were commodities in some parts of the world.# In Gaza, this weekend has seen some of the## most intense and bloodiest fighting of the war.# More than 200 Palestinians dead according to the## Hamas run Gaza health ministry, including# at least 70 in an Israeli airstrike today.

And the Israeli military says that since Friday,# 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat,## all told since October 7.

Gaza officials say that# roughly 20,400 Palestinians have been killed,## and 154 Israeli soldiers have died.

That's an## addition to the 1200 Israelis killed in# the initial Hamas attack on Octobe Israel is unused to big numbers of# military casualties.

So these numbers## hit hard.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin# Netanyahu said in the Cabinet meeting,## that it's the sacrifice needed to free# the 129 hostages still held by Hamas.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime# Minister (through translator): The## war exacts a very he continue with all the force until the end# until victory until we reach all our goals.

JOHN YANG: In Bethlehem revered by Christians# as the traditional birthplace of Jesus,## there are empty streets instead of the festive# decorations and crowds of international tourists## of past Christmas Eves.

In one churches display# the baby Jesus is wrapped in a cafeteria and lies## on a pile of rubble.

Munther Isaac# is a Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem.

REV.

MUNTHER ISAAC, Pastor, Evangelical# Lutheran Christmas Church: This is what## with the bombardment of children.# While the world is celebrating,## our children are under the world rubble.

While# the world is celebrating our families are## displaced and their homes are destroyed.# So this is Christmas to us in Palestine.

JOHN YANG: In Europe, Security is tight after# an alert about a possible terror attack.

At## the Cologne Cathedral in Germany,# worshippers faced security checks.

In the United States dreams of a white# Christmas will go unanswered outside of## the Mountain West.

For much of the rest# of the country Christmas Day is expected## to be unseasonally warm and wet.

That's# in sharp contrast to last year when a## cold snap brought snow, ice and frost# in many parts of the United States.

This year it's been mild in the# upper Midwest and northern plains.## In Minneapolis today it was in the# 50s well above the previous record## high for the day of 46.

This caps what's# expected to be the warmest year on record.

Still to come on PBS News Weekend, a new# documentary captures the resilience of## soldiers and civilians on Ukraine's frontlines,# and the lucrative business of Christmas music.