Israeli soldiers admitted to accidentally killing three hostages in Gaza, Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Talalka, 22, and Alon Shamriz, 26, had used leftover food to create signs pleading for help while holding a white flag. The IDF admitted to the breach of "rules of engagement" in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City. The hostages, seized during Hamas attacks, attempted to signal their distress. The IDF stated uncertainty about whether the captors abandoned or the hostages escaped. With about 120 hostages still held in Gaza, families call for a new truce, while Israel faces international pressure for a ceasefire.

Oil giant BP announces a temporary halt to all Red Sea oil shipments due to escalating Houthi attacks on vessels. The move follows a Royal Navy warship downing a suspected attack drone. Evergreen Line joins the precaution, redirecting container ships until further notice. The Red Sea, a vital route for oil and goods transport, faces heightened risks. Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, target ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. BP emphasizes safety concerns, while major shipping firms like Maersk and MSC divert routes. The situation prompts a pause in shipments by Hapag-Lloyd and CMA-CGM.

Indian authorities and intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, reportedly been admitted to a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. He is rumoured to have been poisoned. According to media reports, Dawood Ibrahim is the only patient on the hospital floor where he has been admitted. Only senior authorities of the hospital and Dawood's close family members have access to the floor. This isn't the first rumour of Dawood's declining health or death. Previous claims of him contracting COVID-19 or having a heart attack were rejected by his gang who asserted he was alive. The 1993 Mumbai blasts mastermind was declared a 'global terrorist' by India and the US in 2003. With his life shrouded in secrecy, his hospitalisation has once again sparked speculation on his health and whereabouts.

The UN Security Council is headed for a vote on a UAE-drafted resolution demanding Israel and Hamas allow aid access to Gaza via land, sea and air. The US is negotiating final text changes, seeking to tone down language on ceasefire demands. UN officials warn of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza amid the conflict. The draft calls for an "urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities" to enable aid access. It needs 9 votes and no vetoes to pass. Earlier, the US vetoed a ceasefire demand while the General Assembly approved one. Israel opposes ceasefires which it feels benefit Hamas. The Council last month called for aid pauses though fighting resumed shortly after.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked controversy by stating that Islamic culture and European values have a "compatibility problem" at an event hosted by her right-wing party and attended by UK PM Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk. Meloni criticized Saudi Arabian financing of Islamic centers in Italy and Sharia law penalties like death for adultery and homosexuality. She argued that there is a problematic "Islamisation" process happening in Europe, with values distant from European civilization, but said she was not generalizing all of Islam. Sunak backed Meloni's migration policies, while facing his own criticism over a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Notorious underworld don Dawood Ibrahim has been hospitalized in Karachi, Pakistan for a serious health issue, according to sources on Monday. Ibrahim was potentially poisoned but it is unconfirmed. He has been in the hospital for two days as of December 18 and is under tight security, being the only patient on his hospital floor with access limited to top authorities and close family. This news comes after January reports that Ibrahim resides in Karachi after remarrying, and NIA charges linking him to control of Karachi airport. His health status and hospitalization remains closely guarded information.

On Monday evening, internet users across Pakistan reported widespread difficulties accessing social media platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The disruptions came just ahead of a major virtual public gathering hosted by Imran Khan's political party PTI, scheduled to begin at 9pm. Internet monitoring service Netblocks confirmed that metrics showed nation-scale disruption to social networks in Pakistan coinciding with the lead-up to Khan's speech. PTI condemned the disruption as "proof of fear" of Khan's popularity. The Pakistan Telecom Authority did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier this year, authorities restricted internet access amid protests over Khan's arrest. Pakistan ranked third globally for internet shutdowns in early 2023.

Top diplomats from the UK, Germany, and France intensify calls for an immediate Gaza ceasefire amidst a rising death toll of up to 19,000. European allies express growing concern over the impact on Gaza's civilian population. The joint plea, supported by UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock in a published article, urges Israel to target Hamas leaders, emphasizing the need for a sustainable ceasefire. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, during a Tel Aviv conference, stresses the necessity of a truce for humanitarian aid and a political solution. The diplomatic pressure increases ahead of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit.

Growing concerns mount over a potential all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah as fighting intensifies. The recent Hamas attack prompted Israeli paratroopers to focus on the northern border, viewing Hezbollah as a more significant threat. Tensions have escalated, resulting in casualties on both sides. The Israeli government faces calls for a military solution, while diplomatic efforts by the US and France aim to ease the situation. The possibility of a new war in Lebanon looms, with implications for the broader region. The international community closely watches developments as the risk of a full-scale conflict increases.

The Israeli army uncovered the largest Hamas tunnel in Gaza, extending over four kilometers and reaching within 400 meters of the Erez border crossing. Equipped with drainage, electricity, ventilation, sewage systems, and communication networks, the complex, led by Mohamed Yahya, brother of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, cost millions and took years to build. The tunnel, allowing small vehicles to navigate, contained weapons for potential attacks. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht stated Hamas prioritized attacking Israel over aiding Gaza residents. Israel's relentless response to the October 7 attacks led to ongoing conflict, with over 800 tunnels discovered.