2023-12-24 07:52:16
The Israeli army said it expanded its ground operations in the Gaza Strip over the weekend. As army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on Saturday evening, the troops were involved in “complex battles in densely populated areas”. They would penetrate further strongholds of the Islamist Hamas.
So far, ground forces have destroyed or confiscated around 30,000 explosive devices, including anti-tank missiles and rockets owned by the Islamist Hamas. The military had previously announced that it had killed a senior Hamas official who was responsible for its own supply of weapons.
The soldiers continued to fight in densely populated areas such as the southern city of Khan Yunis and tracked down “terrorist infrastructures,” especially in the underground tunnels, the army spokesman said. The technical forces have therefore been significantly increased. The capacities of the division fighting there would be further expanded in the coming days. Destroying the tunnels would be time-consuming.
Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip
Source: OpenStreetMap; Infographic WORLD
All developments in the live ticker:
8:23 a.m. – Israeli Army: 152 soldiers killed since war began
According to Israeli figures, the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the war once morest the radical Islamic Hamas has risen to 152. The Israeli military said nine soldiers were killed on Saturday – one of the highest single-day figures for soldiers killed since Israel’s ground operation began.
7:15 a.m. – Biden once more calls on Netanyahu to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip
Amid ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, US President Joe Biden has once more called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect civilians. The White House said on Saturday that Biden, in a conversation with Netanyahu, highlighted the “need” to protect civilians and allow people to shelter from hostilities.
Biden said that those involved in humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory must also be protected. The US president had previously told reporters that he had a long “private conversation” with Netanyahu. When asked, Biden said he had not called on the Israeli head of government for a ceasefire. Netanyahu’s office said following the conversation that the head of government had made it clear that Israel would continue the war “until all goals have been achieved.”
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In a resolution on the Gaza war on Friday, the UN Security Council called for the “safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid on a large scale”. A direct call for a ceasefire is missing from the text, which had been intensively negotiated for days. Rather, the resolution simply states that the conditions must be created “as a matter of urgency” that will enable “a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”
6:07 a.m. – Israel reports eight more soldiers dead
The Israeli army said eight more soldiers were killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip. This brings the number of casualties since the offensive once morest the radical Islamic Hamas on October 20th to 154.
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03:09 a.m. – USA shoots down drones in attack on US destroyer
The US shot down four drones in the southern Red Sea. The US Navy command center said they were flying towards a US destroyer. The drones were fired from areas in Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels.
02:37 a.m. – 2,600 politically motivated crimes related to the Middle East conflict registered
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has registered around 2,600 politically motivated crimes that relate to the current conflict between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel. Of these, more than 1,100 crimes were classified as anti-Semitic, the BKA said when asked by the newspapers of the Funke media group. This is primarily regarding damage to property and incitement to hatred.
Major pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin – 5,000 participants expected
Several thousand participants are expected at a large pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin. Under the title “Germany-wide solidarity with Palestine,” the participants march to the Brandenburg Gate. Watch this and other news on WELT TV.
However, in the wake of the conflict between Hamas and Israel, “individuals in Germany and Europe in particular might see the development as a triggering and subjectively perceived encouragement for an attack,” writes a spokesman for the BKA regarding the current threat situation before the holidays.
01:57 a.m. – Iran shot down drone targeting freighter off India
The drone that attacked a chemical-laden freighter 200 nautical miles off the coast of India was shot down by Iran, according to the US Department of Defense. The attack was the seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021, the Pentagon said.
12:44 a.m. – Drone explodes near ship off the coast of Yemen
A drone exploded near a ship in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, 45 nautical miles southwest of Saleef, Yemen. This is reported by the British maritime trade agency UKMTO. The ship was not damaged. All crew members are fine. The incident is being investigated.
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11:27 p.m. – Biden speaks to Netanyahu regarding “goals and phases” in Gaza
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding military action in the Gaza Strip. The aim was to include the “goals and phases” of the Israeli military operation, the White House said following a conversation between Biden and Netanyahu.
The US government has recently repeatedly insisted on more targeted military operations by Israel in the Gaza Strip, which should focus on the leadership of the Islamist Hamas. If that happens, the number of civilian casualties there will also decrease, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a few days ago.
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According to the White House, Biden emphasized in the phone call with Netanyahu that the civilian population, including humanitarian aid workers, must be protected at all costs. It is important to “enable civilians to safely evacuate areas where fighting continues.” The White House also said Biden and Netanyahu discussed the importance of securing the release of all remaining hostages.
11:07 p.m. – Residents report airstrikes on Jabalia
Residents of the northern Gaza town of Jabalia report continued airstrikes and shelling by Israeli tanks. Thick smoke hangs over the city. Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said it had destroyed five Israeli tanks in the area. The reports might not be independently verified.
9:15 p.m. – Israel continues attacks even following UN resolution
Israel has continued its massive attacks in the Gaza Strip even following the UN Security Council resolution on humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian territory. Fighting was once more reported mainly from the south of the Gaza Strip. The Islamist Hamas announced on Saturday that 201 people had been killed within 24 hours. After the UN Security Council vote, Israel announced that it would stick to its actions once morest Hamas.
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