - [Protests](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%A9/2026/01/26/%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B3%D8%AE%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9) [continue to grow](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%A9/2026/01/26/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9) against criminal gun-violence within the '48 Palestinian community. #arabic #protest - 2026-01-29 - [More protests today](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%A9/2026/01/29/%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-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D8%AE%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B7%D8%A9). #arabic - 2026-01-30 - [And more today](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%A9/2026/01/30/%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B7%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B7%D8%A9). This is shaping up to be a broader, sustained wave of mobilization against gun violence within the '48 Palestinian community. #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. - 2026-01-27 - [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](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%A9/2026/01/27/%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%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-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA)) in [Yarka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarka), in the north, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed in crime-related incidents to 23 so far this year. #arabic - 2026-01-28 - Palestinian citizens [organized a large demonstration](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%A9/2026/01/28/%D8%B7%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%BA%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%BA%D8%B6%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B7%D8%A9), and [held a general strike](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%A9/2026/01/28/%D8%A5%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B7%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9) in [Tamra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamra) (in the Galilee), denouncing gun violence and police complicity. #arabic --- ##### Israel: - 2026-01-28 - Supreme Court President Isaac Amit [said](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-28/ty-article-live/biden-advisor-hits-back-after-pm-blames-arms-embargo-for-idf-fatalities-in-gaza/0000019c-0281-d58f-a9dd-0b9138fc0000?liveBlogItemId=673568523#673568523) that the government is "treating court rulings as mere recommendations", warning that Israel's judicial system is under attack. "If public officials ignore court decisions that go against them, why should an ordinary citizen feel bound by them?" he added. --- ##### MENA + geopolitical: - 2026-01-26 - Tensions between the US and Iran remain high, despite the Iranian protests subsiding: A US naval carrier group has been travelling toward Iran, and [is now nearing striking range](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-carrier-strike-group-nears-iranian-strike-range). #iran - 2026-01-28 - Trump [reiterated his threat of military action](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/28/make-deal-or-face-far-worse-attack-trump-tells-iran-in-new-threat) against Iran today. - 2026-01-26 - The [Rapid Support Forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Support_Forces) launched [an offensive](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sudans-rsf-launches-offensive-blue-nile-state) into southeastern Sudan. #sudan - 2026-01-27 - Meanwhile, [the Sudanese army made advances](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2630716/middle-east) further West, breaking a long-running siege on the city of Dilling. - 2026-01-26 - Israel continues to violate its ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, [launching more than a dozen airstrikes](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-strikes-lebanon-beirut-appeals-unsc-over-attacks) on southern Lebanon over the past day. #lebanon - 2026-01-27 - Libya [signed a 20 billion dollar, 25-year oil development deal](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-signs-20bn-oil-deals-us-and-french-energy-companies) with US and French energy companies. #libya #oil - 2026-01-27 - Turkey is [reportedly drawing up plans for a buffer zone](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-plans-buffer-zone-if-iran-government-fall) within Iran, to prevent the flow of Iranians into its territory in case of a US attack. #iran #turkey - 2026-01-27 - [Trump threatens to end US support for Iraq](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/27/trump-says-us-will-end-support-for-iraq-if-al-maliki-reinstated-as-pm) if former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki - a prominent figure [who has secured the support of Iraq's ruling coalition of parties](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2630954/middle-east) - is re-instated to his post. Al-Maliki stepped down in 2014, after ISIL (ISIS) seized large parts of the country, but has remained influential. #iraq - 2026-01-28 - [A grim report](https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/1/28/one-familys-struggle-aid-agencies-warn-of-alarming-food-shortages-in-yemen) about the impact of Yemen's humanitarian crisis on its citizens. #yemen - 2026-01-28 - [Netanyahu the only one surprised](https://www.newarab.com/news/netanyahu-says-saudi-qatar-turkey-bloc-killing-abraham-accords) at Saudi Arabia's apparent pivot toward Turkey and Qatar. #saudi #qatar #turkey - 2026-01-30 - The Syrian government and the Kurdish SDF [have reached a new deal](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syrian-government-and-sdf-agree-ceasefire-and-integration-deal) to integrate their military and administrative bodies. #syria