what to remember from Sunday, December 24

The bombings continue without respite, from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army “almost completely” controls the north of the territory, General Eliezer Toledano declared in the Israeli press.

A veil of sadness envelops the city of Bethlehem which is preparing for a dark Christmas, Sunday December 24, marked by the war in the Gaza Strip where the Israeli army intensified its operations on the 79th day of a conflict which leaves civilians on the brink of famine according to the UN.

The bombings continue without respite, from the north to the south of this territory, where 85% of the population has been displaced by the fighting. The Israeli army controls “almost completely” the northern Gaza Strip, General Eliezer Toledano declared in the Israeli press. “The war will be long”warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his government. Here’s what to remember from this new day of the conflict.

15 Israeli soldiers killed since Friday

Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was paying “a very heavy price in the war” against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed since Friday. This is one of the heaviest tolls recorded by the Israeli army in such a short period since the start of its ground offensive on October 27.

“But we have no choice but to continue fighting,” he continued during a meeting Sunday morning with his government during which he paid tribute to the soldiers killed. According to figures published by the army, 154 soldiers have been killed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war, triggered on October 7 by an unprecedented deadly attack by Hamas on Israeli soil.

A disastrous situation on the humanitarian front

In the Gaza Strip, most hospitals are out of service and in the next six weeks the entire population risks experiencing a high level of food insecurity, including famine, according to the UN.

WHO chief denounces health system “decimated” in the Gaza Strip. OnTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the work “doctors, nurses, paramedics and many others [qui] continue to strive to save lives.”adding that the WHO “continues to demand a cease-fire”.

Despite the vote on Friday by the UN Security Council of a resolution calling for the delivery “immediate” And “in large scale” humanitarian aid, this has not seen a significant increase.

Palestinians released by Israel say they were tortured

Palestinians released after being arrested by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip told AFP that they had been tortured in detention, something the army denies. These men are among hundreds of Palestinians arrested by the Israeli army during its ground operations launched in the Gaza Strip from October 27 and questioned for alleged links with Hamas in power in the territory.

Around 20 of them were admitted to Najjar Hospital in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, on Sunday after being released. “They have bruises and marks of blows on their bodies”hospital director Marwan al-Hams told AFP.

When asked about these accusations, the Israeli army claimed that “detainees are treated in accordance with international law.” “During their detention, suspects receive sufficient nutrition and hydration and are treated according to established protocol”added the army in a press release.

The Pope paid tribute to Bethlehem

“Our heart this evening is in Bethlehem”Pope Francis said Sunday evening during Christmas mass as festivities in the occupied West Bank city are overshadowed by the war between Israel and Hamas.

“The prince of peace is still rejected by the losing logic of war, with the clash of arms which, even today, prevents him from finding a place in the world”continued the sovereign pontiff from Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican.

Around 6,500 faithful, according to the Vatican, attended the mass presided over by the pope in the presence of religious leaders and the diplomatic corps while hundreds of others followed it on giant screens installed outside, on the Saint-Pierre square.