Israeli attacks and ground fighting in the Gaza Strip continue on Saturday, December 23rd. Locally, the suffering Palestinian population is hoping for an increase in humanitarian aid after the UN Security Council passed a resolution to this effect on Friday. However, the actual scale on the ground is still uncertain: according to the United Nations, the humanitarian aid already flowing into Gaza is currently far from meeting the immense needs of a population that is largely at risk of starvation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized the “massive obstacles” to the distribution of aid caused by the way Israel is carrying out its “offensive”. Follow our live stream.
A Security Council resolution was adopted. After tough negotiations, the UN Security Council on Friday called for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza without calling for a ceasefire, which the Americans did not want despite international pressure on their Israeli ally. The resolution, adopted with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions (US and Russia), calls on all parties to “immediately, safely and unhindered deliver large-scale humanitarian assistance” to Gaza and calls for “all “urgent” measures to be taken.” to be taken into account and “to create the conditions for a permanent cessation of hostilities”.
Strikes in the center of the Gaza Strip. On Saturday morning, Hamas' health ministry announced that an Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp overnight left at least 18 people dead. The Israeli army “continues its heavy artillery fire” on Gaza City and Jabaliya in the north, as well as on Deir el-Balah in the center of the territory, the statement added. Strikes also continue near Rafah and Khan Younes in the south. On Saturday, the Israeli army said it had killed “terrorists” and discovered tunnels used by Hamas in Gaza City.
Washington is toughening its tone towards Iran. The White House asserted on Friday that Iran was “heavily involved in the planning” of recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels against merchant ships in the Red Sea. This wave of drone and missile attacks against ships the Houthis believe are “connected to Israel” threatens to disrupt global trade.
The death of an Israeli-American hostage was announced. On Friday, the Israeli army and Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that an Israeli-American hostage had died when he was kidnapped on Israeli soil during the Hamas attack on October 7. According to the kibbutz, his remains are still in the Gaza Strip. US President Joe Biden said he was “heartbroken by the news” and “praying” that this man's wife, also a hostage, is in good health. “We will not stop working to bring her home,” he promised in a statement.