Live Updates: Israel intensifies attacks on Gaza amid killing dozens in 24 hours

05:16 GMT - Israeli kills at least 250 Palestinians in 24 hours

At least 250 Palestinians have been killed and 500 others wounded from Israeli air strikes across Gaza in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry in Gaza said.

In a statement, the ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qudra said medical teams are unable to treat all of the wounded arriving at the hospitals while noting they are dealing with types of injuries they have not seen in previous wars.

He added that the bed occupancy rate at operational hospitals in southern Gaza stands at 350 percent. Al Qudra also noted that the humanitarian and medical aid arriving in Gaza does not meet the needs of the hospitals.

05:00 GMT - US hits sites it says were used by Iran-backed forces in Iraq

The US military has carried out strikes on three sites used by Iran-backed forces in Iraq after an attack wounded American personnel earlier in the day, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

"US military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataeb Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq," Austin said in a statement.

"These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataeb Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Arbil Air Base earlier today," he said.

04:22 GMT - Israeli president visits soldiers near Gaza

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has visited invading troops stationed in the buffer zone along the fence with Gaza.

Herzog published a photo on his X account showing him writing “We trust you" in Hebrew on an artillery shell in a show of support for their efforts.

"I would like to thank you. It is not easy at all, and it is not to be taken for granted that people have been here for over two months," he told the soldiers.

03:30 GMT - Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem concerned over suffering in Palestine

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has released a Christmas message expressing deep concern for the continuous suffering of Palestinians in the region.

The statement, titled "Homily For The Midnight Mass - Christmas 2023," conveyed the patriarchate's thoughts on the ong oing challenges and conflicts affecting the area.

It emphasized the plight of Palestinians, saying: "Their suffering ceaselessly cries out to the whole world. No place or home is safe for anyone. Thousands of people have been deprived of their basic needs; they are hungry, and they are even more exposed to incomprehensible violence."

02:22 GMT - Netanyahu bars his defence minister from holding talks with Mossad chief on captives

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been preventing his defence minister from holding separate talks with the director of Israel’s Mossad spy agency on efforts to secure the release of captives in Gaza, local media have reported.

Israel's Channel 12 cited government sources which said that Yoav Gallant has been barred from meeting with David Barnea when Netanyahu is not part of the discussion.

Channel 12 also said that Gallant invited Barnea to attend meetings and received messages from Netanyahu’s office that the premier disapproved.

For our live updates from Monday, December 25, click here.