In the West Bank, Israeli settlers light an agricultural structure on fire in Salfit. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in ‘Askar refugee camp. Israeli forces also assault a 13-year-old Palestinian boy in Beit Furik. Elsewhere, Israeli forces fire tear gas near a school in al-Khader. Israeli forces also demolish 40 shops and a home in al-Ramadin. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolish 6 homes in ‘Anata. Israeli forces also issue stop-work orders for 3 structures in Dayr Sharaf. Separately, Israeli forces issue notices that Israel will seize 47 dunams (11.6 acres) of land near Qalqilya. Israeli forces also arrest 16 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jenin. PA forces raid Jenin, clashing with members of the resistance. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 11 structures in al-Bustan in Silwan, displacing 78 Palestinians. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Shati’ refugee camp, Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Nuseirat refugee camp, and Rafah, killing at least 52 people. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb al-Najariyah, injuring 3 people. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Tartus and seize Al Wahda Dam. In Yemen, U.S. forces bomb an alleged key Houthi command facility. Houthi forces say they fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv; it is reportedly shot down before reaching Israel. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/16; AP, HA 12/17; HA, UNOCHA 12/19)
More than 45,028 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 106,962 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 11,000 people are missing in rubble. 814 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. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, WAFA 12/16)
Reuters reports that an Israeli negotiation team is in Doha working on Gaza ceasefire talks. (HA, HA, REU 12/16)
Hamas condemns the PA forces’ attack on the Jenin Brigades, calling it a “national crime.” (AJ 12/16)
EU high commissioner for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas proposes that the EU restart convening meetings of the Association Council with Israel. Kallas also says that the EU has plans to hold its first High-Level Dialogue with the PA soon. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar welcomes the decision to reconvene the Association Council. (HA 12/17)
8 Democratic senators led by senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Peter Welch (D-VT) urge the Biden administration to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protected Status and protect Palestinians in the U.S. from potential deportation. (HA 12/16)
Members of Aysenyr Ezgi Eygi’s family meet with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken. A family member tells the press that Blinken said the U.S. would not open its own investigation into her killing until Israel had finished its own inquiry. Ezgi Eygi, an American citizen, was killed by Israeli forces in Beita on 9/6. (AJ, HA, REU 12/16)
Amnesty International issues a report saying that Serbia has used spyware by the Israeli company Cellbrite to target journalists and activists. (REU 12/16)