In the West Bank, a 7-year-old Palestinian boy is killed after he reportedly comes in contact with an Israel landmine in a previously designated “firing zone” in the Rashaida area of Bethlehem. Israeli settlers attack farmers and vandalize a home during a raid in Burqa. Israeli settlers also place large stones on a road in Wadi Fukin, blocking it. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in Faqqua. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinians during a raid in Qusra, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assault a Palestinian man during a raid in Beita. Israeli forces also arrest 25 Palestinians during raids in and around Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Jerusalem. PA forces disperse protesters in Jenin, while also clashing with members of the resistance. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force 2 Palestinian families to demolish their own homes in Jabel Mukaber and Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat refugee camp, Jabalia refugee camp, Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, and Shati’ refugee camp, killing at least 21 people. Israeli forces also continue assaulting the Kamal Adwan Hospital, opening fire at the ICU and incubators. All medical teams remaining at the hospital are reportedly trapped in the same room as Israel has demanded that everyone evacuate the hospital. In Yemen, U.S. forces bomb Sanaa, reportedly attempting to assassinate members of the Houthi movement’s leadership. Houthi forces fire a hypersonic ballistic missile at Israel, injuring 23 people in Tel Aviv, mostly from glass shrapnel. (NYT 12/20; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/21; UNOCHA 12/24; UNOCHA 12/26)
More than 45,227 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 107,573 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, 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. The World Food Programme says Israel has denied 97% of its requests to deliver aid to northern Gaza since October. (AJ, HA, WAFA 12/21)
Hamas says it, Islamic Jihad, and the PFLP are closer than ever to reaching a ceasefire agreement with Israel. The 3 groups also call for an end to the fighting in Jenin to preserve national unity. Haaretz reports that Israel has agreed to release 200 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies that Marwan Barghouti could be released as part of a ceasefire agreement. (AJ, HA 12/21; HA 12/22)
In his annual Christmas address, Pope Francis condemns Israel’s war on Gaza, saying what Israel is doing is “cruelty. This is not war.” (AJ, REU, WAFA 12/21; AP 12/22)
Walla news reports that Israel used civilian contractors to demolish homes and establish military infrastructure in Rafah. (AJ 12/21)