Israel-Hamas war updates: Displaced ‘killed point-blank’ in Gaza school

This live page is now closed. Follow along with our coverage of the Israeli war on Gaza on our new page, here.

Some Christians in the US have chosen not to celebrate Christmas this year as they mourn the ongoing suffering in Gaza. Read more in our story here.

It’s not shocking to see Israeli children celebrate genocide in Gaza, writes activist Rifat Audeh. To read more on why he believes so, read this opinion piece.

We will soon be closing this live page. Here’s a recap of the day’s developments:

• Rainfall has triggered floods in parts of Gaza as strong winds damage makeshift tents, adding to the challenges faced by displaced Palestinians.
• An exclusive video and images obtained by Al Jazeera show bodies piled up inside the Shadia Abu Ghazala School in northern Gaza. Family members accuse Israeli forces of killing their relatives who were sheltering inside.
• Israeli bombardment has continued in parts of central and southern Gaza, as well as in Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, killing at least 196 Palestinians, according to the health ministry.
• Israel has expanded its military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.
• Hezbollah said two of its fighters have been killed, without specifying where or how they were killed.

In a statement posted on its official account on X, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence has said Minister Khalid bin Salman spoke with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg about “areas of cooperation and joint efforts that contribute to enhancing regional and international security and stability”.

The statement also said several other issues “of common interest” were also taken up during the call.

The defence minister confirmed the call in a separate post from his personal account on X.

In a call with @jensstoltenberg, we reviewed prospects for cooperation and discussed our joint efforts to promote regional and international security and stability. We also exchanged views on several issues of common interest.

— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) December 13, 2023

The progressive US senator had sent a letter to Biden earlier urging him to back a “humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza.

However, he subsequently told the Washington Post that a “humanitarian ceasefire” would be temporary, sticking to his previous position against ending the war.

“Long-term, I don’t know how you can have a permanent cease-fire when Hamas has made it very clear that that’s not what they want or believe in,” Sanders said. “And at the same time, you have Netanyahu and his right-wing government wanting to continue the war. So I think it raises false hopes.”

In a video posted on social media, he later said the ceasefire would allow the UN and other aid organisations “to provide humanitarian relief that the Palestinian people desperately need”.

I’ve asked President Biden to do two things:

1) Not to give $10 billion to Netanyahu’s right-wing government to continue their horrific military strategy.

2) To support a UN humanitarian ceasefire to get in desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza, and free the hostages. pic.twitter.com/kXpKuOdI8U

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 13, 2023

More than 100 staff members from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have signed an open letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas denouncing the department’s handling of the war in Gaza.

The letter, exclusively obtained by Al Jazeera, expresses frustration with the “palpable, glaring absence in the Department’s messaging” of “recognition, support, and mourning” for the more than 18,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the start of the war on October 7.

“The grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the conditions in the West Bank are circumstances that the Department would generally respond to in various ways,” the letter, dated November 22, said.

“Yet DHS leadership has seemingly turned a blind eye to the bombing of refugee camps, hospitals, ambulances, and civilians.”

Read more here.

In an exclusive video captured by Al Jazeera, an ambulance is also seen going through floodwater following heavy rain that hit the area in the northern part of the besieged enclave.

The video also shows the ruins of the camp following repeated deadly Israeli air attacks.

Jabalia is one of the most heavily-bombed areas, forcing many residents to evacuate. But some have remained in the area despite the threat of more attacks.

وضع كارثي يفاقم معاناة الفلسطينيين بمخيم جباليا إثر غرقه بمياه الأمطار الغزيرة شمالي قطاع غزة#حرب_غزة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/qTLhcEXe8W

— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) December 13, 2023

[Translation: A catastrophic situation exacerbates the suffering of the Palestinians in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip after it was submerged in heavy rainwater.]

The writers association PEN International says it is “gravely concerned” by news of the arrests of Ahmed Tobasi and Mustafa Sheta of the theatre in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

“PEN International calls for Ahmed Tobasi and Mustafa Sheta to be immediately and unconditionally releases [sic] and for an end to the targeting of writers and artists in Palestine,” the group said in a statement.

Netanyahu spoke twice today. The first was on a visit to the south at a detention facility for Palestinians and the second at the Shin Bet internal security service headquarters in Tel Aviv. But the messaging was the same: that even in the face of any sort of international pressure, Israel’s war will continue.

The Israelis have had three main goals since they set out on their military operations, specifically on the ground – destroying Hamas, releasing the captives and ensuring that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel.

But the reality of the matter is they have not achieved any of them. And the Israeli prime minister, along with all of his other defence officials, has been saying that until those objectives are met, the war will continue.

The Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) says three others were seriously wounded.

The PRCS said its teams are moving the bodies, along with the Palestinians who sustained injuries, to a hospital from the eastern side of Jenin city.

Earlier, we reported that more Israeli forces were headed towards the city and the Jenin refugee camp. The reinforcements come as Israel continues its raid on the city, which has now been ongoing for more than 48 hours.

Eight other Palestinians have been killed since Tuesday and 15 injured with live ammunition, according to the Health Ministry – although their tally of the dead includes a sick child who died after being prevented from getting to a hospital by the presence of Israeli forces.

Taher Herzallah, an organiser with the American Muslims for Palestine advocacy group, invoked the UN General Assembly vote in support of a ceasefire to show declining backing for Israel’s offensive on Gaza.

Only eight other countries sided with the US and Israel to vote against the resolution, while close US allies – including Canada, France, Poland and Japan – voted in favour of the measure and Germany and the UK abstained.

“Despite US pressure, and despite what the United States may be trying to do in building international consensus in support of Israel’s invasion of Gaza and its continued occupation of Gaza, it’s clear that it’s an uphill battle that the United States cannot win,” Herzallah told Al Jazeera.

Protesters with the organisation IfNotNow blocked the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles during rush hour, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

They set up a large Hanukkah menorah and chanted, “Down with the occupation.”

Journalist Sergio Olmos was at the scene and reported that the California Highway Patrol said they arrested 75 protesters.

Protestors calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza have blocked the 110 southbound freeway in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/iIxksmvFlN

— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) December 13, 2023

The visit by the US national security adviser, which precedes a trip to Israel, was not officially announced by the White House before his departure.

Sullivan discussed with the Saudis “broader diplomatic efforts to maintain stability across the region and prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from expanding”, the US official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Talks will also “include efforts to deter ongoing Houthi attacks against international commercial vessels in the Red Sea”, the official said.

Before the war, the US was working to secure a deal to establish diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Washington says it will still work towards that agreement but on Wednesday, White House spokesman Kirby acknowledged that the war had “derailed” those efforts.

Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum says the district has come under “intense” Israeli attacks during the last couple of hours, including two air strikes that reportedly killed Palestinians and left others injured.

“This area was designated as safe and … the majority of Gazans had been ordered to flee” to the area, Abu Azzoum said.

Meanwhile, artillery attacks continued in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza where more than five Palestinians have been reported killed, he said.

Khan Younis in southern Gaza also has come under attack, with Abu Azzoum saying the area has turned into a “battle zone” between Palestinian fighters and Israeli soldiers.

The pledge came at the UNHCR-organised Global Refugee Forum.

Lolwah Alkhater, Qatar’s minister of state for international cooperation, also said that Qatar would be funding 100 Qatari university scholarships for students from Gaza.

Today, Qatar 🇶🇦 pledged $50 million at the #GlobalRefugeeForum organized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees @Refugees 🇺🇳 in response to the increasing humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories 🇵🇸.

The pledge is aimed at refugees, displaced people,… pic.twitter.com/LPMgFcdmaI

— لولوة الخاطر Lolwah Alkhater (@Lolwah_Alkhater) December 13, 2023

The US president met with the families earlier in Washington to “hear their stories”, he said in an X post.

“I reassured them that I will continue doing everything possible to secure the release of their family members,” Biden said.

Eight US nationals are believed to be still held in Gaza by Hamas and other Palestinian groups, and four were freed during a Qatar-brokered truce earlier this month.

I just sat down with the loved ones of Americans taken hostage by Hamas to hear their stories.

I reassured them that I will continue doing everything possible to secure the release of their family members.

And that we will not give up hope. pic.twitter.com/eZLrlW63LI

— President Biden (@POTUS) December 13, 2023

Australian cricket player Usman Khawaja has promised to “fight” a ruling by the sport’s governing body that he says has stopped him from displaying messages in support of “those who don’t have a voice”.

In an emotional video posted on his social media, Khawaja clarified that his message was “not political” and that the “bigger problem” was people calling him up to berate him for his stance.

The opening batter was seen wearing cricket boots with “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written on them in the colours of the Palestinian flag during Australia’s training session prior to their Test series against Pakistan.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rules do not allow players to display “non-compliant” wording or logos on clothing or equipment worn during international matches.

Read more here.