The Israeli army bombs the southern Gaza Strip. On the night of Thursday to Friday, Israeli forces stepped up their attacks on Rafah in the south of the Palestinian enclave. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (Ocha), intensifying operations in Khan Younes and the center of the territory in recent days have displaced “at least 100,000 people” to that city. “It is imperative that the fighting stops,” UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on X (formerly Twitter). “What Israel is doing to the Palestinians, and especially to Gaza, is 'the monstrosity of our century',” declared the UN rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, on the social network. “Western complacency becomes complicity,” she added. Follow our live stream.
A Hamas delegation travels to Cairo. Officials of the The Islamist group in power in the Gaza Strip is traveling to the Egyptian capital to convey “the reaction of the Palestinian factions” to Egypt's plan to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The latter provides for renewable ceasefires, staggered releases of Palestinian hostages and prisoners, and ultimately a ceasefire to end hostilities. The Islamist movement's response “contains several observations,” in particular “on obtaining guarantees for a full Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
The UN accuses the Israeli army of firing on one of its convoys. The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday that the Israeli army fired on one of its aid convoys in the Gaza Strip without reporting any casualties. “Israeli soldiers fired on an aid convoy returning from the northern Gaza Strip, using a route designated by the Israeli army. Our international convoy leader and his team were not injured, but one vehicle was damaged,” UNRWA Gaza Director Thomas White said on X (ex-Twitter). “Help workers should never be targeted,” he added.
Israeli attacks in Syria. The Syrian Defense Ministry referred to Israeli attacks near Damascus and in southern Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attacks particularly targeted the area around Damascus airport, twenty-four hours after flights resumed, suspended since an Israeli attack in late November.
• A knife attack in Jerusalem. South of Jerusalem, a Palestinian injured two Israelis in a knife attack on Thursday before being shot, police and rescue workers said. Hamas hailed a “heroic operation” carried out in “response” to the situation in Gaza.
A drone was shot down in the Red Sea. In Yemen, Iran's allies, Houthi rebels, are increasing their fire on the Red Sea to slow international maritime traffic in “support” of Gaza. The U.S. Navy said it shot down a drone and an anti-ship missile on Thursday evening, suggesting it was the “22nd.” This type of attack attempt by Yemeni rebels has been ongoing since mid-October.