Day 77 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Friday, Dec. 22

Despite pressure from the US and other allies, alongside mounting military casualties, the Israeli premier announced Sunday that the military would continue the war "until absolute victory."

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.

Click here for our most recent updates.

Live updates (all times EDT):

Friday, Dec. 22, 2023

8:30 am: Israeli hostage in Gaza declared dead

Gadi Haggai, who was thought to be held hostage by Hamas, was killed during the group's Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel and his body was taken to the Gaza Strip, where it’s currently being held, announced Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Haggai lived. The 73-year-old disappeared on the morning of Oct. 7 while taking a morning walk with his wife, Judith, a dual Israeli-American citizen. Judith, who was wounded in the attack, is still being held hostage by Hamas.

5:56 am: Jordanians hold mass rally in solidarity with Palestinians

Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets of Amman to express their support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to local media. The protesters condemned the ongoing Israeli bombardment and targeting of civilians, calling for international and Arab action to end the Israeli offensive. Jordanians have been holding weekly protests across the kingdom since the Israel-Hamas war erupted Oct. 7.

4:00 am: More than half-million Gazans starving, UN says 

More than a quarter of the population in Gaza is starving due to the ongoing war, the United Nations said in a new report on Thursday. The risk of famine is “increasing each day,” the report said, citing insufficient amounts of aid reaching the enclave. 

2:20 am: Exchange of fire along Lebanon-Israel border

Israeli warplanes launched a series of strikes on southern Lebanon, including in the Labbouneh area and on the outskirts of Nabatieh, Lebanon's official National News Agency said. Israeli artillery shelling was reported in Aita al-Shaab, Qaouzah, Rab al-Thalathine and Ramyeh. Israeli media earlier reported a barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel, and the Israeli military said it had struck the launch sites in response. The Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, engaged in heavy cross-border fire with Israel since early October, has yet to comment on the Israeli reports.

Click here for our most recent updates.