Epal European Palestinian Media Center Bulletin, Issue No. 2313, Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026

1. Two Martyrs and Injuries from Israeli Occupation Fire in Khan Younis

Two Palestinians were martyred and others were injured by Israeli occupation fire in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in a continuation of Israeli violations of the ceasefire. The Civil Defense announced this afternoon that its crews in Khan Younis, after coordinating with OCHA, were able to recover a martyr from the Al-Tahliya area, east of Khan Younis, and transfer him to Nasser Morgue.

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2. Armed Settler Attacks Target Farkha Village, South of Salfit

The village of Farkha, southwest of Salfit in the occupied West Bank, witnessed an attack by more than 50 settlers targeting the northern part of the village. Mustafa Hammad, head of the Farkha Village Council, reported that groups of settlers stormed the areas surrounding residents’ homes and fired live ammunition at the village’s youth, causing tension and fear among the residents.

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3. Displaced people’s tents flooded in Gaza due to heavy rains

Hundreds of displaced people’s tents in the Gaza Strip were flooded as the storm intensified overnight. Local sources reported that roads and tents in the Khan Younis and Rafah areas of southern Gaza were inundated by the torrential rains.

They also reported that some tents were blown away by the storm. The rains also soaked the displaced people’s blankets, as they had no alternative shelter or other places to stay.

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4. Floods turn Gaza streets into rivers

Roads and tents were submerged. Floodwaters rose in the streets of Gaza, forcing residents to use rudimentary means of transportation amidst a major collapse of infrastructure caused by the genocidal war waged by the occupation.

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5. NGOs: Banning the work of important international organizations in Gaza is a dangerous development

The Palestinian NGO Network in the Gaza Strip described the decision to suspend the work of twenty international organizations in the Strip as a “dangerous exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis,” stressing that there is no alternative to the vital work of these organizations in the Strip. The head of the NGO Network, Amjad al-Shawa, said that the decision to ban international non-governmental organizations is dangerous and comes at a very difficult time for the Palestinian citizen in the Gaza Strip, amidst the ongoing and complex catastrophe.

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6. Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor Warns of US-Israeli Project to Impose a Geto on Palestinians in Gaza

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reiterated its warning about the dangers of the Israeli-American agreement to establish the so-called “Green City” in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, and its presentation as a solution for housing Gaza residents displaced for over two years and living in dilapidated tents. The Monitor indicated that the plan, details of which it had previously revealed, carries grave risks, including the imposition of arrangements that could effectively lead to the displacement of Palestinians from their original homes and the transformation of large parts of the Gaza Strip into closed military zones under the direct control of the Israeli army.

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*European*

7. British Police Suppress Protesters Outside Pentonville Prison

Pentonville Prison witnessed excessive use of force by police, with several activists being arrested while gathering in support of Kamran and other hunger strikers from the “Fulton 24” group. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the protest was peaceful and held in solidarity with the strikers, who are continuing their hunger strike to protest poor prison conditions and demand their rights.

In the course of these events, one of the strikers, Kamran, was transferred to the hospital after his health deteriorated as a result of the hunger strike, highlighting the risks faced by protesters inside the prison. Calls continue from human rights organizations and activists to monitor the situation of the hunger strikers and ensure their safety within British prisons.

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8. British MP: Pro-Palestinian activist Heba Merisi is nearing death

British MP Zara Sultana warned of the imminent danger to the life of activist Heba Merisi, who has entered her 60th day of a hunger strike in a British prison, along with her colleagues from the Filton 24 group, affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Movement.

She confirmed that the hunger striker’s health is deteriorating rapidly, noting that the continuation of the strike without urgent medical intervention could lead to sudden death. She called on British authorities to immediately transfer her to a hospital and to uphold their legal and humanitarian responsibilities.

The detained Palestine Liberation Movement activists are on hunger strike to protest their continued detention and the conditions of their imprisonment, and to demand the closure of Israeli arms manufacturers Elbit Systems.

Elbit Systems is one of Israel’s largest military industries companies, founded in 1966, and is considered a cornerstone of the Israeli arms industry. It specializes in developing and manufacturing smart weapons, drones, surveillance and espionage systems, electronic warfare, command and control systems, and advanced munitions.

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9. Irish Sports Official Resigns from FIBA ​​Europe Board in Protest of Israeli Participation

Bernard O’Byrne, the former CEO of Basketball Ireland, announced his resignation from the FIBA ​​Europe board of directors due to Israel’s continued participation in tournaments, after his proposal to suspend its activities because of the war on Gaza was rejected. O’Byrne had addressed FIBA ​​Europe in July, demanding a ban on Israel, following the Irish Basketball Federation’s call for a full and open discussion about its participation. In November, the Irish women’s national team faced their Israeli counterparts in the EuroBasket qualifiers on neutral ground, after the Irish federation refused to hold the match under normal circumstances. With the proposal officially rejected, O’Byrne confirmed his resignation in a New Year’s post, saying his step was “small but clears his conscience,” and expressing his hope that 2026 would bring relief and redress to the children of Gaza.

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10. 285 Organizations Join Campaign to Support Boycott of the Occupation in Ireland

285 shops, restaurants, businesses, community organizations, trade unions, and local councils have joined the “Apartheid-Free Zones” campaign, in a move aims to strengthen solidarity with the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. The initiative is based on participants pledging to support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, boycotting Israeli products and institutions, and international companies that profit from human rights violations, with a public declaration of their commitment to this. The “Apartheid-Free Zones” campaign is a grassroots, grassroots initiative that, in Ireland, seeks the broader goal of making the entire country an apartheid-free zone. With more and more venues and institutions joining daily, including local councils and student unions, the campaign is contributing to building a growing culture of community solidarity in support of fundamental Palestinian rights.

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11. Escalating Protests in Spain Against Basketball Games with the Occupation

Protests continue in various Spanish cities condemning the holding of basketball games with Israeli teams, amid increasing accusations that the occupation is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Protesters raised banners demanding an end to sports normalization, arguing that participation in these matches whitewashes grave violations of international law and human rights. Activists pointed out that the Israeli Basketball Association includes teams operating in illegal Israeli settlements built on stolen Palestinian land, in clear violation of international law. They also noted the recent opening of a new stadium within one of these settlements, which they considered a dangerous escalation of settlement policies and an attempt to impose a fait accompli through sports.

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*International*

12. UN Warns Against Israeli Legislation to Execute Palestinians, Describing it as a Flagrant Challenge to International Law

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a strongly worded warning against a proposed Israeli bill before the Knesset that would authorize the execution of Palestinians under specific circumstances.

Turk called on Israeli authorities to abandon their plans to enact new legislation imposing mandatory death sentences applicable exclusively to Palestinians, arguing that this move defies international law on multiple levels.

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13. 53 International Organizations Banned by Israel Warn of Complete Halt to Humanitarian Work in Gaza

Fifty-three international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the Palestinian territories, which have been banned by Israel, warned that recent Israeli registration procedures threaten to halt the operations of international NGOs in general. The organizations stated that the decision to suspend the work of several organizations comes at a time when civilians in Gaza are facing acute and widespread humanitarian needs, despite the ceasefire. According to the statement, on December 30, 37 international NGOs received official notification that their registration would expire on December 31, 2025, triggering a 60-day period after which these organizations would be obligated to cease their operations in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

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14. Indian Calls for the Release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safieh

The Indian People’s Solidarity Movement with Palestine (IPSP), along with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in India, have called for the immediate release of Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safieh, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. He was abducted by Israeli occupation authorities without charge or trial under the so-called “Unlawful Combatant” law. Dr. Abu Safieh, a pediatrician, refused to leave the hospital during the Israeli offensive in northern Gaza, despite his home being bombed and his son killed. He continued his medical work until the hospital was forcibly evacuated.