Epal European Palestinian Media Center Bulletin, Issue No. 2340, Date: Friday, January 30, 2026

1. Four martyrs by occupation fire as ceasefire violations continue in Gaza

Israeli occupation forces continued, on Thursday, their violations of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for the 110th consecutive day, through heavy gunfire accompanied by artillery shelling and demolition operations across several areas.
Medical sources confirmed the martyrdom of the young man Hossam Abu Karim, who was killed in a strike by an Israeli drone targeting a group of civilians in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.
Two other civilians were also martyred by Israeli occupation fire, as violations of the ceasefire in Gaza continued for the 110th day in a row, including intensive gunfire, artillery shelling, and demolition operations in multiple areas.

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**2. Occupation releases 15 bodies of martyrs returned to Gaza as part of exchange deal**

The Gaza Strip received the bodies of 15 martyrs that had been withheld by the Israeli occupation authorities.
A medical source, citing the Prisoners’ Media Office, reported that the bodies arrived at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City after the occupation released them as part of a prisoner exchange deal.
The Prisoners’ Media Office stated that the total number of martyrs’ bodies received under the deal has risen to 360.

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**3. Settlers destroy more than 8 dunams of wheat and barley crops in Masafer Yatta**

Settlers destroyed large areas of agricultural land in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, by attacking fields planted with wheat and barley belonging to Palestinian farmers.
Activist Osama Makhamera explained that a group of settlers from the “Susya” settlement, built on Palestinian land, sprayed chemical substances on more than 8 dunams of agricultural crops in the Wadi Al-Rakheem area west of Susya.

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**4. Occupation army admits for the first time the accuracy of Gaza Health Ministry figures on genocide victims**

For the first time, the Israeli occupation army acknowledged the accuracy of statistics issued by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which indicate that approximately 70,000 Palestinians were martyred during the war of genocide, according to the Israeli newspaper *Haaretz*.
The newspaper quoted Israeli security sources as saying that “the Gaza agreement is confusing and left central issues unresolved,” foremost among them the disarmament of Hamas and the limits of Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip. The sources warned that failure to bring about a “fundamental change” in this file could push Israel to resume military operations inside Gaza.

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**5. Gaza faces unprecedented catastrophic conditions as water outages deepen the crisis**

Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip warned that the territory is experiencing an “unprecedented catastrophe” affecting all aspects of life, calling for urgent international intervention to save the humanitarian situation. Meanwhile, Gaza Municipality stressed the urgent need to provide essential supplies to ensure the continuity of water services.
Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said that Gaza is living through catastrophic conditions amid the lack of shelter, the constant threat of shelling in streets and residential areas at any moment, in addition to the collapse of the health system and hospitals’ inability to meet growing needs.

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**6. Settlers burn property and chase farmers in the West Bank**

The West Bank has witnessed a dangerous escalation in settler attacks against Bedouin communities and Palestinian villages across various governorates, including Jerusalem.
The attacks included arson and destruction of property under the protection of occupation forces. In the Bedouin community of “Khallet Al-Sadra,” near the town of Mikhmas in the Jerusalem district, a group of settlers infiltrated the area and set fire to at least two inhabited homes.

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**European**

**7. Upcoming Scottish meeting on Jewish solidarity with Palestine**

The Friends of Palestine Association in East Lothian, Scotland, is preparing to hold a new meeting to discuss Jewish solidarity with Palestine on Saturday, January 31, at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity Centre in Haddington.
The meeting will be led by activists from the Jewish community, who will discuss ways to confront antisemitism and various forms of racism within the framework of supporting the Palestinian cause, with an open invitation for everyone to attend and participate.
The meeting coincides with a campaign launched by the association, in cooperation with the East Lothian branch of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, to boycott the “Home Bargains” retail chain and its Israeli products, as a step to support Palestinian rights and in response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The campaign encourages shoppers to avoid purchasing Israeli goods as an expression of popular and community solidarity with Palestine.

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**8. Activist launches campaign to support the Palestinian village of Mikhmas after occupation crimes**

Activist and independent journalist Adele Shoko called for support for the residents of the Palestinian village of Mikhmas, whose homes were completely destroyed by settlers.
She emphasized the urgent need for reconstruction materials to help residents rebuild their homes, noting that the donation link is available in comments and stories.
Several solidarity groups, including “Herd Justice,” promoted the campaign, condemning settler crimes against Palestinians, the latest of which was the settlers’ attack on residents of Masafer Yatta, where dozens of homes were burned and access routes for ambulances were blocked.

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**9. More than 100 activists shut down Leonardo factory in Edinburgh over involvement in killing Palestinians**

More than 100 activists and Palestine solidarity supporters shut down the Leonardo military industries factory in the Scottish city of Edinburgh, protesting the company’s contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture components for F-35 fighter jets.
The protest began at 7:00 a.m., with demonstrators blocking factory entrances and raising banners reading “Stop the F-35 contract” and “Stop arming genocide,” aiming to disrupt operations and pressure for an end to military cooperation linked to the war on Gaza.
Organizers explained that the action is part of a broader movement seeking to end UK complicity in the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, through grassroots action, direct disruption, and interference with weapons supply chains.

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**10. Solidarity protest with Palestine in front of the U.S. Embassy in Dublin for the 101st week**

Ireland’s capital, Dublin, witnessed a solidarity protest with the Palestinian people in front of the U.S. Embassy, marking the 101st consecutive week of ongoing weekly actions in support of Palestine.
A number of activists and supporters participated, raising slogans calling for an end to U.S. support for Israel and affirming their commitment to peaceful, public protest against ongoing aggression and violations against Palestinians.
The event included musical performances and the chanting of solidarity songs, expressing collective humanitarian and political support for the Palestinian cause.
Organizers thanked participants for joining this week’s protest and contributing to an atmosphere of solidarity and resilience, stressing that continued attendance reflects long-term commitment to the cause.
They also confirmed that these protests will continue every Wednesday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in front of the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, emphasizing that participation is open to all, in a clear message that solidarity with Palestine will persist and not retreat.

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**11. UN experts criticize Switzerland for sentencing pro-Palestine students**

United Nations human rights experts condemned Switzerland for issuing rulings against a group of students over their participation in pro-Palestine protests.
Around 70 students from ETH Zurich took part in a peaceful sit-in in May 2024 as part of a wave of student demonstrations in several cities during the genocide in Gaza, before police intervened to disperse them. Their protest focused on the university’s partnerships with Israeli institutions.
UN experts affirmed that peaceful student activism, both on and off campus, is part of students’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, warning against the criminalization of these rights. They also stated that they have contacted the Swiss government and the university to raise the issue.

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**International**

**12. Student sues University of Massachusetts after suspension over support for Palestine**

Lawyers for a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who was involved in the “Students for Justice in Palestine” movement, reported that he was suspended in December after participating in student protests against the weapons manufacturer Raytheon.
The student, Keffalegan de Montebello, is currently suing the university in Hampshire Superior Court, accusing it of violating his rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
According to the lawsuit, de Montebello and about 20 other students participated in a peaceful protest on campus during a recruitment fair organized by the company, which the lawsuit described as supporting the war on Gaza.
The suit argues that the disciplinary hearing procedures leading to the suspension denied the student due process protections, including the right to present witnesses and cross-examine the accusing party, asserting that the university punished him for constitutionally protected peaceful speech.
The case comes amid widespread student support for the suspended student, as the student union had previously called for dropping the charges. De Montebello described the accusations as “extremely ridiculous,” saying his targeting reflects a crackdown on pro-Palestine student activism at U.S. universities.

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**13. Portuguese band “NAPA” opposes occupation’s participation in Eurovision and hints at withdrawal**

The Portuguese music band “NAPA,” which represented Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest last year, announced its opposition to Israel’s participation in the competition, arguing that its continued inclusion is meaningless given Russia’s exclusion.
In an interview, singer Guilherme Gomes said: “It makes no sense to allow Israel to participate if Russia is not allowed to.”
Drummer João Rodrigues also stated that the band members do not believe Israel’s participation in Eurovision is appropriate.