Blinken avoids congressional oversight in weapon sale to Israel; Israeli military targets UN humanitarian aid convoy, historical sites, steals from Gazan homes; Gazan food insecurity is “catastrophic”; Israeli envoy threatens Lebanon; Gaza medical workers tortured, journalist killed; multiple incidents in West Bank; Friday worship disrupted in Jerusalem
Over 21,000 dead in Gaza, 7,000 missing – Day 82
Bombing, fire, destruction in Gaza; 3 deaths in West Bank; Israeli forces raid currency exchanges, seize cash, make arrests; settler attack on clergy; Israeli military and Shin Bet admit to mistakes
9,000 Gazan children have undergone amputations, many without anesthesia – Day 81
241 killed in Gaza in 24 hours; Gazan prisoners of Israel report horrific torture; Israeli military leader would not hesitate to attack “safe zones” if needed; Palestinian organs said to be stolen; 6 killed by drone attack in West Bank
At least 250 Gazans killed on Christmas Day – Day 80
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
Pope says children dying in Gaza are the “little Jesuses of today”: Day 79
Pope Francis speaks about Palestine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; deadly airstrikes in Gaza, raids in West Bank; another video released of stripped Palestinian hostages
“Horrifying testimonies” of Israeli forces executing Gazans – Day 78
The little town of Bethlehem is quiet this Christmas, as more and more deaths are reported in Gaza. An Israeli former hostage discusses her captivity.
AIPAC’s vast campaign to unseat pro-Palestine US lawmakers
AIPAC, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, and its affiliates are reportedly spending $100 million in the next congressional election cycle. The objective: to help oust progressives who have voiced support for Palestinians. The Israel lobby is signaling to many that it cares more about supporting Israel’s right-wing government than democracy in the US.
Thousands in central Gaza now under evacuation orders – Day 77
Evacuation ordered in areas of central Gaza; evidence of execution of civilians – some of them pregnant – holding white flags; more evidence of Israel’s assault on Catholic church; another journalist dead; British activists for Palestine paying a price
Israel’s Assault on Gaza Is Unlike Any War in Recent Memory
What we are seeing play out in Gaza daily is not “just another terrible war” but something altogether different. Its scale is comparable to the carpet-bombing of German cities in World War II. A staggering 70 percent of Palestinians killed so far have been women and children – setting Gaza apart from some of this century’s worst wars.
US abstains in UNSC vote; NYTimes, Wash Post on Israeli 1-ton bombs, Hamas-hospital fiction – Day 76
UN Security Council resolution; major newspapers criticize Israel’s bombing campaign and Hamas narrative; Gazans face “crisis levels of hunger”; another Gazan Christian dies on church compound.