Palestine in January 2026: the most important developments in politics
In Palestine in January 2026 the most prominent development was the creation of a US-led Board of Peace for Gaza. On 16 January President Trump announced the board, naming members including Tony Blair and Marco Rubio, and demanded that Hamas disarm. The United States invited many countries to join, among them Pakistan, Hungary, Australia, Russia, China and Turkey, and Trump threatened tariffs on French wines if France stayed out. Israel pushed back on some of the reported picks in a rare public disagreement with Washington, and Fatah insisted that any such body be led by the Palestinian Authority. Trump formally launched the initiative at Davos on 22 January. Indonesia and Pakistan joined, key US allies kept their distance, and the EU's foreign policy chief said the bloc could work with the board if its focus were narrowed to Gaza.
The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan was the next major story. The United States announced on 14 and 15 January that it had begun, including a Palestinian technocratic committee to run Gaza, and Egypt said Palestinian factions had agreed on its members. Hamas said on 11 January that it had told its government bodies to prepare to give up power, and on 28 January said it was ready for a full handover. Trump said on 29 January that it looked like Hamas would disarm, while Netanyahu said there would be no Palestinian state in Gaza and that reconstruction could not begin until Hamas is disarmed. Israeli officials expressed concern that Hamas might retain real power. The last hostage was returned on 26 January, and on 30 January Israel announced that the Rafah crossing with Egypt would reopen after nearly two years of closure.
Other developments involved the UN and the West Bank. Israel cut ties with several UN agencies, and its forces began demolishing the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem on 20 January, which the UN condemned. The EU urged Israel to halt a West Bank settlement project. President Abbas signed a decree widely seen as barring Hamas from upcoming local elections, and a Palestinian embassy opened in London on 6 January.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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