In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uproot olive trees during a raid in Khirbet Tana. Israeli settlers also raid Arab al-Milehat. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man with a mental disability during a raid in Bayt Awa. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Nablus. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assault and arrest a Palestinian man in Hebron. Israeli forces also assault 2 Palestinians during a raid in Nabi Salih. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinian protesters in Beita, causing tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza City, and Beit Lahiya, killing at least 40 Palestinians. Israeli forces also bomb the Kamal Adwan Hospital, injuring 3 medics and causing damage. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Damascus, Sweida, and Masyaf. (AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/13; AJ 12/14)
More than 44,857 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 106,454 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 813 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 170 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, 384 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. (HA, WAFA 12/13)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas meets with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella in Rome. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 12/13)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz tour Mount Hermon, which in a social media post Katz says has returned to Israeli control after 51 years. Katz also says in a statement that Israel’s plan is to remain at Mount Hermon during the winter. U.S. Central Command commander Michael Kurilla finishes a 3-day visit to Israel, meeting with Katz and Israeli military chief of staff Herzl Halevi. Axios reports that Israel and Jordan held secret talks about security cooperation on Syria. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU 12/13; AX 12/14)
U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken discusses Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan in Turkey, while National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discusses the ceasefire negotiations with Qatari prime minister Mohammed Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani during a meeting in Doha. (AJ, REU, REU 12/13)
The Arab League condemns the Israeli expansion of its occupied areas of Syria. (AJ 12/13)
The Hague district court rejects a petition to stop the Netherlands from exporting weapons to Israel and trading with Israeli settlements in the West Bank. (AJ, AJ, AP 12/13)