Anna Foster
Reporting from Bethlehem

At this time Bethlehem’s famous Christmas tree should be standing proud in Manger Square, welcoming tourists from all over the world. But because of the war it’s been cancelled this year, and the visitors who help to keep the West Bank city alive aren’t travelling here.

This landmark square outside the Church of the Nativity - which marks the place where Christians believe Jesus was born - is now empty instead. Celebrations have been replaced by sadness as Palestinians mourn the thousands of people who’ve been killed in Gaza, and in the occupied West Bank, since 7 October.

A small group of boys kick a football around the areas that would normally be filled with visiting festive crowds. The beautiful decorations and lights that would adorn the square aren’t here.

Many of the souvenir shops, which rely on tourism, are also closed at what would usually be one of their busiest times. That’s making it a hard economic winter here too.

Lucy Williamson
Reporting from Jenin

Image source, EPA

There were bursts of gunfire in the streets around Jenin camp this morning, and a local mosque again called for people to come out in defence of their neighbours in both Jenin and Gaza.

This is the third day of Israel’s military operation here. Eleven Palestinians have been killed, including three in a drone strike overnight. A 13-year-old boy died on Tuesday after waiting in his father’s arms outside the city’s main hospital for the army to let them through.

Soldiers have been carrying out house-to-house searches in Jenin Camp since Tuesday, arresting and questioning hundreds of people - most of whom have since been released.

The Israeli military said it had confiscated around 30 weapons and other military equipment, and dismantled explosives laboratories, observation points and tunnel shafts.

Four soldiers were injured by friendly fire or controlled explosions, it added.

Image source, Getty Images

We've been reporting on Israel's ambassador to the UK rejecting a two-state solution once the war in Gaza ends.

The "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an internationally backed formula which envisages an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside Israel.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza – now home to approximately five million Palestinians – were occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians want sovereignty over these territories and an end to Israel’s control.

Since 1967, Israel has built about 140 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, populated by more than 700,000 Jews. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Palestinians and the vast majority of the international community see the settlements as an obstacle to peace.

A two-state solution would involve the removal of the settlements, either fully or partially, possibly leaving some large blocks under Israeli sovereignty. Israel opposes a two-state solution, arguing that it would not bring peace because, it says, Palestinians do not accept Israel’s right to exist in any form. Israel also considers the whole of Jerusalem as its capital and is unwilling to divide it.

Previous internationally-backed peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians envisaged a negotiated end to the conflict, without spelling out the creation of a Palestinian state. But the international community sees an independent Palestine living alongside Israel as the only path to a permanent peace.

Read more about the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians here.

Image source, Reuters

As we reported earlier, the health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says the enclave was hit with more strikes this morning.

In the southern city of Khan Younis, residents have been filmed digging through the rubble with their hands in a bid to find bodies and survivors buried underneath.

Hassan Al-Byouk tells Reuters that the Israeli strike destroyed his house, and the buildings around it.

"I think there were four people inside and there are people under the rubble who are not out yet," he says. "We can't get the dead out. We have to work with our hands." He goes on:

Image source, EPA

In the UK, Foreign Secretary David Cameron has announced that "extremist settlers" responsible for violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank will no longer be permitted to come to the UK.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Cameron accused these settlers, by "targeting and killing Palestinian civilians", of "undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians". He goes on:

It follows a similar ban announced by the US earlier this month, when Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was taking action to target aggression by Israeli settlers on Palestinians.

Attacks have surged in the occupied West Bank since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, triggered by Hamas's assault on southern Israel on 7 October.

• Read more on settler violence here

Image source, Reuters

The British prime minister has said he does not agree with comments made by the Israeli ambassador to the UK after she rejected the idea of a two-state solution once the war in Gaza ends.

Asked about the prospect of a two-state solution - which would see the establishment of an independent Palestine alongside Israel - Tzipi Hotovely told Sky News "absolutely no".

The idea is supported by the United States and other allies of Israel.

In response to Hotovely's comments, Rishi Sunak told reporters "we don't agree with that".

"Our longstanding position remains the two-state solution is the right outcome here.

"And more immediately, what is going on is incredibly concerning. I've said consistently, far too many innocent people have lost their lives."

Image source, EPA

It's just gone midday in Israel and Gaza, where fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas continues. If you're just joining us, or need a recap, here's a round-up of the latest developments:

• Israel's ambassador to the UK has said the country will not accept a two-state solution after the war in Gaza ends. "The Palestinians never wanted to have a state next to Israel," Tzipi Hotovely told Sky News. The two-state solution is the idea that establishing an independent Palestine alongside Israel would create a way for the two peoples to co-exist peacefully. The policy is supported by the United States and other allies of Israel
• White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is on his way to Israel, where he's scheduled to hold talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu about a need for more precise strikes against targets in Gaza. The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says 18,600 people have been killed in the enclave since the start of the war
• The health ministry ministry said at least 19 people were killed this morning in Gaza as a result of Israeli air strikes
• And in the West Bank, Israel's military operation in Jenin is continuing for a third day - 11 Palestinians have been killed and many more injured

Israeli ambassador's comments show scale of gulf over two-state solutionpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023

09:55 GMT 14 December 2023

Raffi Berg
Digital Middle East editor

Image source, Reuters

Tzipi Hotovely's comments offer a sharp rebuke to renewed talk of establishing an independent Palestine alongside Israel as a way to permanent peace.

The so-called two-state solution has long been backed by the international community, though not Israel where support for the idea has receded over the past two decades as bloodshed escalated.

Alluding to the stance of the current Israeli government, US President Joe Biden declared just two days ago: "You cannot say there’s no Palestinian state at all in the future." It is also the policy of the UK government, as well as of other close allies of Israel.

The comments by Israel’s ambassador to the UK make clear there are no meeting of minds on this at the current time nor seemingly, in the wake of the 7 October attack by Hamas, into the future. The blame for this she put squarely on the Palestinians, saying they did not want a state next to Israel, but in place of Israel.

Hotovely represents the Israeli government in the UK, but opposition to a Palestinian state has long been her political position. Prior to her appointment as UK ambassador, she was minister for settlements in a previous right-wing Israeli government. Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. A two-state solution envisages their removal, completely or partially - something neither Hotovely nor the Israeli government are willing to accept.

Yolande Knell
BBC Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

Israel’s military operation in Jenin in the West Bank is continuing for a third day. Eleven Palestinians have been killed and many injured – about half in drone strikes.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club - a non-government organisation which supports Palestinian prisoners and their families - says that the Israeli army has detained more than 500 people from Jenin during its operation.

They were interrogated at Salem military base nearby and most were released. There are reports of gunfire and drones overhead this morning.

Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak has overnight confirmed that 41-year-old resident Tal Chaimi was killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks in southern Israel.

A statement on behalf of his family said: "We bow our heads at the murder of the hostage Tal Chaimi, may he rest in peace.

"He was connected in every fiber of his soul to the kibbutz, and was one of the pillars of the community. His family and friends recount that he was always the first to help, lend a hand, and bring calmness and security to all around him."

Chaimi was the grandson of the kibbutz's founders and leaves behind his wife and three children, twins aged nine and a six-year-old.

Image source, Family handout

Image source, Getty Images

Israel's ambassador to the UK has said the country would not accept a two-state solution after the war in Gaza ends.

Asked about the prospect of Palestinians having their own state, Tzipi Hotovely told Sky News, external: "Absolutely no."

The two-state solution is the idea that establishing an independent Palestine alongside Israel would create a way for the two peoples to co-exist peacefully.

The policy is supported by Israel's close ally the US and other Western nations.

Asked about how there could be peace in the region without a two-state solution, Hotovely said "the world should know now that the Palestinians never wanted to have a state next to Israel".

Special correspondent Lucy Manning has been having candid conversations with teenagers in the UK about how life has changed since the 7 October attacks in Israel.

Chloe Kim
BBC News

Image source, Getty

The families of US hostages held by Hamas say they believe President Joe Biden is doing everything he can to secure the release of their loved ones.

The administration is "completely committed" to getting them home, one relative said after meeting Biden on Wednesday.

There are believed to be eight Americans still held in Gaza.

The meeting came a day after Biden said Israel was starting to lose global support over its "indiscriminate bombing" of the territory.

This was the first in-person meeting family members of US hostages had with the president after a first virtual meeting in October.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer were also in attendance.

Read more here

There's been a defiant response from a member of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) over international criticism of the war in Gaza.

Sharren Haskel, from the centre-right National Unity Party, told the BBC it was essential for Israel to stick to its aim of eradicating Hamas.

"Their leadership have said time and time again that they will always persecute the Jews and try to murder them if they have any kind of opportunity, they will try to do the massacre that they did on 7 October over and over again and so this war is an actual war on humanity.

"I mean, this is the only way that we can defend our children and make sure that they can live here peacefully in Israel."

It follows comments from US President Joe Biden who said Israel is starting to lose global support over its "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza and overwhelming support for a ceasefire during a vote in the UN General Assembly.

Jeremy Bowen
International Editor

Image source, Getty Images

War is a cruel furnace that puts humans through terrible agonies. But its heat can produce changes that seemed impossible.

It happened in western Europe after World War Two. Old enemies who had killed each other for centuries chose peace.

Will the war in Gaza shock Israelis and Palestinians into ending their century of conflict over the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan river?

One idea mentioned by senior Western diplomats is to make Palestinian independence a crucial part of a broader package of change in the Middle East. Israel would be offered the prize of mutual recognition with Saudi Arabia, if they made the concessions necessary for Palestinian independence.

It is an ambitious idea, that would not happen without new Israeli and Palestinian leaders who believed in the project.

And the war in Gaza would have to end as soon as possible. If it spreads, nightmare scenarios include desperate Palestinians breaching the Egyptian border as Israeli tanks close in and the escalation of the current cross-border exchanges between Israel and the Lebanese militia group Hezbollah into a full-scale war.

So much needs to go right for peace to have a chance. So much has already gone wrong that peace might just be impossible.

Read Jeremy's full analysis on the prospects for a resolution here.

As we mentioned earlier, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is on his way to Israel, where he's due to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the Israeli war cabinet.

The talks follow warnings from Israel's closest ally, the US, about how it is conducting the war with Hamas.

US President Joe Biden blamed Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza for a loss of global support for its war on Hamas.

It's thought those sentiments will lead to discussion over a need for more surgical and precise strikes against targets in Gaza.

On Wednesday, Sullivan held talks with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

US negotiations aimed normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia were halted by the 7 October attacks, but it's reported all sides want to resurrect the deal in the future.

Image source, Reuters

Yolande Knell
BBC Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, says that Israeli air strikes early on Thursday morning killed at least 19 people.

There’ve been growing signs of disagreement between Israel and its closest ally, the US, ahead of the arrival of the White House national security adviser, Jake Suillivan.

This week, President Joe Biden blamed Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza for a loss of global support for its war on Hamas.

Ahead of his trip, Sullivan was quoted as saying that he’d discuss a timetable to end the war and urge Israeli leaders to "move to a different phase from the kind of high-intensity operations seen today”.

Reacting to growing international calls for a ceasefire, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told soldiers in Gaza, “We’re continuing until Hamas is annihilated… Nothing will stop us.”

Rob Corp
Live reporter

Our live and continuing coverage of the war between Israel and Hamas is up and running this Thursday morning with me, Anna Boyd and Jamie Whitehead at the BBC's London Broadcasting House.

Our main focus first thing is on the arrival in Israel of US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who is due to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet.

We'll bring you more on that and other overnight developments in the next few posts.