Palestine in January 2026: the most important developments in security
In Palestine in January 2026 Israeli strikes in Gaza continued under the ceasefire. Israel said its strikes on 15 and 16 January hit senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad figures and were responses to truce violations. Palestinian medical and civil defence sources said Israeli strikes on 21 and 22 January killed at least 11 people, including three journalists and several children, one of the deadliest incidents since the ceasefire. Reports said Israeli strikes killed dozens on 31 January. The Israeli military reported killing people who crossed the yellow line inside Gaza, and reports said Israel was preparing a new offensive as soon as March. On 29 and 30 January the Israeli military acknowledged that about 70,000 people had been killed in Gaza during the war, a figure it had not previously confirmed.
The recovery of the last hostage's remains on 26 and 27 January shifted the focus to Hamas and the Rafah crossing. Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel's priorities were now to disarm Hamas and demilitarise Gaza, while a senior Hamas official said the group's weapons would remain as long as the occupation continues. At Davos on 21 January President Trump warned that Hamas must disarm or be destroyed. Israel decided on 20 January not to open Rafah for now despite a US request, and an Israeli official said it would stay closed until the last hostage was returned. Israel was reported to be seeking control over who passes through it, and tension between Egypt and Israel over the crossing increased. Turkey signalled readiness to send troops to Gaza, and Israel opposed the idea.
In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished the UNRWA headquarters on 20 January, and the agency called it an unprecedented attack. In the West Bank, settlers attacked Palestinians and set fire to homes and buildings in places including Mukhmas, and an Israeli minister authorised gun permits for residents of 18 settlements. The Israeli military said Palestinian attacks had fallen by 78 percent, and reported a four-day raid in Hebron in which 14 suspects were arrested. Israeli forces also killed a Palestinian youth and, according to the military, a 14-year-old near Ramallah.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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