The IDF has demolished the home of Mahmoud Abed in Halhul, West Bank, who was responsible for the July 2025 Gush Etzion attack that killed Israeli security guard Shalev Zevuloni. The operation involved the Etzion Brigade and Yahalom unit, aligning with Israel's policy of deterring terrorism.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan's King Abdullah II met in Cairo on February 1, 2026, to discuss the urgent situation in Gaza, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction. Both leaders reiterated their rejection of Palestinian displacement and affirmed the two-state solution as crucial for regional peace.
The Israeli government has approved a multi-year plan to rehabilitate northern cities like Kiryat Shmona, Shlomi, and Metula, which have been heavily impacted by the war. The plan includes an immediate allocation of NIS 400 million, with a broader commitment of billions more in investment for housing, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic development. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led the decision, emphasizing the government's commitment to the region's recovery.
Top U.S. and Israeli military leaders, including General Dan Caine and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, met at the Pentagon to discuss escalating tensions with Iran. The closed-door discussions follow a prediction by Israel's army chief of a potential U.S. military strike on Iran within two months, amidst a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, January 31, 2026, resulted in the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians, including women and children, across Gaza. The attacks, which hit an apartment building, a tent camp, and a police station, followed Israeli accusations of new truce violations by Hamas, further jeopardizing a fragile ceasefire.
South Africa has declared Israel's chargé d'affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata, ordering him to leave within 72 hours over alleged diplomatic norm violations and insulting social media posts against President Ramaphosa. Israel swiftly responded by expelling South Africa's senior diplomatic representative, Shaun Edward Byneveldt, escalating already strained relations.
South Africa has expelled Israel's chargé d'affaires, Ariel Seidman, citing violations of diplomatic norms and 'insulting attacks' on President Cyril Ramaphosa. In a reciprocal move, Israel declared South Africa's senior diplomat, Shaun Edward Byneveldt, persona non grata, escalating an already strained relationship marked by South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.
The Trump administration has approved significant arms sales totaling $6.67 billion to Israel and $9 billion to Saudi Arabia. The deals, announced by the U.S. State Department, include Apache helicopters and Patriot missiles, and come amidst rising Middle East tensions and ongoing efforts for a Gaza ceasefire.
The Israeli military has acknowledged the Gaza Health Ministry's casualty figures as broadly accurate, a significant reversal after years of dismissing them as 'Hamas propaganda.' A senior official confirmed approximately 70,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, though the breakdown of combatants and civilians remains under review. This shift comes despite previous Israeli rejections of the data.
Palestinian health authorities in the Gaza Strip have announced that the cumulative death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression has reached 71,667 martyrs and 171,434 wounded since October 7, 2023. These figures were reported in late January 2026, with many victims still believed to be under rubble.
Britain, France, Canada, and eight other allied nations have strongly condemned Israel's demolition of the UN Palestinian refugee agency's (UNRWA) East Jerusalem compound on January 20, 2026. The group issued a joint statement calling the act 'unprecedented' and urging Israel to halt all demolitions and respect international obligations regarding UN premises.
A coalition of academics, 'Academia for Democracy,' has petitioned Israel's High Court to prevent Police Chief Danny Levy and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from interfering in the Sde Teiman leak probe. The petition, filed on January 27, 2026, alleges 'improper interference' by Levy, influenced by Ben Gvir, in an investigation concerning a video purportedly showing abuse at a military base.
Israel has announced the recovery of the remains of police officer Ran Gvili from Gaza on Monday, January 26, 2026. His return, 843 days after the October 7, 2023 attack, fulfills a key condition for the limited reopening of the vital Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which has been closed since May 2024.
Arab families and activists blocked Tel Aviv's Ayalon Highway on January 25, 2026, protesting the surge in violent crime and murders within their communities in Israel. Demonstrators demanded government action against what they describe as abandonment, highlighting the disproportionate number of Arab victims in recent years.
A Hamas delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, met with Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, in Istanbul on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Discussions focused on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and the reopening of the Rafah Border Crossing.
General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel, stating his forces are 'more ready than ever, finger on the trigger.' The declaration comes amidst heightened regional tensions, the movement of US warships towards the Middle East, and recent internal unrest in Iran.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, alongside CENTCOM head Admiral Brad Cooper, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday in Israel. Discussions focused on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the reconstruction of Gaza, demilitarization efforts, and the reopening of the Rafah border crossing. The meeting is part of the broader 'Trump's Gaza peace deal' initiative.
Air France has temporarily suspended flights to several Middle Eastern destinations, including Tel Aviv and Dubai, citing a worsening security environment. The decision, announced on January 23, 2026, comes amidst escalating geopolitical tensions in the region. While Dubai services have resumed, flights to Tel Aviv remain paused.
Israel's Knesset has passed a law prohibiting new teachers with academic degrees from Palestinian Authority universities from working in Israeli schools, including those in East Jerusalem. Proponents cite concerns over incitement, while critics condemn it as discriminatory and a threat to Palestinian identity. The law includes transitional provisions for currently employed teachers and those with Israeli accreditation.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed caution regarding the proposed Gaza 'Board of Peace,' stating that Malaysia will not support it without clear guarantees for Palestinians, including recognition, cessation of attacks, and humanitarian aid. The initiative, proposed by former US President Donald Trump, lacks sufficient information for Malaysia to offer early backing.
