Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi affirmed that Cairo is maintaining contacts with all parties to uphold the halt in fighting in Gaza, announcing Egypt's hosting of an international conference on early recovery and reconstruction. Ground developments underscore the truce's fragility, with the U.S.-based Jewish Voice for Peace accusing Israel of 500 ceasefire violations over 44 days. The humanitarian crisis deepens amid new casualties and an unprecedented economic collapse.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi stated that Egypt will host an international conference focused on early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, while maintaining ongoing contacts with all parties to support the ceasefire. However, the U.S.-based Jewish Voice for Peace highlighted Israel's 500 violations of the truce in 44 days, asserting that "the genocide has not stopped".
On the ground, Saraya Al-Quds, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, handed over the body of an Israeli captive to Red Cross teams in Deir Al-Balah, as Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades announced the transfer of another captive's body later on Tuesday. Gaza's Health Ministry reported hospitals receiving 17 Palestinians killed in the past 24 hours—three from new Israeli strikes and 14 from under rubble—plus 16 wounded. The overall death toll since October 7, 2023, stands at 69,775, with 170,965 injured.
The humanitarian situation worsens, with Gaza's Civil Defense recovering the remains of 14 people from a destroyed home in Al-Maghazi refugee camp. In Khan Younis, heavy rains flooded dozens of tents in the Al-Mawasi displacement area, where a municipal spokesman described conditions as "extremely catastrophic," noting extensive damage to roads, water infrastructure, and sewage networks. The U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ended its mission, accused by Gaza's Government Media Office of being a "fake humanitarian cover" after 2,615 Palestinians died of starvation near its sites, despite delivering 187 million free meals.
Economically, a UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report described the Palestinian economy's collapse as "unprecedented" after two years of war and Israeli restrictions, with GDP per capita reverting to 2003 levels and erasing 22 years of progress; it ranks among the ten worst global economic shocks since 1960.
International criticism mounted, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the "brutality against the women of Gaza," stating that two-thirds of the 70,000 killed over the past two years were women and children, and vowing to "speak the truth in every forum." UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing Balakrishnan Rajagopal accused Israel of a "massacre of homes" as part of genocide, telling Anadolu Agency: "The situation is not much different from before the ceasefire."
Press freedom groups raised concerns, with the Foreign Press Association criticizing Israel's ongoing ban on journalists entering Gaza, noting delays in responding to its petition until December 24 as ordered by Israel's High Court.