In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raze Palestinian farmland near Khalayel al-Loz. Israeli settlers also throw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near al-Bireh. Israeli forces shoot and injure 3 Palestinians during a raid in Qalandia refugee camp. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian man at the Qalandia checkpoint. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man and demolish a home during a raid in al-Arroub refugee camp. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian child during a raid in Beita. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seize a Palestinian vehicle during a raid in Qusra. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian woman during a raid in Husan. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 10 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tubas. Israeli forces also detain and interrogate dozens of Palestinians at a football stadium in Fawwar refugee camp. PA forces continue clashing with resistance fighters in Jenin. A Palestinian child is reportedly killed by PA forces while a PA officer is killed by members of the resistance. Jenin residents observe a general strike, protesting the PA attacks on the resistance. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force a Palestinian family to demolish part of their home in Sur Baher. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Nuseirat refugee camp, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Dayr al-Balah, and al-Mawasi, killing at least 58 people, including around 20 in explosions at the Kamal Adwan Hospital. Israeli forces also order the evacuation of parts of the Shuja’iya neighborhood of Gaza City and attack security forces protecting an aid convoy in Dayr al-Balah. 3 Israeli soldiers are killed in Beit Lahiya. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Taybeh, killing 2 people and injuring a third. In Yemen, Houthi forces launch a drone at Israel which is shot down over the Red Sea. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/23; AJ, HA, NYT, UNOCHA 12/24; AP 12/25; UNOCHA 12/26)
More than 45,317 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 107,713 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 11,000 people are missing in rubble. 825 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 171 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, 389 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. 87% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. (AJ, HA, WAFA 12/23)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas speaks with Irish prime minister Simon Harris in a phone call. Harris reiterates to Abbas the “unbreakable [Irish] support” for the Palestinian people. PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa meets with Cypriot foreign minister Constantinos Kombos in Ramallah. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 12/23)
Fatah announces that Al Jazeera is barred from operating in parts of the northern West Bank, including Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm, saying Al Jazeera’s coverage is aligned with the “Zionist-American axis” and undermines the Palestinian cause. Al Jazeera condemns Fatah for what it says is incitement against their journalists covering the PA raids on the Jenin resistance. Hamas condemns the PA raids against members of the resistance in Jenin. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU 12/24)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there has been some progress on a ceasefire deal. Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly admits that Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU 12/23; AJ, AJ, AJ 12/24)
Israel signs a deal to sell the Barak MX air defense system to Slovakia for $580 million. (AJ 12/23)