Jerusalem is attacked
Yesterday (December 29), the Israeli army announced that fighter jets had attacked rocket launchers in Beit Hanoun City in the northern Gaza Strip, where Palestinian forces launched two long-range rockets to attack. Jerusalem City a day earlier, according to the newspaper The Times of Israel. Both rockets were intercepted. On December 28, sirens also sounded in Jerusalem due to a rocket launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.
Israeli tanks prepare to enter Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza on December 28
Jerusalem was relatively peaceful during the Hamas-Israel conflict and being attacked twice within 24 hours was an unexpected development. According to the sheet The Jerusalem Postthe attack by Hamas and the Houthis signals the beginning of a new phase of the conflict, with Israel’s opponents still capable and ready to attack the city holy to Jews and Muslims alike. religion despite Tel Aviv’s military deterrent actions. If left untreated, the attack could prompt other rival Israeli groups in the region to engage in similar actions.
Hamas and Israel accuse each other of obstructing the ceasefire agreement
The above attacks took place while Israel carried out a raid campaign at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, capturing more than 240 gunmen hiding there and discovering many weapons inside. Gaza health authorities denied that gunmen were operating at the hospital and said that among those arrested were hospital director Hussam Abu Safiya and several medical staff. The World Health Organization (WHO) criticized the raid and said that the blockade of the health system in northern Gaza for more than 80 days is putting the lives of 75,000 Palestinians in danger. WHO said the 15 critically ill patients and 70 remaining medical staff at the hospital were evacuated before the raid and the facility is now completely empty.
Conflicting agreement information
Amid stalled ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi ordered units to prepare to expand the military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Newspaper The Jerusalem Post Citing military sources, a number of combat units have been ordered to be ready to redeploy to Gaza. This is said to be part of a plan to pressure Hamas and other armed organizations to release hostages.
On December 28, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani had a dialogue with representatives of Hamas to seek a “clear and comprehensive” agreement to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The dialogue took place in Doha (Qatar) with a delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya of Hamas.
According to Israel’s N12 TV Channel, a senior official involved in the negotiations revealed that Hamas may accept a limited agreement, which would release a small number of hostages as a gesture of goodwill before the President’s inauguration. The US elected Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. Israeli and US officials on December 26 said the possibility of reaching an agreement before Mr. Trump takes office is slim. President-elect Trump previously warned that the Middle East would pay a heavy price if the hostages were not released before he returned to the White House. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement denying N12’s information. To date, it is estimated that 96 hostages are still being held in Gaza, of which the Israeli military has confirmed that at least 34 people have died.
