The Israeli army has intensified its operations throughout the Gaza Strip, where the already critical humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate this Sunday, December 24. A situation which pushed American President Joe Biden to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect the Palestinian population. Hamas is calling for an international investigation into “ summary executions » of civilians attributed to Israel.
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What you must remember
■ After several consecutive postponements, a text of the UN Security Council approved in New York. Its content has been emptied of part of its substance, in particular the demand for a ceasefire. All details at find here.
■ Israeli air force and artillery continue to bombard intensely the Gaza Strip. More than 200 Palestinians were killed between Friday and Saturday in Israel’s incessant bombings and ground operations, Hamas announced late Saturday afternoon. He also reported the discovery of dozens of bodies of killed Palestinians, some of whom “ executed » in the middle of the street by the Israeli army in the Jabaliya region, north of Gaza. During a call, Joe Biden urged Benjamin Netanyahu to protect Gazan civilians.
■ “ The most pressing demand for the people of Gaza is an immediate ceasefire », estimated the head of the WHOTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recalling that “ hunger, starvation and the spread of disease » greatly threaten the territory.
■ 20,258 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the start of the Israeli operation, according to the Hamas government and more than 53,000 people were injured, 70% of the victims are women and minors. Some 1 140 people were killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, according to data provided by the Israeli government. The Israeli army said Thursday it had killed more than 2 000 Palestinian fighters since the end of the truce in early December. Finally, 129 hostages are still held in the Gaza Strip.
Information given in universal time (UT), to update, Click here.
5:48 a.m.: New attacks on ships in the Red Sea, US warship targeted
A chemical tanker ship had already been hit on Saturday morning by a drone, two other tankers and an American warship were targeted by Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to the American army.
The attack on the first chemical tanker caused a fire on board, which was extinguished, and did not cause any injuries, the US Department of Defense said. The vessel, the MV Chem Pluto, sails under the flag of Liberia and, according to maritime security firm Ambrey, “ is affiliated with Israel “. The attack occurred in the Arabian Sea, 200 nautical miles southwest of the Indian port of Veraval in the state of Gujara.
According to the US Central Command (Centcom), the other ships targeted on Saturday were an Indian-flagged Gabonese tanker, the MV Saibaba, which launched a distress call after being hit in the Red Sea by a drone fired from areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen. Another tanker, the MV Blaamanen, flying the Norwegian flag, was also targeted by a Houthi drone, which narrowly missed it. And a US destroyer patrolling the Red Sea, the USS Laboon, shot down four more Houthi attack drones targeting it on Saturday, according to Centcom.
5:10 a.m.: Hamas calls for an investigation into “ summary executions » attributed to Israel
The Hamas government, in power in the Palestinian territory since 2007, claimed in a statement to have collected testimonies according to which “ the Israeli occupation army carried out the summary execution of 137 Palestinian civilians in Gaza City and the northern governorates “. Facts for which the Palestinian Islamist movement is demanding an international investigation. According to him, there have been 137 words executed since the start of the war.
The Hamas government notably accused the army of having “ dug a large pit east of Gaza City and placed dozens of citizens it had detained there before shooting them and filling the pit with bulldozers “. He does not specify when the events occurred.
These accusations could not be independently verified. Questioned by AFP, the Israeli army indicated “ not being aware of the incident in question “.
5:00 a.m.: Joe Biden urges Benjamin Netanyahu to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip
US President Joe Biden on Saturday called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “ protect » civilians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel continues its bombings and ground offensive, the White House said in a statement. “ The president stressed the critical need to protect the civilian population, including those contributing to humanitarian aid operations, and the importance of allowing civilians to safely leave areas where fighting continues. », It is written in the press release.
