Israel approves 19 new West Bank settlements, Smotrich says

Israel's government has overseen an recent expansion of West Bank settlements.

ByDavid Brennan and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: December 21, 2025, 7:53 AM EST

The ceasefire in Gaza is broadly holding, despite sporadic clashes between the Israel Defense Forces and Gaza militants -- plus deadly IDF airstrikes.

Israeli forces inside the strip have pulled back to the so-called "yellow line." Israel Defense Forces chief Eyal Zamir said the position constitutes "a new border line" with Gaza.

The ceasefire is still in the first of three proposed phases. The details of the second phase of the agreement are yet to be agreed. The remains of one deceased hostage are still thought to be in Gaza.

Israeli strikes are also ongoing against alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Dec 17, 2025, 3:54 AM EST

Israeli strike in south Lebanon kills 1, IDF says

The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday that it killed another alleged Hezbollah member in its latest strike in southern Lebanon.

The attack occurred in the Al-Taybeh area, the IDF said in a post to X. The force posted a video showing a strike on a moving vehicle.

The IDF alleged that the target "was engaged in intelligence gathering on IDF forces in southern Lebanon and was involved in attempts to rehabilitate Hezbollah terrorist organization infrastructure."

Dec 15, 2025, 3:49 AM EST

IDF claims killing of 3 Hezbollah members in Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces said in social media posts on Sunday that it killed three alleged Hezbollah members in strikes in southern Lebanon.

Among those the IDF claimed to have killed was Zakariya Yahya al-Haj, who the IDF said "activated agents in Lebanon's security apparatuses" and "operated with the aim of suppressing criticism by opponents" of Hezbollah.

The other two targets were allegedly "engaged in attempts to rehabilitate" Hezbollah infrastructure and served as "the connection between the organization and the village residents on military and economic matters."

Dec 13, 2025, 10:01 AM EST

Israel strikes Gaza targeting Hamas leader

Israel said it conducted a strike in Gaza City targeting "a key Hamas terrorist" on Saturday. Israel claims he was working "to reestablish Hamas' capabilities and weapons manufacturing."

Residents reported hearing bombing in western Gaza City.

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a car in Gaza City, Dec. 13, 2025.
Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

Video from the scene of the strike in Gaza shows a burned out car and the driver dead at the wheel as rescuers work at the scene.

A paramedic told the Reuters cameraman that four people were killed and were six injured.

-ABC News' Nasser Atta, Samy Zyara and Diaa Ostaz

Dec 10, 2025, 6:55 AM EST

379 people killed in Gaza since ceasefire, health officials say

The Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said in a social media post on Wednesday that two people were killed by Israeli fire in the previous 24 hours, with the body of one person who was killed earlier also recovered.

Friends and relatives of deceased Palestinian, Mohammed Al-Jarou, pray over his body during his funeral in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip on Dec. 9, 2025.
Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images

The three casualties brought the overall death toll since the ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 11 to 379 people, the ministry said, with 922 people also wounded. A total of 627 additional bodies have been recovered in that time, the ministry said.

The death toll since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, now stands at 70,369 people with another 171,069 wounded, the ministry said.

Health officials said they expect to find more victims as recovery teams work through rubble in the devastated strip.

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