In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uproot olive tree saplings in Khallet Khader. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man near the separation wall in Tulkarm. Israeli forces also deliver demolition notices for 2 homes in Khirbet al-Fakhit and a shack in al-Tabban in the Masafer Yatta area. Elsewhere, Israeli forces uproot around 150 olive trees in al-Minya. Israeli forces also arrest 12 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Tubas, Qalqilya, and Jerusalem. 3 Palestinian families from the Ni’lin area flee their homes after repeated settler threats and violence. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force 2 Palestinians families to demolish their own homes and a commercial structure in Bayt Hanina. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Jabalia refugee camp, Abasan, Beit Lahiya, Dayr al-Balah, and Gaza City, killing at least 37 people. Israeli forces also order the evacuation of parts of Khan Yunis, claiming a rocket was launched from the area. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Haris, Hawash al-Sayyid Ali, Wadi al-Zein, Yaroun, Yater, and Tallouseh, killing 12 people and injuring 3 others in Haris and Tallouseh. Israeli forces also bomb a bulldozer in Hermel, injuring a Lebanese soldier. Elsewhere, Israeli forces open fire at homes in Naqoura. Hezbollah forces fire a missile at Shebaa Farms. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/2; UNOCHA 12/5)
More than 44,466 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 105,358 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 802 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 169 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, 379 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,456 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. 87% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. (AJ, HA, WAFA 12/2)
Fatah and Hamas delegates meet in Cairo, discussing the governance of Gaza after Israel’s war, including reopening the Rafah crossing with the PA managing the Palestinian side. A committee will reportedly be formed to manage aid distribution, oversee the civil administration, and coordinate reconstruction efforts. (AJ, AJ 12/2; AJ, HA, HA 12/3)
Haaretz reports that Israel is planning to forcibly displace thousands of Bedouins from their homes in the Naqab Desert to temporary caravan parks. (HA 12/2)
Hamas says Israeli forces have killed 33 captives in Gaza since 10/7/2023, mostly in airstrikes. Hamas also says that if Israel continues its “mad war” it may lose all the captives and calls for Israel to enter a ceasefire. U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says in a tweet that if the captives are not released by his inauguration on 1/20/2025 then “there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity.” The Gaza Media Office says 3,700 people are missing or have been killed in Israel’s attacks on northern Gaza in the past 60 days. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU 12/2; NYT 12/3)
Ynet reports that France has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon 52 times and that Israel is acting without consulting the international committee tasked with monitoring the deal. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot tells Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar that all parties must adhere to the ceasefire agreement. (AJ 12/2)
More than 100 countries send delegations to the Cairo Ministerial Conference to Strengthen Humanitarian Response in Gaza held in Egypt. At the conference, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says Gaza has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world. PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa also addresses the conference, calling for an immediate ceasefire. (AJ, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/2; WAFA 12/3)
ICC president Tomoko Akane says international law is under threat as the court has faced “coercive measures, threats, pressure, and acts of sabotage.” Akane does not mention the perpetrators, but the statements follow several threats from U.S. lawmakers. (AJ, AJ 12/2)
U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken meets with Israeli strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, discussing a ceasefire in Gaza and the need for more aid to enter Gaza. (HA 12/2; AJ 12/3)
U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) says in a tweet that former Israeli defense minister Moshe Ya’alon is right that Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza, writing “[y]ou don’t fight terrorism by starving people & killing tens of thousands of civilians.” Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) writes in a Washington Post op-ed titled, History will judge Biden harshly on Gaza, that President Joe Biden should correct some of his mistakes in his Middle East policy by recognizing the State of Palestine, pausing offensive security assistance, banning import of goods from Israeli settlements, and sanctioning “ultraright” members of the Israeli government. (AJ, AP, WP 12/2; WAFA 12/3)
Canada lists the Houthi movement as a “terrorist entity.” (AJ 12/3)
Lufthansa and Swiss Air extend their suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until 1/31. (AJ, HA 12/2)