Israel News Dec 16

 Day 802

- This afternoon, the U.S. began on-the-ground preparations tied to Phase 2 of the Gaza agreement, even though Hamas has not been dismantled and Israel continues to oppose moving to the next phase. The preparations are based on Clause 17 of the agreement, which allows expanded aid and early reconstruction in areas deemed “clean of Hamas” and transferred from the IDF to an international stabilization force, even if Hamas delays or rejects further steps.

- The IDF attacked a terrorist from the Hezbollah organization in the Al-Taybeh area in southern Lebanon.

- Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli: The Australian government is hostile to Israel, and it did not handle the manifestations of antisemitism. The police did not manage the event properly

- The International Criminal Court on Tuesday rejected Israel's appeal of arrest warrants that an ICC lower court issued in 2024 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

- Spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guards: "Iran is preparing for an inevitable confrontation with Israel, and this is after receiving intelligence from Pakistan that came from the US regarding the fact that Israel is preparing to attack Iran soon."

- Senior Western diplomat to the Financial Times: Iran may move its missile bases deep into the country in the east - to enhance their defense and make it harder for Israeli and US fighter jets to strike them in a future conflict

- A source familiar with the meeting told i24NEWS that Turkey was not invited to today’s U.S. Central Command convened meeting in Qatar regarding the Multinational Peacekeeping Force (ISF). Representatives from 45 countries attended. Israel has reiterated that it will not allow Turkey to participate in the peacekeeping force.

- President Trump denies Barak Ravid's report that there is tension in the relationship between him and PM Netanyahu regarding the elimination of the senior military wing official of Hamas, Ra'ad Saad: Israel and I get along very well. My relationship with Bibi Netanyahu is a very good one. We have a very good relationship with Israel, in fact, we have a very good relationship with almost everyone in the Middle East

- A delegation of 30 Canadians, including six MPs, was denied entrance to the West Bank on Tuesday despite having travel authorization, according to members of the group.

- Trump: We are examining whether Israel violated the ceasefire when it killed the senior Hamas official.