Live: Major clashes break out near Bethlehem after Israeli raid

Israeli activists on Monday blocked the entrance to the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem over the government-controlled 7 October probe, saying that they will not let the authorities investigate itself. 

Haaretz reported that the demonstrators were protesting the government's expected move to advance a government-controlled committee to investigate the failures leading up to the 7 October attack.   

"We won't let the government investigate itself," the group, Meshanim Kivun, said in a statement.

"Those responsible for the judicial coup, the division, ignoring defence officials' warnings and funnelling millions to Hamas will not escape responsibility or blame," the statement added.

The Israeli military on Monday conducted strikes in southern Gaza and raided a refugee camp in central Gaza, in violation of the ceasefire agreement, Anadolu news agency reported. 

The report said that Israeli warplanes also launched air strikes on several areas in Rafah, with artillery shelling and gunfire coming from military vehicles in the northern parts of the city.

In northern Gaza, Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers re-entered the Jabalia refugee camp, from where its forces had withdrawn as part of the ceasefire agreement. 

Israel has committed hundreds of ceasefire violations since 10 October and killed at least 401 Palestinians. 

Israel has killed nearly 71,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 2023.

Israeli forces on Monday bulldozed agricultural land in the town of Silat al-Harithiya, west of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian media reported, quoting local officials.

The mayor of Silat al-Harithiya, Samir Zayoud, told local media that Israeli bulldozers began early in the morning, levelling farmlands in the Suruj area, located between Silat al-Harithiya and Ya'bad. 

He added that the lands, which have grown olive trees for over 30 years, are classified as state lands and cover an area estimated at 45 hectares. 

Israeli forces on Monday sealed the town of Atara by closing the iron gate and erected a checkpoint at the entrances to Nabi Saleh and Aboud, north of Ramallah, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. 

The report said that Israeli soldiers stopped and searched several vehicles and checked the IDs of their passengers, causing severe traffic congestion in the area.

Israeli forces on Monday demolished a residential building in the Wadi Qaddum neighbourhood, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. 

The building contained 13 apartments and housed approximately 100 people, the report said. 

Israeli forces closed off the Wadi Qaddum area and a large number of soldiers, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the neighbourhood and destroyed the building.

Palestinians carried the body of Ahmad Ziyoud, 22, through the streets of Silat al-Harithiya, near Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank, during a funeral procession following his death in an Israeli raid in which he was shot in the chest.

Palestinians carried the body of Ahmad Ziyoud, 22, through the streets of Silat al-Harithiya, near Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank, during a funeral procession following his death in an Israeli raid in which he was shot in the chest pic.twitter.com/a4XjqNF1vq

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) December 21, 2025

The Israeli military has revealed plans to arm about 10,000 reserve soldiers with weapons that will be "kept permanently" in their homes, Anadolu news agency reported, quoting Israeli media. 

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the move focuses on Division David, a formation established about a year ago that relies on older reservists who volunteer to return to service after completing their reserve obligations.

The reservists will receive an M4 or upgraded M16 rifle, magazines, a combat vest and a helmet, the paper said.  

The rifles would remain in their personal possession most of the time, according to the report. 

Six Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli detention on Sunday and transferred to hospital through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Anadolu news agency reported. 

The released prisoners were taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah.

The ICRC said that it has not been granted access to Palestinians held in Israeli detention facilities since October 2023. 

The United Kingdom on Sunday condemned the Israeli government's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying that they are illegal under international law. 

"The UK condemns the Israeli government’s approval of 19 new settlements in Palestine. These are illegal under international law," Hamish Falconer, the British minister for the Middle East, wrote on X. 

"This risks undermining the 20 Point Plan and prospects for the long-term peace and security that only a two-state solution can deliver," he said. 

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Sunday said that the commission of inquiry which is being pushed by the government will not allow the investigation of the truth of the 7 October attack. 

The attorney general said that the proposed plan is "riddled with fundamental flaws" and "prioritises political considerations over the principles of an independent, impartial, and professional investigation".

Israeli media reported that the bill to establish a politicised commission of inquiry will see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have direct influence on its composition and mandate. 

Good morning, Middle East Eye readers. Here are the latest updates:

• The UK has condemned the Israeli government's approval of 19 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying that the move risks undermining the 20-point Gaza plan and prospects for long-term peace. 

• Six Palestinian detainees who were released from Israeli detention and were transferred to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 

• The Israeli military is gearing up to arm 10,000 reserve soldiers with weapons that will be kept permanently in their homes, Israeli media have reported. 

• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised over the Bondi Beach attack that targeted a Hanukkah event, saying that he's sorry for what the Jewish community has experienced.

• Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said that the Netanyahu government's probe will not allow for investigating the truth about the 7 October attack.

Our live blog will shortly be closing until tomorrow morning.

Here are the day's key developments:

• The Israeli military killed three Palestinians in the Shujaiya neighbourhood east of Gaza City on Sunday morning, according to local medical sources.

• Israel's security cabinet has approved a new proposal by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz to recognise 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. 

• Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has proposed creating a “detention facility surrounded by crocodiles” to hold Palestinian prisoners, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

• Israeli strikes in south Lebanon on Sunday killed one person and wounded another, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel's military claimed it targeted Hezbollah members.

• WHO chief said 100,000 children in Gaza are projected to suffer acute malnutrition through April.

• The Israeli Supreme Court has decided to set 4 January as the final deadline for Israel to respond to a petition by the Foreign Press Association for media access to Gaza.

• Israeli forces arrested five Palestinians, injured multiple others across the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reported.

The Trump administration on Sunday denied a Wall Street Journal report that it will be paying $60 billion to turn Gaza Strip into a destination with luxury resorts, high-speed rail, and AI-optimised energy networks.

The report said on Friday that the United States has presented a proposal to potential donor countries that would reconstruct Gaza as a high-tech coastal area over the next two decades, at a projected cost of $112 billion, with the US contributing $60 billion.

“This is fake news. Nowhere in the plan does it say the US will pay $60 billion," The State Department’s Near Eastern Affairs Bureau said in a post on X, while avoiding commenting on the other revelations in the report.

This is fake news.

Nowhere in the plan does it say the U.S. will pay $60 billion. https://t.co/yoglZ36vAI

— U.S. State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) December 21, 2025

Israeli forces fired tear gas and live ammunition during a raid on the city of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, wounding a 19-year-old Palestinian in the leg, the Wafa news agency reported.

The teenager was taken to hospital, the report said.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar called on Jews from Western countries to move to Israel following last week’s deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.

"Today, I call upon the Jews of England, the Jews of France, the Jews of Australia, the Jews of Canada, the Jews of Belgium: come to the Land of Israel! Come home!" he said.

According to Israel's 1950 "Law of Return," every Jew in the world can make aliyah and obtain Israeli citizenship. The law also applies to people with at least one Jewish grandparent. 

Those who complete the Aliyah process are required to sign up for military service.

The minister’s call comes as Israel’s military chief said the army does not have enough combat soldiers and is seeking to recruit ultra-Orthodox Jews.