In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal 25 cows during a raid in Tayasir. Israeli settlers also throw stones at a Palestinian home near Burin. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers throw stones at vehicles and assault a Palestinian near the Eli settlement. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces also arrest 15 Palestinians during raids in and around Ramallah, Tulkarm, Hebron, Jenin, and Jerusalem. PA forces conduct a large-scale raid on Jenin refugee camp after surrounding the camp for 5 days, calling it operation “Operation Protect the Homeland” and seeking to “put an end to sedition and chaos.” The PA forces shoot and kill Jenin Brigades commander Yazid Ja'ayseh, while injuring 22 others. Palestinians in Jenin later protest the PA, calling on it to stop its operation. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force a Palestinian family to demolish their own storage facility in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Nuseirat refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, Jabalia refugee camp, al-Mawasi, Gaza City, and Khan Yunis, killing at least 55 people, including Dayr al-Balah mayor Diab al-Jaru, in what Israel calls an assassination. Israeli forces also issue evacuation orders for parts of Khan Yunis. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Damascus, Homs, Deraa, Suweida, and Hama. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/14; AJ, AJ, NYT, NYT 12/15; AP 12/16; UNOCHA 12/17)
More than 44,930 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 106,624 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 12/14)
The New York Times reports that the PA raids on Jenin had been requested by the U.S. The Popular Resistance Committees condemn the killing of Ja'ayseh, saying it is “a serious violation of all national norms and traditions.” Hamas also condemns the killing, saying it will “fuel internal disputes.” Axios reports that the U.S. has asked Israel to urgently approve U.S. military aid to PA forces. (AJ, HA, NYT 12/14; AX 12/15)
Leader of the successful Syrian rebellion against Bashar al-Assad, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, warns Israel against interfering in Syria but says that Syria is not in conflict with Israel and is not in a position to wage a conflict with Israel. Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi says Israel is “not intervening in what is happening in Syria” and that Israel does not have intentions of “managing Syria.” Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem says Syria is facing a “dangerous expansionist enemy.” (AJ, HA, HA 12/14)