• In the past 24 hours, at least 112 Palestinians have been killed, bringing the death toll to 28,176, with 67,784 Palestinians wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel has reported a death toll of 1,139 from Hamas attacks on October 7.
• A senior Hamas leader warns that any Israeli ground offensive on Rafah could disrupt ongoing captive exchange negotiations. The UN, EU, US, and Arab nations are urging Israel to refrain from this offensive, citing the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe.
• The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) faces obstacles from Israel, with a month’s supply of food blocked at Ashdod port. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini expresses concern over the agency’s ability to operate effectively amid increasing hostility. This incident exacerbates Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, ongoing since Israel’s invasion four months prior.
• Missouri Representative Cori Bush accuses the US of funding Palestinian displacement and massacre in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire. She highlights the plight of Gazans, particularly in Rafah, where over half the population has sought refuge.
• Palestinian women from Hebron, released in a prisoner exchange deal, recount severe mistreatment in Israeli detention, including violence, threats of rape, and inhumane conditions. Israeli rights group B’Tselem documents their testimonies, detailing beatings, poor quality food, and lack of basic necessities.
• Thousands protest in Morocco’s capital against the country’s ties with Israel, denouncing Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide. Demonstrators demand an end to normalization with Israel, a sentiment intensified by the recent establishment of diplomatic relations under the Abraham Accords.
• Satellite imagery confirms Egypt’s tightening of border security with Gaza, including the construction of checkpoints, earthen berms, and concrete walls. These measures aim to bolster border control, with significant developments observed between November 22 and January 15, indicating increased fortification along the border.
