Reports indicate intense Israeli airstrikes heavier than prior nights underway in Gaza on Friday night. Phone and internet communications are down in the territory. The IDF said it is expanding Gaza ground operations tonight amid the communication blackout and continuing bombardment. An IDF spokesperson instructed Gaza City residents to seek safety as strikes will continue, specifically referencing Al-Shifa hospital, alleged by Israel to be used by Hamas for tunnels and command centers. Al-Shifa is Gaza's largest hospital currently hosting thousands displaced and wounded. Earlier in the day, reports suggested that discussions were progressing about a possible ceasefire linked to the release of hostages held in Gaza. However, Hamas has continued rocket attacks on Israel amid Israel's bombing campaign since October 7th.

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to join GB News as a presenter, programme maker, and commentator in the new year. He will be involved in the channel's coverage of the UK and US elections in 2024 and host a series highlighting "the power of Britain around the world." Johnson, who also writes for the Daily Mail, promised to share his "unvarnished views" on various topics. The move follows other Conservative politicians, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Lee Anderson, Esther McVey, and Philip Davies, joining the broadcaster. GB News is currently under investigation by Ofcom following controversial remarks made by a guest on one of its shows.  

The Israeli military carried out airstrikes targeting Hamas sites in Gaza on Friday, killing Medkhat Mabasher, a Hamas commander in Khan Younis, and hitting tunnel networks and launch sites. This comes amid over three weeks of violence between Israel and Hamas. An Israeli aircraft also crashed in Gaza due to a technical issue. Former U.S. official Aaron David Miller told the BBC that Israel faces constraints, including uncertainty over its objectives to end Hamas's existence. He said Hamas only needs to survive to claim victory. Overall the conflict continues with no clear resolution in sight, as Israel hits Hamas sites but so far has not achieved its stated goal of eliminating the group.

Egyptian fighter jets flew over two towns as a drone crashed near a Taba hospital, injuring six individuals, who were later treated and released. Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson Gharib Abdel-Hafez stated that authorities are investigating the incident. Egypt is considering its options to respond once the drone's origin is confirmed. The Israeli army suspects the strike in Taba originated from the Red Sea area, potentially Yemen, and plans to collaborate with Egypt and the US to enhance Red Sea security. Additionally, an investigation is ongoing after a projectile landed near a power plant in Nuweiba.  

The World Health Organization has described dire conditions inside Gaza's battered healthcare system. WHO cited figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry showing over 7,000 Palestinians have been killed in the current conflict. Nearly 40% of the dead are children. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with just 23 of 35 facilities partially functioning. Fuel shortages have caused shutdowns. The WHO said patients are undergoing surgery in hallways with no anesthesia. Bodies of dead children fill wards. Though WHO's access to data is limited, they received a list of 6,747 names and registration numbers of those who had died, and an additional figure - 281 - of bodies that had yet to be identified from local authorities. It said more deaths are uncounted under rubble.

The White House played down speculation that President Biden linked Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel to plans for an India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. Biden was quoted saying Hamas may have attacked due to "progress towards regional integration for Israel." But spokesperson John Kirby said Biden was misunderstood - he meant normalization efforts between Israel and Saudi Arabia for a two-state solution may have motivated the attack. Biden did not specifically mention the economic corridor announced at the G20 Summit. The White House clarified Biden's stance was unrelated to the regional integration plans.

Israeli forces invading Gaza could face a harrowing underground fight against Hamas militants entrenched in a vast tunnel network hundreds of kilometers long and 80 meters deep. Described as a "spider's web" with booby traps galore, the tunnels may prove a more terrifying battlefield than even ISIS-held Mosul according to U.S. analysts. Despite Israel's investment in detection like an "iron wall" sensor barrier, Hamas still has a sprawling subterranean fortress allowing attacks and evasion. After 2021 hostilities, a Hamas Gaza leader claimed they have over 500 km of tunnels, so Israel destroyed only 20% at most. The tunnels pose a grinding underground threat to Israeli troops. [Image: Reuters]

Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief, Wael Al Dahdouh, mourns the loss of his wife, son, daughter, and other family members in an Israeli air strike. Despite the tragedy, he vows to persist in reporting on Tel Aviv's war on Gaza. The Dahdouh family was among the civilians ordered by Israel to flee north Gaza. The conflict, following Hamas' cross-border attack in October, has claimed thousands of lives. Al Dahdouh remains resolute in his mission, highlighting the devastating impact on Palestinian families in Gaza.

Early on Friday, a missile struck a medical facility in Taba, an Egyptian Red Sea resort town near the Israeli border, injuring six people, as reported by Egypt's Al Qahera News. The incident was allegedly related to ongoing clashes between Israel and Gaza's Hamas militants. The missile hit a Taba ambulance facility and a residential building for Taba Hospital's administration. Israel's military acknowledged the security incident, which occurred outside its border. Taba, a tourist destination, is situated opposite Israel's Red Sea port city of Eilat, approximately 350 kms (220 miles) away from Gaza.

The U.S. military conducted precision strikes against two facilities in eastern Syria linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its supported groups. This action comes in response to a series of attacks by Iran-backed militias targeting U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated these self-defense strikes were necessary due to continuous attacks against U.S. personnel. President Biden personally warned Iran's Supreme Leader against targeting U.S. troops. As tensions rise, the U.S. military has bolstered its presence in the region and implemented enhanced security measures to protect its forces.