Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 17, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Reports of widespread Israeli strikes on Gaza
There are reports of widespread Israel Defense Forces strikes in the Gaza Strip on the 72nd day of Israel’s war with Hamas.
A number of people were killed in airstrikes on the central city of Deir al-Balah, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
Witnesses also report Israeli air and artillery strikes on the southern municipality of Bani Suhaila east of Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip’s second city and a Hamas stronghold.
The war began on October 7 when thousands of Hamas terrorists rampaged through communities and a music festival in southern Israel killing around 1,200 people — mainly civilians — and taking some 240 hostages.
