CIA chief leaves Qatar without hostage deal progress | PM Netanyahu skips Auschwitz liberation anniversary fearing ICC arrest

14:34 - Palestinian arrested after suspected terror stabbing which seriously wounded elderly woman

A resident of East Jerusalem was arrested on suspicion of stabbing and seriously injuring a 74-year-old woman in her apartment on Thursday.

Initially not identified as a terror attack, the incident was later confirmed to be under investigation by the Shin Bet, with details placed under a gag order.

Ynet News reported that the suspect broke into the woman's apartment before fleeing the scene. The wounded woman's condition improved over the past day and was classified as moderate.

13:24 - IDF confiscates 5 illegal weapons, arrests 4 suspects in Judea and Samaria raids overnight

In overnight raids, Israeli security forces arrested four suspected terrorists and confiscated five weapons, including ammunition, in operations across Judea and Samaria.

During the past week, Israeli forces confiscated dozens of illegal, partially stolen vehicles, as well as over NIS 1 million in terror funds, and ten weapons, the IDF stated.

כוחות צה״ל, שב״כ ומג״ב פעלו במהלך הלילה לסיכול טרור והחרמת אמצעי לחימה במספר מרחבים ביהודה ושומרון.

כחלק מהמערכה באמצעי לחימה בפיקוד המרכז, כוחות הביטחון החרימו במהלך הלילה חמישה נשקים ותחמושת רבה בסמוע שבחטיבת יהודה ובחלחול שבחטיבת עציון>> pic.twitter.com/JZPGDOZhmg

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 20, 2024

11:32 – CIA chief leaves Qatar without progress in hostage deal

CIA Director Bill Burns left Doha, Qatar one day after arriving to continue the hostage deal talks between Israel and Hamas. The Washington Post cited an American source saying that no progress was made during the meetings.

There are several remaining disputes, including the identity and number of the hostages to be freed, and the identity of the Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel. Hamas reportedly wants Israel to release arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti.

10:58 – PM Netanyahu will skip 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation fearing ICC arrest warrants

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to Poland to attend ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp, i24 News reported.

The reason is the concern that he could be arrested in Poland due to the ICC-issued arrest warrant against him.

10:39 – Pentagon acknowledges some 2,000 US troops are in Syria

Pentagon Press Secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder acknowledged that the U.S. has approximately 2,000 troops stationed in northeast Syria, after claiming for years that there were only 900 soldiers.

At a Pentagon press conference, Ryder said the additional troops have been in Syria “at a minimum of some months – it’s been going on for a while,”

He stressed that the reinforcement was not related to the fall of Assad or operations against ISIS, adding that he didn’t know that the number of troops had been increased until now and that the Pentagon was still working to clarify the timing and goal of the increase.

09:34 – Diaspora minister praises Sweden for stopping UNRWA funding

Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli praised the Swedish government for announcing it will stop funding UNRWA.

“A courageous and critical decision by the Swedish government. UNRWA, whose personnel actively participated in the October 7 atrocities, whose facilities became terror hubs, and whose schools spread Hamas propaganda and incitement, has lost its legitimacy to exist,” Chikli wrote on 𝕏.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa said Sweden will send humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip through other channels instead.

A courageous and critical decision by the Swedish government. UNRWA, whose personnel actively participated in the October 7 atrocities, whose facilities became terror hubs, and whose schools spread Hamas propaganda and incitement, has lost its legitimacy to exist. pic.twitter.com/AIxxkpziOa

— עמיחי שיקלי - Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) December 20, 2024

08:00 – US envoys travel to Syria to meet with new HTS rulers, despite remaining on terror list

The U.S. State Department’s top Middle East diplomat, Barbara Leaf, and two other high-ranking envoys traveled to Damascus to meet with the new leadership dominated by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group still designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

They will be engaging directly with the Syrian people, including members of civil society, activists, members of different communities, and other Syrian voices about their vision for the future of their country and how the United States can help support them," the State Department spokesperson said.

The envoys will engage directly with the Syrian people, including members of civil society, activists, and members of different communities about “their vision for the future of their country and how the United States can help support them,” according to the State Department.