KEY POINTS
- Israeli army said Hezbollah continues to launch rockets from position near UN compound
- UNGA voted overwhelmingly to demand a ceasefire in Gaza
- Israeli troops have continued to shell Khan Yunis, the known hometown of Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar
The Israel-Hamas war is on its 68th day, and the Israeli army has reportedly started pouring seawater into Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip amid continuing launches from Hamas on the south and fire from Lebanon-based Hezbollah on the northern front.
U.S. President Joe Biden said Israel has asserted they are only testing the flooding process in tunnels where they believe no hostages are being held in.
Two bodies of hostages have been recovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the families of at least 135 remaining abductees in Gaza demand faster action for their freedom.
- Hamas leaders who reportedly left Qatar have turned off their phones: Local media
- IDF announces a second battalion commander has been killed in Gaza
- Israeli army attacks several Syrian military assets
- Israeli Navy deploys 4 new warships to the Red Sea
- Fallen IDF battalion commander attempted to save comrades: Local media
- UKMTO receives incident report west of Houthi-controlled port Hodeidah
- France to host meeting for possible Hamas financial, online activities sanctions: Report
- Israel declares more than a dozen hostages in Gaza dead in absentia
- Israeli forces attacked 250 Hamas targets in Gaza in the past day
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that there are disagreements with Washington over plans for Gaza after the war ends, but he reiterated that the U.S. continues to support Israel's right to self-defense and its goal of eliminating Hamas.
Several Hamas officials living in Qatar have reportedly left the country for an unknown destination. Hamas' political bureau chairman, Ismail Haniyeh, is known to be living in Qatar, but the exact number of officials residing in the country is unclear.
More than nine years since the 50-day war in Gaza in 2014, longstanding Israel-Palestine tensions erupted when Hamas operatives invaded Israel in a surprise massacre that killed more than 1,200 people – mostly civilians – on Oct. 7.
Since then, the international community has been calling for a ceasefire. A seven-day truce was brokered by Qatar and Egypt in coordination with the U.S., but it collapsed on Dec. 1 when Hamas refused to release more women and children as part of the agreement.
10 Israeli soldiers killed in Northern Gaza
Ten IDF soldiers, including two senior commanders, were confirmed to have died in the northern Gaza Strip's Shuja'iyya area Tuesday as the IDF pushed through with its ground operation that reportedly led to the destruction of 250 Hamas targets in the previous day.
The fallen soldiers included the eight earlier mentioned, while the two others were Col. (res.) Itzhak Ben Basat and Sgt. Eran Aloni.
Talking about the soldiers' demise, War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz referred to the ongoing war in Gaza as "Israel's second independence war" and added that it is "taking a heavy, painful and difficult price from us."
Israel attacks 250 Hamas targets in Gaza
Joint troops with the Israeli army's ground forces, the Navy and the Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked more than 250 Hamas military assets and targets in the past day, the IDF said Wednesday.
הכוחות הקרקעיים, חיל האוויר ולוחמי זרוע הים ממשיכים לתקוף שורת מטרות ותשתיות טרור ברצועת עזה, במהלך היממה האחרונה הותקפו מעל 250 מטרות pic.twitter.com/Ebwm2kbC2R
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 13, 2023
Hezbollah launched rockets from post near UN compound: IDF
Iran-backed paramilitary group Hezbollah once again launched several rockets toward Israel from a launching position only 130 meters away from a UN compound Tuesday, the Israeli army said.
For the second time this week, Hezbollah launched several rockets toward Israel yesterday.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 12, 2023
One being launched 130 meters from a .@UN compound, with additional launches toward Israel from the same area.
By continuing to fire from areas near U.N. compounds, Hezbollah… pic.twitter.com/69ngIeQEDN
The IDF said earlier Tuesday that rockets were launched from an area near a UN facility Monday.
Recovered bodies of hostages located underground in Gaza: IDF spox
The bodies of Eden Zakaria and Command Sgt. Maj. Ziv Dado, were found in an "underground infrastructure, in a densely populated area in Gaza," IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Wednesday morning.
Operational update regarding the national mission of bringing back our hostages by IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari: pic.twitter.com/tIvabN9icK
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 13, 2023
He explained that because Hamas militants were hiding "among and under the people of Gaza" while also keeping hostages in "brutal conditions," rescue operations were difficult to pull off.
However, he said the Israeli army will not be deterred from its mission of rescuing the remaining hostages. He went on to say that hostage rescue operations will continue "for as long as necessary."
As he has done in previous operational updates, Hagari called on the Red Cross to have immediate access to the hostages since the abducted people are not only Israelis but also foreign nationals.
Israel declares 19 of remaining hostages in Gaza dead in absentia
The Israeli government has declared that 19 of 135 remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip as dead in absentia, meaning no remains were found and there was no evidence to prove that they are dead or alive.
The news comes as the loved ones of hostages still being held in Gaza put pressure on Israel and the international community to work faster to get the abductees back home. Some freed hostages have shared their accounts of "Russian roulette" experiences in captivity, while others warned that time was running out to keep the remaining hostages alive.
France to host meeting on potential Hamas sanctions
France will host more than 20 countries, Israel included, for a meeting in Paris Wednesday to tackle ways with which Hamas' finances and online activities can be restrained, Reuters reported, citing three diplomats.
The news comes after France, Italy and Germany pushed other European Union members to create ad hoc sanctions against the Palestinian terror group.
UKMTO warns of incident off the Red Sea
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received "a report of an incident" within the vicinity of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, west of the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah port in Yemen Wednesday morning local time.
UKMTO WARNING 005/DEC 23
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) December 13, 2023
INCIDENThttps://t.co/a6eYax4Zi0#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/xXSK6mh1hV
Authorities are looking into the incident, but vessels have been advised to move with caution when passing by the area and report suspicious activities to the UKMTO.
The news comes after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said earlier this week that an anti-ship cruise missile was launched from a Houthi controlled location in Yemen toward a Norwegian-flagged tanker that was passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Sirens sound in southern Israel
Rocket sirens sounded in Sderot and in communities near Israel's southern border with Gaza, local outlets reported Wednesday morning local time.
Live update: Rocket alarms heard in Sderot https://t.co/ueigyXu5CW . Click to read ⬇️
— TOI ALERTS (@TOIAlerts) December 13, 2023
Live update: Rocket alarms go off near Gaza border https://t.co/fF1nWpBe2j . Click to read ⬇️
— TOI ALERTS (@TOIAlerts) December 13, 2023
IDF battalion commander tried to save comrades in fierce Shuja'iyya battle
More details have emerged about the fighting in Gaza that killed a second battalion commander in the IDF as local media reported about the Tuesday battle.
A multi-round ambush by Hamas against IDF troops in inner Shuja'iyya late Tuesday afternoon initially cut off four soldiers who were looking to clear a building when they encountered improvised explosives, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg, commander of the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion, was among several officers who attempted to save the first four soldiers, who were later found to have been killed.
הותר לפרסום: מפקד גדוד 13 של חטיבת גולני, סא"ל תומר גרינברג, נפל בקרב ברצועת עזה | לידיעה המלאה >>> https://t.co/Dw1R6x8hqN@ItayBlumental @ela1949 pic.twitter.com/DbO61wmOdl
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 13, 2023
Israeli soldiers killed in booby-trapped building in Shuja'iyya: Hebrew media
Seven of the eight soldiers announced by the IDF Wednesday to have been killed in battles in Gaza died in succeeding blasts while they searched buildings in Shuja'iyya, Hebrew outlet Walla reported, citing a notice from the Golani Brigade.
Soldiers were moving to clear buildings in Kasbah, Shuja'iyya, when a large explosion occurred and wounded some fighters. When another group of soldiers attempted to rescue their injured comrades, a second explosive went off, as per the notice.
A third troop that entered the booby-trapped building to reach their comrades were also reportedly hit in an explosion.
Israeli embassy in the UK launches digital campaign for remaining hostages
The Israeli embassy in the United Kingdom on Tuesday launched a digital campaign in London to display the photos of hostages still being held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza.
"There should be nothing controversial about raising awareness for innocent civilians being held hostage by a terror organization. This is a humanitarian cause," the embassy wrote on X.
The Israeli Embassy to the UK, alongside the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in London, ran a digital campaign in London to show the images of those kidnapped by Hamas and still being held hostage in Gaza.
— Israel in the UK 🇮🇱🤝🇬🇧 (@IsraelinUK) December 12, 2023
We regret that the 'London Lites' company caved to the threats of an… pic.twitter.com/nIIKxdW46l
Israel deploys 4 corvettes to the Red Sea
The Israeli Navy has deployed four new Sa'ar 6-class corvettes to the Red Sea Wednesday to join operational activities at a time when Yemen's Houthi rebels have carried out multiple attacks against commercial ships in the area in recent weeks.
The IDF said the warships are powered by advanced combat systems and "a state-of-the-art Israeli system" that should help boost naval power while neutralizing Hamas' naval capabilities.
Four new Sa'ar 6-class corvettes sailed for the first time to the Red Sea, joining the Israeli Navy's operational activities.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 13, 2023
With advanced combat systems and a state-of-the-art Israeli system, they're a great addition to our naval powers, which continue to neutralize Hamas'… pic.twitter.com/PqYar9Q3mp
Israel attacks Syrian military assets, Hezbollah infrastructure
Israeli warplanes and tanks "recently" attacked several military targets and infrastructure belonging to the Syrian army, the IDF said early Wednesday.
An Israeli fighter jet also attacked a rocket launching post in Lebanese territory that belonged to Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
כלי טיס וטנקים של צה"ל תקפו לפני זמן קצר מספר תשתיות צבאיות ועמדה צבאית של צבא סוריה בשטח סוריה.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 12, 2023
בנוסף מטוס קרב של חיל האוויר תקף לפני זמן קצר תשתית צבאית וכוחות צה"ל תקפו עמדת משגר של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בשטח לבנון pic.twitter.com/Z2UjxBn3xB
IDF's 13th Battalion of Golani Brigade falls in northern Gaza, several other officers killed
Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg, 35, the commander of the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion, was killed in battle in northern Gaza, the IDF announced early Wednesday. Another officer with the same battalion also fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip: company commander Maj. Roi Maldasi, 23.
The Golani Brigade also lost two officers from the 51st Battalion: company commander Maj. Roshe Avraham Bar-On, 23, and platoon commander Capt. Liel Haiu, 22.
The IDF's Special Rescue Tactical Unit lost platoon commander Maj. Ben Sheli, 26.
The Israeli army's tribute page for fallen soldiers since the war started was also updated early Wednesday to add three more soldiers who were killed in fierce battles in Gaza.
- Sgt. Maj. Rom Hecht, 20 – fighter in the Special Rescue Tactical Unit
- Sgt. Ahya Daskal, 19 – fighter in the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade
- Sgt. Uriah Yaakov, 19 – fighter in the 614th Battalion of the Combat Engineering School
הותרו לפרסום שמותיהם של 8 חללי צה"ל שנפלו בקרבות ברצועת עזה | לידיעה המלאה >>> https://t.co/hgAm2oBb0M@ela1949 @ItayBlumental pic.twitter.com/c2PUKHEXnA
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 13, 2023
Lt. Col. Greenberg's death marks only the second announcement from the IDF that a battalion commander has been killed in battle after Lt. Col. Salman Habkah, commander of the 53rd Battalion of the 188th Armored Brigade, was revealed to have been killed in battle on Day 27 of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Some Hamas leaders have left Qatar: Report
Several Hamas officials have left Qatar for an unknown destination, the Jerusalem Post reported late Tuesday, citing the Arabic channel of Kan, Israel's national broadcaster.
Sources in Doha reportedly said the Hamas leaders who exited Qatar have turned off their phones and are not accepting any calls. The channel further reported that Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas member, departed from his known residence in Beirut, Lebanon, for Turkey.
Haniyeh, Hamas' political bureau chief, is known to be living an "easily life" in Qatar. Several other Hamas officials also spend time in Doha "regularly," including Khaled Meshaal, the terror group's former head.
The Qatari government has yet to officially confirm the news.
UNGA votes overwhelmingly in favor of resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire
A total of 153 members of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted in favor of a resolution demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza during an emergency session Tuesday afternoon.
BREAKING: UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, as well as immediate and unconditional release of all hostages
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) December 12, 2023
FOR: 153
AGAINST: 10
ABSTAIN: 23
LIVE COVERAGEhttps://t.co/ZqtRtIawGx pic.twitter.com/rAdk8BEmDL
There were 23 abstentions and 10 votes against the resolution that also called for "ensuring humanitarian access" for the enclave. The resolution also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages in Gaza.
The countries that joined the U.S. and Israel in voting against the resolution were Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay.
The move came after the U.S., one of only five permanent members of the UN Security Council, used its veto power to take down a draft text calling for a ceasefire.
Read the full story here.
Netanyahu admits there are issues with Washington over 'day after' plans
The Israeli prime minister admitted in a series of posts on X Tuesday that "there is disagreement [with the U.S.] about 'the day after Hamas' and I hope that we will reach agreement here as well."
I greatly appreciate the American support for destroying Hamas and returning our hostages.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 12, 2023
Following an intensive dialogue with President Biden and his team, we received full backing for the ground incursion and blocking the international pressure to stop the war. pic.twitter.com/Je1I2vA518
His remarks came after Biden said during Monday's White House Hanukkah reception that he has ensuing disagreements with Netanyahu, whom he has known for decades.
Netanyahu further revealed that even with the disagreements during an "intensive" dialogue with Biden and his team, Israel received "full backing" for its ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.
2 hostages' bodies recovered by Israeli special forces
Soldiers from the Israeli Special Forces recovered the bodies of Eden Zakaria, 27, and CSM Ziv Dado, 36, who were both abducted by Hamas during the Oct. 7 carnage, the IDF announced late Tuesday.
The bodies of Eden Zakaria and CSM Ziv Dado, who were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7, have been recovered by our Special Forces.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 12, 2023
27-year-old Eden was taken hostage from the Re’im music festival.
36-year-old CSM Ziv served as a logistics supervisor in the Golani…
Dado served as a logistics supervisor in the Israeli army's Golani Brigade (51st Battalion). Zakaria was among the dozens of festival goers that Hamas operatives abducted from the Re'im music festival.
גופותיהם של החטופים עדן זכריה ז״ל ורס״ב זיו דדו ז״ל חולצו על ידי כוח צה״ל בפעילות של לוחמים מיחידה 504 באגף המודיעין וחטיבה 551 משטח רצועת עזה לשטח מדינת ישראל >> pic.twitter.com/dfA6dKiix3
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 12, 2023
The IDF later added that MSG Gal Meir Eisenkot and MSG Eyal Meir Berkowitz "fell in battle during the operations that enabled the location of Eden and Ziv's bodies." Several other Israeli soldiers were injured during the operations.
Eisenkot is the son of Knesset member and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.
Israeli army begins flooding Hamas tunnels with seawater: Report
Washington has been informed by Israelis that the IDF has started flooding some tunnels in Gaza with seawater, CNN reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed U.S. official. Israel is "carefully testing out" the process, which is being down "on a limited basis," as per the report.
The official noted that Israel is not yet sure if the operation will work but they are being careful to test the process only in tunnels they do not believe have hostages inside.
When asked for his comment regarding the report, Biden said "there is assertion being made that they're quite sure there are no hostages in any of these tunnels, but I don't know that for a fact."
