Israeli raids on Khan Younes continue

The Israeli army, which has suffered its heaviest daily human losses since the start of its offensive in Gaza this week, is bombing the strategic area of ​​Khan Younes against the backdrop of the talks “severe» With a view to a ceasefire with Hamas. Le Figaro This Wednesday, January 24, takes stock of the war in the Middle East.

“Intensity” of violence in Khan Younes.

Early on Wednesday, witnesses reported that Israeli military helicopters had come under fire around Khan Younes, the main town south of the Gaza Strip where local Hamas leaders are holed up, according to Israel, which claimed “surrounded by“This city.

The UN reported that “intensityThe violence in Khan Yunis and the new evacuation order issued by the Israeli army affect sectors of the city where “88,000 residents and about 425,000 displaced people» Who was sheltered there by the war. World Health Organization (WHO) staff deplores the situation.Catastrophic and indescribable» in the city’s hospitals, the organization said Wednesday.

Mourning in Israel

The Israeli army on Tuesday announced the death of 21 reservists in the collapse of two buildings where they were planting explosives in the Khan Younes sector after a rocket attack on a nearby tank. Along with the deaths of three other soldiers in a separate incident, it is the heaviest daily loss for the army since the start of its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip in late October, bringing the total number of army casualties to 221. In Jerusalem, more than 200 people attended the funeral of a soldier, Hadar Kapeluk, whose coffin was covered with a blue and white Israeli flag.

“serious” discussions

A delegation from Hamas, a movement whose political leadership is based in Qatar, arrived in Cairo on Tuesday “Discuss a new ceasefire proposal with Egypt’s intelligence chief”, according to a source close to the negotiations. While Brett McGurk, adviser to US President Joe Biden for the Middle East, “Located in Cairo» to discuss »a break» According to Washington, in hostilities and release of hostages.

“I can’t tell you if and when we can get you there, but the conversations are very calm and serious about trying to put together another hostage deal.“, John Kirby, the White House spokesman, announced in Washington. According to the American site Axios, Israel, through the mediation of Qatar and Egypt, offered Hamas a two-month pause in fighting and raids in Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages. John Kirby wanted to provide more details about this period. were not that this “a break“, but decision “possible» that negotiationsThe conflict itself leads to wider consequences“

“unacceptable”

However, so far, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has failed to provide any “Armistice» And in the long term, the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Rejection of the Two-State Solution by the Israeli Government”unacceptable» and the risk of “prolonging the conflict», UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council on Tuesday.

Especially since this war is already raising regional tensions between its backers, including Israel and the United States, on the one hand, and Iran and its allies, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis, and Iraqi militias, on the other.

Earlier on Wednesday, Washington said that pro-Iraqi armed groups “Answer» in a series of attacks made bysponsored armyagainst American troops by Tehran. And Washington launched two new strikes on Wednesday morning against Houthi rebels who threaten maritime traffic in Yemen’s Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.Unity» With Gaza.