On January 15, 2026, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake rattled southern Israel, with its epicenter located approximately 19 kilometers south of Dimona, a site housing the country's secretive Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center. The tremor, which occurred around 9 a.m. local time, prompted the activation of sirens in various communities across the Negev Desert and Dead Sea regions. While the event caused temporary alarm among residents, emergency services like Magen David Adom reported no injuries or significant structural damage. The earthquake's proximity to the Dimona nuclear facility, coupled with a pre-planned nationwide emergency drill and ongoing high tensions with Iran, fueled widespread speculation on social media platforms about a possible Israeli nuclear weapons test. Users on X (formerly Twitter) questioned if the seismic activity was a natural phenomenon or a deliberate, strategic signal. These rumors gained traction given Israel's long-standing policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding its nuclear arsenal and its non-adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, official assessments from bodies like the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and the Geological Survey of Israel confirmed the event as a natural earthquake. Seismologists noted that the Dead Sea fault system, running through the region, is prone to such seismic activity. Despite the online buzz and speculation, no credible evidence has emerged to support the claims of a nuclear test. The incident highlights the regional anxieties and the immediate impact of geopolitical tensions on public perception in the Middle East.