Epal European Palestinian Media Center Bulletin, Issue No. 2330, Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

1. Three martyrs, demolition of buildings, and airstrikes on the Gaza Strip

Three citizens, including two children, were martyred by gunfire from Israeli occupation forces, as violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip continue for the 100th consecutive day. These violations include air and artillery bombardment and live fire targeting various areas, causing widespread tension and fear among the civilian population.

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**2. Al-Shifa Hospital warns of severe health deterioration in Gaza amid the spread of undiagnosed diseases**

Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City warned of a serious health deterioration after recording a widespread outbreak of undiagnosed diseases, amid the inability of the healthcare system to cope with the growing number of patients and a severe shortage of diagnostic and treatment capabilities.
The head of the Emergency and Reception Department, Dr. Moataz Harara, stated that the department has been receiving more than 500 patients daily over the past two weeks. He noted that around 200 cases per day suffer from acute respiratory illnesses accompanied by symptoms such as high fever, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, as well as diarrhea, persistent vomiting, coughing, and chest pain.

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**3. UNRWA: Record levels of disease spread in Gaza due to cold weather and lack of vaccinations**

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned of record levels of disease spread in the Gaza Strip due to cold waves and children being deprived of vaccinations, amid the near-total collapse of the healthcare system as a result of the ongoing Israeli blockade and the prevention of essential aid, including medical supplies.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that “in the midst of more than two years of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, children have repeatedly been deprived of the essential vaccinations needed to protect them from preventable diseases.”

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**4. Extremist Smotrich inaugurates the ‘Raven’s Nest’ settlement east of Bethlehem**

Settlers, led by extremist occupation minister Bezalel Smotrich, inaugurated a new settlement named “Raven’s Nest” east of the city of Bethlehem, as part of policies of aggression and settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Settler militias have intensified their efforts to establish the settlement in recent months by installing additional mobile homes in the Ush Ghurab area of Beit Sahour, east of Bethlehem.
The area known as “Ush Ghurab” includes a small Israeli military base. It is worth noting that the land had been allocated 15 years ago for the construction of a children’s hospital for the residents of Bethlehem, but the hospital was never built after settlers began establishing a settlement outpost.

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**5. Civil Defense warns of a humanitarian catastrophe due to extreme cold in Gaza**

Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal warned that the sharp drop in temperatures affecting the Gaza Strip is unprecedented since the beginning of winter.
Basal said, “The cold is so harsh that we no longer feel our feet—so what about infants, patients, and families living in worn-out tents that offer no protection from the cold or rain?”
He added, “I say this clearly and without exaggeration: if this weather depression continues, and if this collapsed humanitarian reality persists, we will witness deaths among young children in the Gaza Strip due to low temperatures.”

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**6. Forensic authorities in Gaza call for the entry of DNA equipment to identify martyrs’ remains**

Mahmoud Ashour, spokesperson for forensic services in the Gaza Strip, said that forensic teams continue to work around the clock under extremely harsh and exceptional conditions, recovering the bodies of martyrs from beneath rubble and from mass and random graves across the Strip, in coordination with relevant authorities, documenting them and handling them in a manner that preserves human dignity.
Ashour explained that the expanding recovery operations have revealed that the vast majority of remains are no longer intact, having turned into skeletons or decomposed fragments due to being left under rubble for long periods or buried under inhumane conditions. This makes identification through currently available traditional means nearly impossible given the limited resources.

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### *European*

**7. Protest vigil outside the BBC in Belfast**

Activists from the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Belfast returned to the headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in a new protest to highlight “the institution’s ongoing failure to convey the truth about Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip.”
Protesters said that mainstream media relies on omission as a primary tool to justify silence, that coverage of the horrific conditions in Gaza caused by the occupation army has become almost nonexistent, and that there is a growing trend toward completely ignoring the Palestinian cause in media coverage.
The vigil comes amid widespread condemnation of the BBC for providing biased coverage in favor of the occupation, which exacerbates Palestinian suffering and contributes to obscuring facts and occupation crimes.

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**8. Mass demonstrations sweep Stockholm in support of Gaza and Palestine**

The Swedish capital, Stockholm, witnessed large demonstrations involving hundreds of protesters in support of the Gaza Strip and in solidarity with Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, amid ongoing aggression and violations against civilians and medical staff.
Marches moved through major streets of the city, with participants raising Palestinian flags and banners calling for an end to genocide in Gaza, protection for medical personnel, and the release of detainees. Protesters stressed that targeting doctors and hospitals constitutes a war crime and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
Demonstrators affirmed that the case of Dr. Abu Safiya has become a symbol of the suffering of Palestinian medical workers operating under bombardment and siege, calling on the international community and the Swedish government to take clear and effective positions to stop the aggression and hold the occupation accountable.

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**9. Large protest in Leipzig, Germany, against policies supporting the occupation**

The city of Leipzig in eastern Germany witnessed a demonstration attended by hundreds in support of the Palestinian people, targeting the pro-Israel left-wing current within the city. The protest took place in the Connewitz district, with participation from several leftist groups rejecting positions that justify violations against Palestinians.
Participants raised Palestinian flags and banners and chanted pro-Palestine slogans, including “Freedom for Palestine,” affirming their rejection of ongoing violations against the Palestinian people and demanding more just positions regarding events on the ground.
The demonstration was called for by the pro-Palestinian “Handala” group under the slogan “Antifa Palestine means: Free Palestine.” A heavy police presence was reported, with additional reinforcements brought in from other German states.

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### *International*

**10. Argentinians expel Israelis in Patagonia**

In Patagonia, Argentina, a solidarity event with Palestine witnessed participants expelling a number of Israelis, while a pro-Palestinian activist was assaulted during the event. Organizers and participants affirmed that the goal of the event was to support the rights of the Palestinian people and to emphasize rejection of the Israeli occupation, amid broad solidarity from the local community with the cause.

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**11. Campaign calls for the removal of Bari Weiss from the editorship of an American newspaper for supporting genocide**

The group Code Pink launched a pressure campaign and letter-writing effort directed at the management of Paramount and CBS, objecting to the appointment of American journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of *The Free Press* following CBS’s acquisition of the media platform.
The group described Weiss as one of the most prominent media voices supporting the occupation, labeling her a “propaganda mouthpiece” promoting occupation crimes, and warned that her appointment to an influential editorial position within one of America’s most prestigious media institutions threatens traditions of journalistic neutrality and integrity.
In its statement, Code Pink cited previous remarks by Weiss in which she described herself as a “hardcore Zionist,” arguing that the expected editorial line under her leadership would be biased and supportive of genocide against Palestinians.
The group called on Paramount and CBS to review the decision and hold the network accountable, urging the public to participate in the campaign by sending protest letters demanding Weiss’s dismissal.

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**12. Protest against a charity show by an American actor in the United States**

Recalling his 2018 visit to an Israeli military training camp, pro-Palestine supporters protested outside the Paramount Theatre building in the U.S. state of Illinois, calling for a boycott of a charity performance by Jewish American actor Jerry Seinfeld, known for his continued support of the occupation and the war of genocide on Gaza.

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**13. Artistic tribute to Palestine at Asia’s largest school festival**

Works expressing solidarity with Palestine received widespread acclaim at the 64th Kerala School Arts Festival, considered the largest school arts festival in Asia.
At the event held in India, students presented diverse themes related to the Palestinian resistance and humanitarian suffering. Activities included traditional performances depicting the destruction in Gaza, Arabic monologues highlighting human experiences and relief efforts, and the play *Bhasha*, which focused on stories of refugees, displacement, and empathy with those affected.
One of the festival’s most notable moments was the performance by Minha, a 12th-grade student at KHMHSS Alathiyur School, who performed a song dedicated to Palestine written by her teacher Malikall Abu Kanza and composed by Mohsin Kurikkal. She received an A grade for her performance in the Mappilappattu art category.
Despite warnings that choosing a “political” theme might affect her evaluation, Minha insisted on performing the song as a symbol of solidarity, earning the judges’ appreciation and audience applause. This affirmed the power of school art to convey humanitarian messages and amplify students’ voices on urgent issues, while she continues her training in Carnatic music under teacher Mohanan from Tanur.

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**14. Palestinian anger in Lebanon after the removal of the name ‘Palestine’ from a UNRWA textbook**

A sixth-grade geography textbook taught in UNRWA schools in Lebanon sparked widespread anger among Palestinians after it was discovered that the name “Palestine” had been removed from maps and replaced with the terms “West Bank and Gaza Strip,” a move seen as undermining the core of the Palestinian cause and the right of return.
The content of the book was discovered about three months after the start of the academic year in UNRWA schools in October 2025, raising questions about oversight mechanisms and the role of the Lebanese Ministry of Education, given that the agency is required to teach the host country’s curriculum to refugees.

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