Massive menorah in Gaza planted by IDF.

IDF announces deaths of 2 more soldiers from Gaza fighting.

One of them is the son of former IDF chief and current war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot.

Master Sgt. (res.) Gal Meir Eisenkot, 25, of the 55st Brigade’s 699th Battalion, from Herzliya.

Sgt. Maj. (res.) Jonathan David Deitch, 34, of the 55th Brigade’s 6623rd Reconnaissance Battalion, from Harish.

Pentagon says US has resumed unarmed UAV flights over Gaza in support of hostage recovery efforts.

Damaged IDF Achzarit armored personnel carrier.

Latest Gaza toll:

17,177 killed
7,700 missing
46,000 wounded
194 mosques were damaged, of which 104 were completely destroyed
253,000 housing units were damaged
52,000 housing units were completely destroyed

Peace in the South Caucasus

The Presidency of Azerbaijan and the Prime Ministry of Armenia issued a joint statement:

Azerbaijan and Armenia believe that a historic opportunity has arisen for the long-awaited peace in the Caucasus.

The two countries reaffirm their desire to normalize relations and sign a peace agreement based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As a result of the talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, an agreement was reached to take serious steps to build mutual trust.

White House says the United States is unable to give Ukraine any guarantees regarding further assistance in light of the position of Congress.

The United States only a few weeks left, after which the possibility of helping Kyiv will be exhausted.

White House's Kirby:

Name me one nation that is doing more to alleviate the pain and suffering of the people in Gaza than the United States. You can't!

British Foreign Secretary Cameron:

You create an additional 10 percent of your defense budget, and with the courage of the Ukrainians, you destroy 50 percent of Russia's power before the Americans and the British die. This is an excellent investment.

Ukraine is a big test for our generation. Will Europe realize that its security is American security?

Egypt warned the U.S. and Israel that if Palestinian refugees flee into the Sinai as a result of the Israeli military operation in southern Gaza, it could create "a rupture" in relations between Egypt and Israel, Axios reports.

Egyptians expressed anxiety that a crisis on their border with Gaza would result in thousands of Palestinian refugees crossing the border barrier and trying to find shelter in the Sinai.

One Israeli official said Egyptian officials told their Israeli counterparts they are concerned that militants from Gaza could also then escape into Egypt.

The Egyptians told Israel that such a scenario could create a serious crisis in the relations between Egypt and Israel, the Israeli officials said.

A U.S. official said Egypt shared the same concerns with the U.S. and stressed that Egyptian officials warned of "a rupture" with Israel if it happens.

Only 20 percent of citizens in Germany are satisfied with the work of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, according to ARD poll.

This is the lowest value for a Federal Chancellor since the surveys began in 1997.

However, only 27 percent of those surveyed said that he was up to the job of Chancellor.

Only 23 percent currently see Scholz as a good crisis manager and only 12 percent say that the Chancellor communicates convincingly.

Tucker Carlson claims:

In a classified briefing in the House yesterday, defense secretary Lloyd Austin informed members that if they don’t appropriate more money for Zelensky, “we’ll send your uncles, cousins and sons to fight Russia.” Pay the oligarchs or we’ll kill your kids.

From the most recent WaPo article:

"Interviews with draft-age Ukrainians suggest that many are less than eager to fight for a military and national government that is viewed as rife with corruption and incompetence."

Bienvenue dans la France laïque (secular)!

Receiving an award against antisemitism, French President Macron attended the first Hanukkah candle lighting at the Élysée Palace last night.

BBC's Middle East correspondent Yolande Knell described footage of stripped Palestinian detainees in Gaza as 'shocking'.

Images released show that Israeli forces have stripped dozens of civilian Palestinian men of their clothes before detaining them and taking them to an undisclosed location.