In the West Bank, Israeli forces shoot and kill 2 Palestinians by the separation wall in Sufin. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Qusra. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in ‘Anin. Israeli forces also shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Zabbuba. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians using tear gas during a raid in Beit Furik. Israeli forces also demolish structures on a 5 dunam (1.2 acre) plot of land in Deir Ballut. Separately, Israeli forces demolish 2 vacation homes in Nuweimah. Israeli forces also raze land near Deir Razih in preparation to construct a settler road. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 12 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Khan Yunis, Rafah, al-Mawasi, Nuseirat refugee camp, and Jabalia refugee camp, killing at least 31 people. Israeli forces also invade al-Mawasi. 2 Israeli soldiers are killed in southern Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Majdal Zoun, injuring 3 people. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/17; UNOCHA 12/19)
More than 45,059 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 107,041 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 11,000 people are missing in rubble. 816 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, 386 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, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 12/17)
Hamas says that a ceasefire can be reached due to the positive talks held in Doha and Cairo but warns that Israel may be adding new conditions to prevent a deal. Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says Israel will continue to have full freedom of action in Gaza after a ceasefire is reached. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, REU 12/17; AJ 12/18)
16 leading Palestinian human rights organizations sign an open letter to the UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Alice Edwards, informing her that they have suspended all engagements with her until further notice. The groups explains that Edwards has not acted on Israel’s systematic human rights violations against Palestinians, including prisoners. (Mezan 12/17; REU 12/18)
172 countries vote in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution affirming the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. 7 countries vote against, including the U.S., Israel, Argentina, Paraguay, Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea. (WAFA 12/17; AJ 12/18)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, and military chief of staff Herzl Halevi meet on Mount Hermon in Syria, discussing Israel’s plans for its occupation of the area. Netanyahu says Israel will remain at Mount Hermon until another arrangement is in place “that ensures Israel’s security.” (AP, AP, AP, HA, NYT 12/17; REU 12/18)
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar calls Irish president Michael Higgens an “anti-Semite” 2 days after he called Irish prime minister Simon Harris an anti-Semite. Israel closed its embassy to Ireland on 12/15 after Ireland called several times for accountability for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. (AJ 12/17; AJ 12/18)
20 Democratic members of the House of Representatives send a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the Biden administration to uphold U.S. laws and end the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel. 5 Palestinians sue the U.S. government for not abiding by the Leahy Law. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA 12/17; AJ 12/18)
Haaretz reports that there has been a breakthrough in normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Both Saudi and Israeli officials deny the reports. Prime Minister Netanyahu calls the claim that Israel has committed to a path toward Palestinian statehoods a “complete lie.” (AJ, HA, HA 12/17)
Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness calls on FIFA to investigate Israel a day after Norway is drawn in the same group as Israel for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. (AJ, WAFA 12/17)