At least 250 Gazans killed on Christmas Day

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, reportedly 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.

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.

People flee following Israeli air raids on a neighbourhood in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip (photo)

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.