In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 2 agricultural structures in Arab al-Milehat. Israeli settlers also bring their sheep to graze on Palestinian farmland in al-‘Awja, damaging crops. Israeli forces kill a Palestinian child in a drone strike on Tammun. Israeli forces also kill a Palestinian man by firing an RPG at his home in Qaffin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces continue the second day of raids in Tulkarm refugee camp, shooting and injuring 4 Palestinians, demolishing a home, and destroying public and private property; 1 Israeli soldier is injured by an IED. Israeli forces also shoot and injure 3 Palestinians during a raid in al-Am’ari refugee camp. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shoot and injure 2 Palestinians during a raid in Nablus. Israeli forces also demolish a park containing a swimming pool, restaurant, café, and other facilities in Nahalin. Separately, Israeli forces demolish a commercial structure in Nabi Ilyas. Israeli forces also arrest 25 Palestinians during raids in and around Tulkarm and Ramallah. A PA soldier dies of wounds sustained in Jenin while he was disarming an explosive device on 12/22. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Rafah, Dayr al-Balah, al-Bureij refugee camp, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat refugee camp, and Shati’ refugee camp, killing at least 23 people. A 3-week-old baby freezes to death in al-Mawasi tent camp. In Syria, Israeli forces shoot and injure 3 people protesting the Israeli invasion in Quneitra. In Yemen, Houthi forces fire a missile at Ashkelon, no damage is reported. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/25; UNOCHA 12/26)
More than 45,361 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,500 children and 11,487 women, and around 107,803 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 11,000 people are missing in rubble. 835 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 172 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, 389 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, WAFA 12/25)
Israeli president Isaac Herzog calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire deal. Hamas says Israel has put forth several new conditions for the deal. Netanyahu says it is Hamas that is reneging on understandings already agreed to. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 12/25; AX 12/27)
Prime Minister Netanyahu says at a Hanukkah candle lighting event that the “Houthis will also learn what Hamas, Hezbollah, the Assad regime and others have learned, and this will also take time. This lesson will be learned across the Middle East.” (AJ 12/25)