Day 63 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Friday, Dec. 8

The UAE-led proposal demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war failed to gain support from the United Nations Security Council after a US veto.

Rina Bassist, Ezgi Akin, Beatrice Farhat, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Adam Lucente, Jack Dutton, Jared Szuba and Al-Monitor’s contributors on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel contributed to this blog.

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Live updates (all times EDT):

Friday, Dec. 8, 2023

1:23 pm: Hamas says it foiled Israeli attempt to rescue hostage

Hamas' armed wing said in a statement that it thwarted an attempt by Israeli forces to reach a hostage in Gaza. One Israeli hostage was killed in the ordeal, the group said in a statement on Telegram. Later, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that two Israeli soldiers were injured in an attempt to retrieve hostages in Gaza. Adam Lucente reports.

11:27 am: Arab, Turkish FMs call for immediate cease-fire, slam US ahead of UNSC vote

Speaking alongside the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Turkey at a press conference in Washington, D, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, saying that the debate over timing of the UN Security Council’s vote on a resolution is “inexplicable.”

“Two weeks is too long,” the top Saudi diplomat said in reference to reports that the United States has pressed Israel to limit the campaign’s duration. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that a mass displacement of Gazans out of the enclave would be unacceptable and constitute a “war crime.”

10:47 am: War monitor says Israeli drone attack kills 4 in Syria

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that four people were killed in an Israeli drone attack on a car in the city of al-Baath, located in southwest Syria’s Quneitra governorate.

A security source told Reuters the bodies have yet to be identified due to their burned condition. The Israeli military declined to comment to the outlet.

Israel is suspected of carrying out regular strikes on Iran-linked as well as Syrian military targets in the country.

9:15 am: Israeli army intercepts 'suspicious aerial target' from Lebanon

The Israeli army said it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” that entered Israeli airspace from south Lebanon. Cross-border fire between the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and Israeli forces continues along the Israeli-Lebanese border amid the ongoing Hamas-Israel war. Last weekend, Hezbollah claimed an attack on the Khirbat Maer military post in north Israel. Israeli artillery shelling was also reported on several towns and areas in south Lebanon.

9:00 am: EU adds Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, deputy to terror list

The Council of the European Union decided Friday to add Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif and his deputy Marwan Issa to its terrorist list. The council said in a statement that the “decision comes as part of the European Union’s response to the threat posed by Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks in Israel,” adding that the sanctions are effective immediately. The sanctions include a freeze on their funds and other financial assets in EU member states and a ban on EU operators making funds and other economic resources available to them.

1:56 am: Israeli military struck 450 targets in Gaza over past day

The Israeli military carried out strikes on more than 450 targets in the Gaza Strip over the past day, said spokesperson Daniel Hagari, adding that the sites included military compounds, observation posts and weapons depots, as well as a group of Hamas fighters preparing to launch rockets at Israel. Hagari noted that the Israeli navy had hit sites belonging to Hamas naval forces in central and southern Gaza. Two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed overnight in battles with Hamas in Gaza.

1:29 am: At least six Palestinians killed in Israeli raid of West Bank refugee camp

At least six Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the West Bank's al-Faraa refugee camp, according to the Ramallah-based Health Ministry. Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and snipers stormed the camp in northern Nablus, leading to heavy clashes with residents. The Israeli army has intensified its raids into West Bank towns and cities since the Hamas-Israel war erupted Oct. 7, killing at least 266 Palestinians.

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