In the West Bank, Israeli forces bomb Tammun, killing 10 Palestinians. Israeli forces also bomb and kill a Palestinian man in Jenin during the ninth day of raids in the city and surrounding areas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure 2 Palestinians during the third day of raids in the Tulkarm area. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinians during a raid in Deir Istiya, causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolish a restaurant in Bayt Jala, a home in Deir Sammit, and 4 homes in Ein af-Duyuk at-Tahta. Israeli forces also uproot olive tree saplings and demolish retaining walls in Battir. Separately, Israeli forces deliver a demolition notice for a 5-story residential building on the top of Mount Gerizim. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a prayer hall in Sur Baher. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli forces shoot and injure several Palestinian fishermen and arrest 2 others west of Khan Yunis. In Lebanon, Israeli forces attack Majdal Selem and Maroun al-Ras, injuring 8 people. Turkey says Israeli forces also bombed and killed 3 Turkish nationals attempting to cross from Lebanon into Israel. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/29)
More than 47,417 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,818 children and 12,287 women, and around 111,571 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 11,000 people are missing in rubble. 891 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 179 children. More than 6,500 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 408 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,485 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. 92% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. The Gaza Media Office says that more than 500,000 Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza since 1/27. (AJ, AP, AP, WAFA 1/29)
Hamas political bureau chairperson Muhammad Ismail Darwish meets with Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdogan in Ankara. (AJ, REU 1/29)
PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa meets with UN representatives, including Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag, discussing Gaza relief efforts. (WAFA 1/29)
Addameer and the Palestinian Prisoners Society announce that 2 Palestinians died in Israeli prisons on 5/17/2024 and 6/23/2024. Muhammad al-Asali was arrested at al-Shifa Hospital in March 2024 and died in May. Ibrahim Adnan Ashour was arrested at the Nasser Hospital on 2/14/2014 and died in June. Neither man was known to have any previous illness. 58 Palestinians are now known to have died in Israeli prisons and detention camps since 10/7/2023. (AJ, WAFA 1/29)
Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says the Israeli military will stay in Jenin refugee camp and that the camp “will not return to what it was,” adding that Israel has “declared war on Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank].” The PA condemns Katz’s “inflammatory statements against our people and leadership.” Katz also speaks with U.S. secretary of defense Pete Hegseth, who tells him that the U.S. “fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself.” (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 1/29)
The Israeli Supreme Court rejects a petition from Adalah contesting Israel’s ban on UNRWA. The court, however, does specify that the ban does not apply to the West Bank and Gaza. The PA presidency calls on the UN to force Israel to reverse the illegal decision. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 1/29; AJ 1/30)
U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff meets with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tours the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Witkoff reportedly discusses Saudi normalization and the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire with Netanyahu. Witkoff visited Saudi Arabia before arriving in Israel. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU 1/29; AX 1/30)
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi says at a news conference that Egypt will not take part in the displacement of Palestinians in response to U.S. president Donald Trump’s call for Egypt and Jordan to take in 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 1/29)
President Trump says the Biden administration spent $50 million on sending condoms to Gaza, which he claims were used for military purposes by Hamas. Israel does not allow condoms to enter Gaza and it later turns out that Trump and his team mistook the Gaza province of Mozambique for Gaza in Palestine. Trump also signs an executive order aimed at deporting non-citizens college students and other “resident aliens” who have taken part in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. It also directs the State Department and Education Department to guide colleges to report on activities by foreign students and staff that could be considered anti-Semitic or supportive of terrorism. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU 1/29; HA, NYT 1/30)