At least 250 Gazans killed on Christmas Day – Day 80
A Palestinian child, holding empty pot, wait to receive food distributed by volunteers for Palestinian families ,displaced to Southern Gaza due to Israeli attacks, between rubbles of destroyed buildings in Rafah, Gaza on December 22, 2023 (photo)
Bodies of Palestinians stolen by Israel, returned, show signs of organ harvesting; 2 killed, 50 made homeless in West Bank; US gives Israel a tentative “No” to request for helicopters; Israel admits to killing 2 more of its own; Netanyahu floats idea of “voluntary transfer” of Gazans
Palestinian authorities report that at least 250 people have been killed in a wave of intense strikes over 24 hours. Some of the most intense bombardments leveled buildings and left families trapped beneath piles of rubble.
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This Palestinian family was ‘executed’ in their home by Israeli forces. Ahmed, his pregnant wife Fatima, and ther son Adam were among nine executed in one house. Four-year-old Faisal is in critical condition, in need of surgery that can not be provided.
The story of the al-Khaldi family was confirmed by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, which says it has documented many similar field executions by Israeli forces in recent days. (Read the full story here.)
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society headquarters in western Khan Younis was hit by an Israeli strike and severely damaged. This building, which hosts thousands of displaced Palestinians, is in what is supposed to be a safe region of Gaza.
Gaza media office: 80 Palestinian bodies returned showed evidence that their organs had been stolen. The government office made the accusation after examining corpses returned earlier in the day at the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) border crossing.
The media office said this is not the first time Israel has “mutilated” Palestinian bodies, and it called for an independent international investigation into the taking of Palestinian bodies and theft of their organs.
RECOMMENDED READING: Dying to leave Gaza – and to get back in
WEST BANK
Eyewitnesses say that Israeli forces raided and searched the home of prominent politician Khalida Jarrar, then arrested her, along with other activists of her party. Jarrar has been arrested numerous times by Israel and spent several years in prison, most of them in solitary confinement.
Homes, agricultural facilities demolished by Israeli forces in West Bank, leaving 50 Palestinians homeless after Israeli forces carried out a series of demolitions in the village of Furush Beit Dajan in the occupied West Bank. “The occupation forces demolished three water collection ponds used for agriculture and also demolished 15 homes inhabited by eight Palestinian families,” a spokesperson said.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army killed two Palestinians during a middle-of-the-night incursion in the al-Fawwar refugee camp near Hebron in the south of the occupied West Bank. Ibrahim al-Titi, 31, and Ahmad Yaghi, 17, were killed during the raid, according to Palestinian media.
The IDF has requested Apache attack helicopters from the United States but has been denied so far. The request was made to the Pentagon in recent weeks and was also raised by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during his meetings with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during his visit to Israel last week. Security sources suggest that a final decision on the potential acquisition has not been made, and Jerusalem is continuing to apply pressure.
As of December 8th, the US had supplied Israel with over 11,000 tons of arms and weaponry since October 7th. That works out to about 175 tons every day of the war.
Israeli army admits it mistakenly killed 2 soldiers in Gaza last month during a military operation.According to Army Radio, an Israeli tank spotted suspicious movements in a building and decided to shell its second floor, resulting in the death of the troops. It was later determined that the building was being used as a base by an infantry commander in the besieged enclave.
Israeli media on Monday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for plans to implement “voluntary migration” of the Palestinians in Gaza to other countries. Netanyahu reportedly made the comment during a closed-door parliamentary session for his ruling Likud Party lawmakers.
The prime minister admitted that the “problem” is finding countries “willing to absorb” Gazans. Another problem – one that he does not acknowledge – is convincing Gazans to leave “voluntarily.” Forced transfer of a population is a crime against humanity.
Palestine’s Foreign Ministry condemned Netanyahu’s plan to encourage Palestinians to voluntarily leave Gaza.
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – DECEMBER 25:
Palestinian death toll since October 7: at least 20,749* (~20,444 in Gaza* (over 8,663 children), and at least 305 in the West Bank). This does not include an estimated 8,000 more still buried under rubble. Euro-Med Monitor reports 28,091 Palestinian deaths.
*IAK does not yet include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile is being disputed; although much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, experts are still looking into the incident. Israel is blocking an international investigation.
Palestinian injuries since October 7: at least 58,665** (including at least 55,000 in Gaza** and 3,665 in the West Bank). **NOTE: it is impossible to provide an accurate number of injuries in Gaza due to the ongoing bombardment and communication disruption.
It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties. in Gaza**. About 1.9 million people have been displaced (about 85-90% of the population).
Reported Israeli death toll since October 7: ~1,139 (7 killed in West Bank, 161 in Gaza), including 32 Americans, and 5,431 injured, approximately 36 children).
NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries in Israel may have been caused by Israeli soldiers; additionally, since Israel has a policy of universal conscription, it is unknown how many of those attending the outdoor rave a few miles from Gaza on stolen Palestinian land were Israeli soldiers.
Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here. For more news, go here and here. Live broadcast news from the region is here.
data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org
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