STORY: Palestinian death toll in Gaza nears 21,000
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 26, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:25
LOCATION: GAZA/JERUSALEM
CATEGORY: OTHER

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): OHOOD JAGHOUB, Xinhua reporter in Gaza
2. STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG TIANLANG, Xinhua correspondent in Jerusalem
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NADAV TAMIR, Resident in Tel Aviv, Israel
4. various of file footage on Dec. 25, central Gaza

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): OHOOD JAGHOUB, Xinhua reporter in Gaza
"Hostilities in Gaza are still persistent, all footage coming out shows the massive and widespread destruction of residential neighborhoods in the enclave, while telecommunication and internet services have been severed, the death toll now nears 21,000.
The Israeli army continues its air, sea, and ground operation offensive against Gaza. Today (Tuesday), the Israeli army delivered about 80 bodies of Palestinians killed during the fighting to the Palestinian side after being held by them, while intensive fighting is still taking place between the Israelis and Hamas fighters."

STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG TIANLANG, Xinhua correspondent in Jerusalem
"On Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi told media that the army is close to dismantling all Hamas battalions in northern Gaza and it will expand its operations in southern and central Gaza. Halevi also said that the fighting will last many more months. That was echoed by the report of TV Channel 12, saying that the IDF will shift its strategies in Gaza and turn to prolonged fighting with low intensity."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NADAV TAMIR, Resident in Tel Aviv, Israel
"I believe that now for the majority of Israelis is to get the hostages back home. We need a two-state solution and the two-state solution can only be achieved with a strong diplomatic orchestration that will include the consensus in the international world around the two-state solution."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza/Jerusalem.
(XHTV)